Strategic Plan Services

For twenty-five years, Maria Gitin & Associates guided dozens of organizations through life-changing strategic plans using a modified version of the Peter F. Drucker Self Assessment process, long considered a best practice in organizational development. Maria Gitin was a member of the Drucker Foundation/Leader to Leader national training team for ten years. Samuel Torres Jr. and Jeanne Hanks have extensive experience in assessments and strategic planning both with nonprofits and in the public sector. All Associates are experienced with bilingual, bicultural and diverse groups.

Thank you for this...this is the most helpful and thorough information on strategic planning that anyone has given me.- Laura Roach Senior Regional Development Director Conservation International- Los Angeles

I am looking forward to our continued working relationship which has made a difference in positioning Gardner to go the next level.....Si Se Puede! - Ignacio Perez, CFO, Gardner (Gardner Family Health Network, Santa Clara County, CA

Board member Fred Keeley and Membership Coordinator Glen Shaller of Save Our Shores report that years later "We are still using your good plan to guide our new directions."

New Focused Strategic Plan Services
  • Consultation on the design and scope of Strategic Plans
  • Guidance and tools for Board and Staff Self-Assessments
  • Facilitation of Strategic Plan Retreats
  • Review and Recommendations for completion of draft Strategic Plans by staff
Typical Strategic Plan Results
  • Develop a vision and a plan to achieve and fund that vision into the future.
  • Base your plan on research from within the organization, from your consumers and funders, and data from the external environment.
  • Build capacity to develop your own plan with our training and coaching.
  • Generate stronger board-staff teams through improved understanding of roles and relations.
  • Create solutions to program development including expansion, restructuring, possible mergers or acquisitions.
Representative Strategic Planning Clients
Camarena Health Centers, Inc., Madera County, CA
Pre-development consultation with three-site health centers to develop internal fundraising capacities through strategic planning and case statement development.

Carmel Public Library Foundation, Carmel, CA
Performed 18-month consultation, conducted assessment, guided start-up and secured initial $250,000 gift to launch foundation that met its $3 million endowment goal in three years.

Community Bridges / Puentes de la Comunidad, Santa Cruz County, CA
Facilitated in depth Strategic Plan and Board Development processes for $15 million health and human service agency in Santa Cruz County. Results: name change, new mission statement, internal restructuring, cultural diversity, board and fund development plans. The project included extensive board training and staff training.

Gardner (Gardner Family Health Network & Gardner Family Care Corp.), Santa Clara County, CA
Performed assessment, provided board development training and Strategic Fund Development Plan for multi-site $41 million health center affiliates in preparation for their first Development Department and capital campaign.

Save Our Shores, Santa Cruz, CA
Conducted nine month in-depth assessment and developed strategic plan that included new programs, staffing pattern, board development and fundraising plan for environmental action agency in transition.

Shelter Outreach Plus, Marina, CA
Facilitated a board development process that led to restructuring, new goals and objectives and new leadership for an extensive homeless and domestic violence service provider.