Strategic Relevancy

Realizing that a particular purpose is no long relevant can be sobering. By understand the trends in advance and planning a pivot organizations can better deal with changing conditions.

The client

An association involved in educating local youth, with longtime roots in its community.

The issue

The association had helped educate children in its home city for two generations but was now facing what appeared to be an insurmountable challenge: because of changing demographics, there were fewer young people who needed help. Donors had stopped giving money since the mission and concept of the association no longer resonated. Nothing less than the group’s survival was at stake, it seemed.

The strategy

Step one was for the organization to come to grips with reality-- the past was wonderful, but the former mission was no longer meaningful to the community. As we sought for a strategy that would allow a pivot to another mission, we advised the CEO on how to energize the board and its members. By the time the new mission—creating a community theater/arts space—was announced, the board was already receiving positive feedback from potential donors.

The outcome

Ongoing, with the theater’s first production coming soon.