ACN Resilience In Practice Series

ACN Resilience In Practice Series

External Disruption and Strategic Planning

Thursday, June 26, 2025
12:00 - 1:00 pm CST

MEMBERS ONLY

We are five months into the new administration and have seen many stressors on nonprofits. These have dramatically impacted nonprofits' plans - whether written strategic plans or those on the back of a napkin. Federal funding and legal statuses are being threatened. “Woke” missions are being targeted. Social media posts are no longer vetted for lies. Public donations are erratic. And we have yet to see how all this will affect state funding for nonprofits. Lawsuits are slowly making their way through the courts to challenge some of these changes, but it seems like we are always watching for the next threat.

Nonprofits had to pivot in 2020 when a global pandemic interrupted workplaces, programs, and donations. 2025 sometimes feels like a repeat of that… but not exactly. June's ""Resilience In Practice"" session will provide ACN members with the opportunity to discuss how to assist clients in planning for an uncertain future while we navigate a constantly changing present.

Questions to Discuss

- What are the similarities between the state of nonprofits in 2020 and 2025? How are they different?

- What did nonprofits learn from COVID that they are applying again now? What did they forget?

- What are the key elements of a strategic plan? How can these elements vary from their simplest forms to more complex ones?

- What strategic planning tools can we nonprofits use to assess how prepared they are for potential changes? Can these same tools be harmful in certain situations?

- Are there resources we can provide to nonprofits so they continue to make informed and strategic decisions?

- Do you, as a consultant, have a plan for your business? How is the uncertainty of nonprofits' situations affecting our consulting practices?

We will send a poll out to registered attendees 7-10 days before the event to rank the questions they see as most important. If you have a suggestion for a strategic planning topic you would like to be considered, email execdirector@acnconsult.org by June 16.

About the facilitator:
Annisa Wanat develops solutions to strategic planning and project management challenges, boosts program effectiveness, and tells powerful stories. She focuses on nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations, specializing in start-ups, civic groups, and small and mid-sized associations that rely on volunteer support. She began consulting in 2018, after 20+ years of experience working around the globe on diverse issues, with multicultural teams, in challenging environments. Technical areas include community economic development, local governance, organizing (community, issue-advocacy & political), and policy analysis.

Please send an email to execdirector@acnconsult.org with questions.