Are you looking for . . .
A strategic plan around which to coalesce your community?
A theory of change in which to ground your impact?
Support with an organizational or strategic initiative?
Community-Centred Strategic Planning
Community-centred Strategic Planning is one of Valery’s specialties.
She works with organizations of all sizes to engage their boards, staff, clients, partners, and other community members in the development of multi-year strategies that reflect a shared vision for the future.
This approach:
- Centres the wisdom of the people living with the problem your organization exists to solve.
- Builds connection and buy-in among both your board members, and those who will be on the frontlines of strategy implementation.
- Ensures justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are not just words that appear in your final plan. They are principles we work together to build into your strategy journey from the start.
Testimonial
“Valery listened, picked up quickly on our context, provided relevant knowledge and research, and facilitated commitment to our identified goals. This was all accomplished within our allotted time frame. We’ve very pleased to have chosen Valery to lead the development of our much needed strategic plan.” – Donna Czukar, Board Chair, Flamborough Connects
When is it the right time for a new strategic plan?
Strategic plans are a critical tool in organizational alignment. They introduce cycles of reflection, decision making, implementation, and monitoring during which participants align on and advance a shared vision for the future.
The right time for a new strategic plan is when key players in your organization (such as the board, leadership team, frontline staff, participants, and key partners) recognize a need for renewed alignment on your shared vision for the future, your priority initiatives, and your understanding of, and movement towards, success.
How much does strategic planning cost?
Community-centred strategic planning involves varying levels of community engagement tailored to the context of your organization. Valery also includes, omits, or tailors other project elements to suit an organization’s needs.
For example, an organization with strong operational planning capacity may choose to leave implementation support out of their project. Or, an organization with leadership development as a priority may choose to include coaching for one, or more, employee or volunteer in their project.
Valery is also willing to partner with organizations interested in taking on certain project deliverables in house, such as some of the community engagement.
Variabilities such as organizational size and complexity also affect pricing, as does the inclusion or exclusion of deliverables such as a new mission and / or vision statement.
Most of the strategic plan projects Valery works on with small- and medium-sized organizations land in the $10K to $40K range. Discounts and / or instalment invoicing for smaller charities and nonprofits are possible, while taking into account Valery’s own wellbeing as a small, woman-of-colour-owned business.
Valery also offers a half-day workshop tailored to your organization’s context for teams looking to develop their next strategic plan in house.
Theory of Change Development
A Theory of Change is a valuable tool for understanding, articulating, and increasing your impact. Valery specializes in the development of Theories of Change that centre community.
Valery is one of a handful of consultants across Canada certified to lead organizations through Innoweave’s Impact and Strategic Clarity stream. During these projects she guides organizations to the development of:
- an intended impact statement
- a Theory of Change
- and, an action plan.
Valery is also available to lead your theory of change as project as an independent consultant.
Testimonial
“Valery brought out the very best in our team – she listened closely, adapted to our needs as our work progressed, supported everyone in our team to be heard, and maintained an unwavering focus on what we were trying to achieve together. With her support, we have a much clearer understanding of the impact we are working to achieve and how we do that” – Jennifer Peer, Director of Operations, The Pine Project
When is it the right time for a (new) Theory of Change?
A good Theory of Change (TOC) improves decision-making and resource allocation, clarifies internal and external communications, and strengthens strategies and maximizes results by aligning an organization around its intended impact, and its change mechanisms for achieving it.
There are two times when it is particularly helpful for an organization to develop or update its TOC. One is after a major change, such as a period of growth or leadership change. Another is any time it has identified a lack of strategic clarity around its impact, outcomes, audiences, and / or and change mechanisms. Typically, a TOC can be developed before, after, or even at the same time as a strategic plan.
How much does it cost to develop a Theory of Change?
Community-centred Theory of Change development involves varying levels of community engagement tailored to the context of your organization. Valery also includes, omits, or tailors other project elements to suit an organization’s needs.
For example, an organization with strong operational planning capacity may choose to leave implementation support out of their project.
Valery is also willing to partner with organizations interested in taking on certain project deliverables in house, such as some of the research or community engagement.
Variabilities such as organizational size and complexity also affect pricing.
Most of the Theory of Change projects Valery works on with small- and medium-sized organizations land in the $10K to $30K range. Discounts and / or instalment invoicing for smaller charities and nonprofits are possible, while taking into account Valery’s own wellbeing as a small, woman-of-colour-owned business. Valery is also willing to support your organization to apply to Innoweave, which has a funding program to support nonprofits and charities to work with her.
Innoweave
Valery is an affiliate of Innoweave, which is a project of the MakeWay Foundation. Innoweave has a funding program to support nonprofits and charities to work with her.
If you think working with Valery within one of the Innoweave project streams that she offers might be a good fit for you, please book a free consultation to explore submitting an expression of interest!
Consulting Services
As an experienced executive Valery offers a number of consulting services. She would love to connect to talk about how she might help you to:
- Carry out your annual planning / priority setting.
- Engage your community (with particular expertise in engaging communities of colour, and people with lived experience of mental illness and addiction.)
- Re-invigorate your organizational governance.
- Renew your organizational culture.
Valery’s expansive experience across a 20-year career that has spanned levels of government and crisscrossed the social impact sector makes her a value add to a wide range of projects. Valery weaves anti-oppression throughout all of her service offerings.
Testimonial
“Organizational structural resets are extremely tough to to navigate. Fortunately Valery . . . took the time needed to understand our internal structures and coached our team extensively to ensure long-lasting results.” – Celeste Trianon, Trans Rights Advocate, Centre for Gender Advocacy