https://bloomerang.co/resources/webinars/ Renee Rubin Ross will explore considerations for organizational planning and models that have helped nonprofits to build plans that support their work through recent shifts.

1. Organizational
Planning in Times of
Uncertainty
September 3, 2020

2. MEET RENEE
Dr. Renee Rubin Ross (she/her) is a recognized leader on board and
organizational development and strategy and the founder of The Ross
Collective, a consulting firm that designs and leads inclusive, participatory
processes for social sector boards and staff.
Committed to racial equity in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Ross supports
organizations and individuals in practices that celebrate and amplify
diverse voices and perspectives.
In addition to her consulting work, Dr. Ross is the Director of the Cal State
University East Bay Nonprofit Management Certificate program and
teaches Board Development and Grant Writing for the program.
Dr. Ross lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She is a Board
member of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. Her Doctorate in
Education and Jewish Studies from New York University explored parent
participation in schools.
Renee’s hobbies including running, hiking, playing guitar and baking
sourdough bread.

4. The
Challenge…
“We’re blocked from
planning right now.”

5. The
Challenge…
“We’re blocked from
planning right now.”
In the chat box, share:
• Does this resonate with you?
(yes/no)
• What’s difficult about planning
now?

6. Outcomes – at the end of this webinar you will be able to…
Identify blockages to planning
Explore questions that will help you start planning
Identify some approaches to planning in uncertainty
Learn about how some organizations are planning now
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2
3
4

7. Agreements
My agreement with you:
+ Share content that many social sector leaders find useful
+ Stop periodically during the webinar to make sure you’re with me and get your
thoughts.

8. Agreements
My agreement with you:
+ Share content that many social sector leaders find useful
+ Stop periodically during the webinar to make sure you’re with me and get your
thoughts.
How can you benefit the most?
+ Participation = the path to learning
+ Inquiry stance – we’re learning together
+ Value our time together: the more that you are present, the more you will
benefit from the content being shared

10. How are you using your power
to move the world toward
justice?

11. Four kinds of power
Power to convene people and move them towards a shared goal1

12. Four kinds of power
Power to convene people and move them towards a shared goal
Power to affirm organizational values – to bring them more deeply into
the world
1
2

13. Four kinds of power
Power to convene people and move them towards a shared goal
Power to affirm organizational values – to bring them more deeply into
the world
Power to spread and amplify love, care and compassion for all
1
2
3

14. Four kinds of power
Power to convene people and move them towards a shared goal
Power to affirm organizational values – to bring them more deeply into
the world
Power to spread and amplify love, care and compassion for all
Power to acknowledge and name what you see: Inequality, racial
injustice, suffering
1
2
3
4

16. To plan now,
focus on…
Energy
Values
Slow & small
Larger nonprofit
landscape

17. Focus on energy
Check individual energy: Create space in meetings and out of meetings to
support one another
Check group energy – build in rituals to name and process the challenge of
these times
Find out what the group has the energy to work on
1
2
3

18. Focus on values: Questions to consider
How are we achieving our mission now?
Given changes, what parts of our work need to be updated?
Are there opportunities for new collaborations in the current environment?
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2
3

19. Focus on planning slow and small
Acknowledge group capacity to plan and manage change
Build group trust as a source of strength
Go smaller
See: Adrienne Maree Brown, Emergent Strategy
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20. Focus on larger nonprofit landscape
Election is two months from today
Nonprofits cannot endorse a candidate, but can:
● Encourage people to vote
● Hold educational events related to their mission
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2

21. Focus for
planning
In the chat box, share:
Which needs most attention
in your organization:
• energy
• values
• slow & small, or
• Larger nonprofit
landscape

23. How are
organizations
planning
now?
Financial scenarios
Strategic pillars to align work
and values
Shifting to serve community

24. Financial scenarios: SF-Based Organization
Board of Directors and senior leadership
created three financial scenarios for the
coming year:
● 75% of revenue
● 55% of revenue
● 25% of revenue

25. Strategic pillars to align
work & values
Shifted work from new food business incubator to supporting current
program participants.
Strategic pillars include
a) resiliency and regeneration for current businesses
b) advocacy and education
c) organizational stability

26. Shifting to serve
community
Unable to run afterschool program due to shelter-in-place restrictions
Offering weekly food distribution for community families

27. Use your power
Focus where needed
Consider: How can other models help you?

28. In the chat box:
• What is one next step that you would like to take as
a result of this webinar?

29. Next steps
Visit
https://www.therosscollective.co
m/ to get a planning worksheet
and sign up for our newsletter
For virtual board or staff strategic
planning, training or coaching –
reach out directly–
info@therosscollective.com

30. Questions
and
Discussion
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/reneerubinross
Twitter: @reneerubinross
Newsletter:
https://www.therosscollective.c
om/subscribe

31. Organizational
Planning in Times of
Uncertainty
September 3, 2020