Thank you so much for your interest in the Strategic Planning Summit! This page contains important information to help guide you through the cohort-based application process. We recommend that you read all of the information below before starting your online application. If any unanswered questions remain, feel free to reach out to Alia Mahmoud at alia@radicalpartners.net directly.

Sign up for our waitlist and review the frequently asked questions below. Once a year we will review the waitlist, reach out for more information, and select a cohort.

1. WHO CAN/SHOULD APPLY?

We encourage Executive Directors/CEOs to be the ones to apply on behalf of the organization. These organizational leaders will play a large role in the Strategic Planning process by attending an orientation, submitting pre-work, undergoing coaching sessions, attending a mid-summit huddle alongside other Executive Directors/CEOs, and attending a post-summit presentation. To ensure the organization successfully creates a well-informed plan and this high-level of commitment, it is best that they are the ones who apply.

2. HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I BRING?

The summit is designed for an Executive Director/CEO and a group of trusted leaders in the organization. This includes board members and leadership staff. An Executive Director/CEO who is applying for a spot in the summit will be able to register a team (including themselves) of 3 to 5 people.

3. IS THERE A COST?

The summit costs us slightly more than $8,000 per organization to produce. We work hard to provide scholarships for all who need them, but we ask organizations to contribute what they can.

4. HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M READY?

If your answer is yes to at least three of the questions below, your organization is ready for the Strategic Planning Summit.

• Is your organization torn about what to prioritize? 

• Does it seem like your organization is always in “reactive mode”?

• Are your big organizational goals and priorities unclear? 

• Does your organization find itself having the same goals year after year because they are not being met?

• Do you have a team or board that can support you through this process?

• Have you been around long enough to be able to evaluate some early successes and roadblocks?

• Are you stuck planning for short-lived goals and feel ready to think longer-term?

• Do you want to focus on longer term planning for your organization but can’t find the time?

• Have you achieved your goals and find yourself wondering what big steps to take next?

5. WHAT IF MY BOARD/TEAM ISN’T ON THE SAME PAGE?

The Strategic Planning Summit is designed to allow for necessary conversations and to help leadership teams get on the same page. Sessions build on one another, laying the foundation for vision clarity and general understanding for all members of your strategic thinking group. We have seen team members become united under their big priorities because they truly are invested in seeing the organization thrive. Therefore, we suggest choosing a team that is composed of people willing to create and innovate a strategy for the betterment of the organization.

6. WHAT IF WE DON’T FINISH?

With the amount of work being done in each session, we understand that many organizations need more time. That is why we have built in a week break between each of the summit session days and a full week break in the middle of the summit. We encourage organizations to use those days in between sessions to continue their necessary discussions and finalize their work.

7. WHAT WILL WE HAVE PRODUCED BY THE END OF THIS SUMMIT?

At the end of the Strategic Planning Summit each organization would have produced a one page strategic plan that includes an overview of all work completed during the six virtual retreat sessions. From the organization’s big priorities to how decisions will be made moving forward, the document will make it easy to loop in members of your team, board, and the community about your goals and how you plan to achieve them.

8. WHAT DOES THE TIME COMMITMENT LOOK LIKE FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO?

The Strategic Planning Summit is a jam-packed virtual retreat that requires preparation and follow up work throughout the entire process. Previous participants have spent 5 to 10 hours on pre-work in advance of the summit, plus the six sessions of the summit, and an additional 5 to 10 hours to complete their plan afterwards. We want to make sure that all of our applicants are fully committed to and available for each and every session necessary to make these plans come to life. Before applying, please make sure that you are available to attend every single event so that you can be sure to make the most of your experience.