Building Strong Strategic Priorities: From Bold Vision to Fundable Action

Every nonprofit has a mission, but a mission without a plan can drift off course. Strategic priorities are what transform vision into reality. They provide the structure for decision-making, the foundation for fundraising, and the guide for how staff and board pursue actionable objectives. When done well, they align the organization and give donors confidence that their support will make a difference.

At MCC, we encourage clients to begin with one essential question: What is the future state you want to see? A bold, audacious vision should drive the work. Strategic priorities are how you break that vision into actionable, fundable steps.

Why Strategic Priorities Matter

Strong strategic priorities give direction to ambition and ensure that energy and resources are focused on what matters most. These priorities serve as the foundation for decision making and funding allocation. They serve the following practical needs:

• Guide decisions: Help determine which opportunities to pursue and which to decline.

• Focus resources: Ensure time, funding, and staff are directed toward high-impact areas.

• Support fundraising: Provide donors with clear, compelling reasons to invest.

• Enable accountability: Make it possible to measure progress and adjust as needed.

Without them, even the most passionate efforts can become scattered and under-resourced.

How to Develop Strategic Priorities

The process of creating strategic priorities involves visioning, focus, and planning.

1. Set the Future State

Bring together board, leadership, staff, and key stakeholders to define long-term goals. Ask:

• What change do we want to see in our community in five years? ten years?

• What role will our organization play in achieving that change?

• What must be true in three years to stay on track?

Document these answers in clear, accessible language. This is your north star.

2. Identify Core Priorities

Select three to five focus areas that will move you toward the vision. Examples include:

• Expanding programs to meet a critical need

• Strengthening infrastructure, systems, or staff capacity

• Building sustainable funding sources

• Deepening partnerships or advocacy efforts

Use a simple test for each potential priority: Does it align with our mission? Will it have a material impact in three years? Do we have, or can we secure, the resources to achieve it?

3. Turn Priorities into Action

Break each priority into specific initiatives for the next one to three years. For each initiative:

• Define a clear outcome

• List three to five key activities

• Assign an owner who is accountable for delivery

• Set a start and finish date

This level of detail ensures that priorities do not remain vague intentions but become actionable commitments.

4. Attach Costs

A priority must have a budget to be credible. Build cost estimates that include:

• Staff time and benefits

• Direct expenses such as materials, technology, or consulting

• One-time capital investments

• Ongoing costs to sustain the work

These cost-based initiatives form the basis for your funding priorities. To learn more about turning them into compelling donor asks, see our blog Funding Priorities: The Secret Weapon in Your Fundraising Toolbox.

5. Measure What Matters

Choose a small set of indicators to measure the success of each priority. Keep them simple and actionable. Examples include:

• Outputs: people served, units delivered, trainings completed

• Outcomes: retention rates, satisfaction levels, health or education gains

• Organizational health: revenue mix, staff retention, reserve levels

Review progress regularly and adjust as needed.

Making Priorities Work

Strategic priorities only add value when they are actively used. Share them with staff, board members, and donors. Integrate them into board agendas, staff check-ins, and fundraising materials. Create a concise one-page summary that highlights your vision, priorities, and key initiatives so that everyone has a shared reference point.

Revisit your priorities each quarter. Keep what is working, refine what is not, and adapt to changes in your environment. Strategic priorities should evolve as your organization and community needs change.

Final Thoughts

A bold vision sets the destination. Strategic priorities chart the course. They ensure that every decision, every program, and every dollar supports the change you want to see. By defining them clearly, resourcing them properly, and using them consistently, your nonprofit can move forward with focus, purpose, and measurable impact.