Strategic Planning Cohort 2026-2027

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Who Should Apply

Program Cost

For many small nonprofits, the urgency of day-to-day operations leaves little time or expertise for long-term planning. Strategic planning, despite its intended promises, can often feel like a pain: it takes too long, costs too much, feels overly complex, and sometimes fails to deliver meaningful results. Without a clear and realistic strategic direction, small organizations are at risk of funding instability, staff turnover, and mission drift.

Thrive Alliance’s Strategic Planning Cohort addresses this challenge head-on, equipping nonprofit leaders with the tools, coaching, and peer support they need to design and implement a living, adaptable strategic plan that drives impact and organizational sustainability.

Program Overview

The Strategic Planning Cohort is a 10 month training and coaching program designed to help nonprofits create actionable, community-centered strategic plans and put them into practice. Through expert facilitation, hands-on learning, and peer collaboration, participants leave not only with a plan, but with the capacity to lead strategically and execute.

Thrive Alliance has partnered with Eric Ryan of Mission Met, a seasoned consultant and author of Mission Met: Proven Strategic Planning Guidance to Help You Build a Financially Secure and Impactful Nonprofit. Together, Thrive’s Capacity Building staff and Mission Met combine proven planning frameworks, specialized software access, and highly tailored 1:1 coaching to ensure implementation success.

Through this program, nonprofits gain:

  • Greater fundraising success by aligning donor strategies with organizational vision

  • Clarity of mission, vision, and values, strengthening leadership alignment

  • Increased programmatic focus that minimizes mission creep

  • Improved organizational culture through intentional planning and staff engagement

  • Attraction of stronger board members who are motivated by clarity and strategy

  • Reduced staff turnover through better alignment of resources, roles, and goals

The Strategic Planning Cohort is comprised of 8 to 10 nonprofits serving San Mateo County, each represented by 2–3 leaders from their organization. The cohort is designed specifically with small, community-based nonprofits in mind, typically with an annual operating budget between $100,000 – $2,000,000, who are looking to advance their organization’s strategic planning skills.

This program is valued at $10,000 per organization, and Thrive is excited to offer a discounted participation fee for local nonprofits, which covers up to three leaders, three 1:1 tailored coaching with Thrive staff, and strategic planning software access. The cost for Thrive members is $2500, and $3500 for non-members.

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Program Timeline

  • Application Open: July 7 - August 21, 2026

  • Cohort Selection Announced First Week of September

  • Kickoff Orientation: September 23, 2026, 9:30am-3:30pm

    • Full-day, in-person session to introduce the CAPE planning cycle, conduct organizational assessments, and onboard into the planning software platform.

  • Plan Development: (Virtual Sessions Over 4 Months)

    • Cohort members build their strategic plan with guided facilitation and training.

    • October 14, 2026 1-2pm – Group Training Session 1 (Virtual)

    • November 18, 2026 1-2pm – Group Training Session 2 (Virtual)

    • January 13, 2027 1-2pm – Group Training Session 3 (Virtual)

  • Midpoint Convening: February 10, 2027

    • Half-day, in-person session to refine implementation approaches.

  • Implementation Support (Virtual Sessions over 4 Months)

    • Includes monthly group coaching calls, 1:1 coaching sessions with Thrive staff, and targeted support to embed the plan into organizational operations.

    • March 10, 2027 1-2pm – Group Coaching Session 1 (Virtual)

    • April 14, 2027 1-2pm – Group Coaching Session 2 (Virtual)

    • May 12, 2027 1-2pm – Group Coaching Session 3 (Virtual)

  • Cohort Celebration: June 16, 2027

    • Year-end convening where organizations share successes, present their plans, and celebrate progress as a community.

      • Year-end convening where organizations share successes, present their plans, and celebrate progress as a community.

CONTACT US

We appreciate your interest in exploring our programs and ways to get involved. This area is managed by our Capacity Building & Partnerships Specialist, Cindy, who would be happy to connect with you. Please fill out the contact form, and Cindy will follow up with you soon.

Cindy Barker
Capacity Building & Partnerships Specialist