Strategic Planning - Options for Community Living, Inc.

In 2023, a Strategic Planning Committee made up of Options Board of Directors members and staff met regularly over several months to develop a new strategic plan with a three-year time horizon and a five-year vision.

The process was guided by the agency’s mission, vision, and values, and involved a SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, to ensure that all factors impacting the plan moving forward were considered. The plan was adopted in 2024 with a commitment from the Strategic Planning Committee to report progress to the Board of Directors biannually.

The core pillars of Options continued growth and sustainability are rooted in its dedication to achieving its mission. The following guideposts were established to help ensure that the strategic plan goals are achieved.

Grow revenue and client participation while maintaining high-quality programs and services
Grow employee engagement and satisfaction through consistent communications
Employ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) best practices to create a culture of belonging
Solidify a strong strategy around partnerships
Grow Board of Directors engagement
Formalize strategy for growth and diversified funding streams

Strategic Plan - Year One 2024
Options’ commitment to continued growth and sustainability is rooted in its dedication to achieving its mission to assist all individuals and families in need to develop their fullest potential for independent living. A Strategic Plan adopted in 2024 demonstrates this commitment. With a three-year time horizon, the plan is reviewed quarterly by the staff, Board of Directors, and planning committees.

Core Pillars
- Grow revenue and client participation while maintaining high-quality programs and services
- Grow employee engagement and satisfaction through consistent communications
- Employ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) best practices to create a culture of belonging
- Solidify a strong strategy around partnerships
- Grow Board of Directors engagement
- Formalize strategy for growth and diversified funding streams
Year one:
1. Program Expansion:
  - Enable “zero-day” readiness to respond to funding opportunities
  - Inform the Board of Directors of new housing development opportunities and leverage connections (annual presentation)
  - Examine client recruitment, intake, and retention through a DEIB lens
  - Evaluate intake/outreach function with clear objectives, and measurable outcomes to maximize occupancy and grow program enrollment
2. Program Partnerships:
  - Ongoing Partnership Subcommittee meets quarterly to forge/grow community partnerships
3. Employee Health & Wellness:
  - Formalize internal communications working group with quarterly meetings
  - Establish a working group for succession planning with goals
  - Review proposals for leadership coaching and guidance around succession planning
  - Partner with the DEIB committee to identify employee health and wellness issues as they relate to inclusion and staff engagement
4. Board of Directors Development:
  - Increase the number of meetings to 5 – 6 annually
  - Conduct a matrix exercise to identify gaps (skills, representation) and explore strategic recruitment
  - Establish a succession plan the for Board of Directors Chairperson
5. Resource Development:
  - Establish a fundraising committee and formal development plan with goals
  - Develop a stewardship plan and launch a planned giving program
  - Identify and engage funders with interest in DEIB support and agency growth
6. Data Collection, Systems & Reporting:
  - Complete and launch the data dashboard project
  - Assess IT systems for potential improvement
7. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging:
  - Engage in agency-wide training & education for all staff as an annual requirement
  - Employ a DEIB Officer and support and uplift the DEIB Committee
  - Review all organization policies to ensure equity
  - Create an agency DEIB statement to be shared publicly
Click here to download our yearly plan

Year one: