Once the strategic plan is written there is no reason why you can’t promote it and publicise it. In fact, it’s much more likely to be successful if you do.

The main reason for this is that as a charity, club, kindergarten or community based organisation, you exist primarily to provide, support and act on behalf of the community or general public in some way.

In addition, whether it be through donations, membership fees, subscriptions or government grants, these funds come either directly or indirectly from the community. So these people and groups are also key stakeholders in your organisation.  They have a vested interest in knowing what your plans are.

By promoting the strategic plan you are providing details in relation to the future direction and objectives of the organisation.

Other people who are stakeholders in your strategic plan include your staff, teams and volunteers.  By sharing the information in the plan – the why’s of what you are doing – you are helping them build the link between their daily tasks and the end result.  By understanding how their work contributes to the overall goal, you are not only motivating your team but you are firming up the basis of your strategic plans and goals.

Some simple but effective ways to promote it include having the strategic plan accessible on your website or Facebook page.  If you don’t use these, then place copies on your notice board and even consider including the strategic plan as part of your newsletter.  Talk about the plan at your meetings, or have the key messages placed somewhere visible.

Another benefit of promoting your strategic plan is that it can also be an excellent way to raise more funds as the general public can clearly see how their donations and contributions are being used.

Remember, the important issue with the promotion of the strategic plan is that it provides an excellent way to engage staff, volunteers and participants to focus on a common set of priorities and goals.