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Strategic Planning
2006
Culminating a year-long effort, DVG’s new 2006-2009
strategic plan, titled “Strengthening Philanthropy,
Strengthening Communities” was officially
adopted by the Board of Directors at their annual retreat
on July 20, 2006.
We are grateful to the DVG Board and Strategic
Planning Committee, and to many of our members, nonprofit
partners and community leaders who contributed to the planning
process; your input and ideas were critical in crafting
the final design, which provides a roadmap for our work
over the next three years.
We invite you to read the Executive
Summary (PDF; 4 pages) or our more detailed Strategic
Plan Highlights (PDF; 12 pages) to learn more about our
key goals for DVG.
> DVG MEMBERS may also view
the complete text of the strategic plan in our online Members
Area.
BACKGROUND
In the spring of 2005, the
DVG Board of Directors began the process of developing
a new strategic plan that would result in a future vision
to guide our activities through 2008. The Board opted for
a comprehensive planning process informed by a thorough
environmental scan and engaged The TCC Group as consultants
to facilitate the planning process.
Throughout spring 2006, DVG's
Board, staff and Strategic Planning Committee concluded
the final phase of plan development, including implementation
activities and financial projections. At their annual retreat
on July 20, 2006, DVG's Board approved the final 2006-2009
Stratgeic Plan.
• Timeline
• Town Hall Meetings
• Working Group Meetings
• Highlights of the
Situational Analysis
• Future Vision
• DVG 2006-08 Strategic Planning
Committee
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Timeline |
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JULY 2005 |
Kick-Off Meeting to Define
the Project Plan |
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SEPTEMBER thru NOVEMBER 2005 |
Conduct Interviews, Surveys, Benchmarking
and Discussion Groups for Development of Situational
Analysis |
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NOVEMBER 17, 2005 |
Board Retreat to Review Situational
Analysis and Establish Future Vision
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FEBRUARY thru MARCH 2006 |
Working Group Meetings; Town Hall
Meetings with DVG Members |
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APRIL & MAY 2006 |
Development of Implementation and
Financial Plans and |
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JULY 2006 |
Adoption of Final 2006-2009 Strategic
Plan |
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Town Hall Meetings |
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In March 2006. DVG held
two Town Hall Meetings, one in the city and one at a
suburabn location, that provided DVG members with a forum
to learn more about the specifics of the plan, ask questions
and offer input.
Our thanks to Connelly Foundation and PECO, An
Exelon Company, for hosting these meetings. |
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Working
Group Meetings |
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Four Working Groups of
DVG members have been identified to further define various
aspects of the plan. These groups will meet over the
coming weeks to consider:
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Categories of Membership, Programs
and Services (2/9) |
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Branding and External Communication (2/13) |
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Governance, Staff and Management (2/27) |
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Finances and Revenues (3/13) |
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Highlights
of the Situational
Analysis |
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Key strengths:
• Mission focused
• Commitment to high quality programs and services
• Responsiveness to member needs
• Strong financial management
• Staff knowledge of the region and field
• Highly engaged board of directors
• Broad diversity of institutional membership
Key Challenges:
• Delivering more targeted networking and learning
opportunities
• Providing relevant and accessible services to
members outside
Center City
• Identifying programs and services relevant to
trustees and
CEOs
• Gathering better data on grantmaking in the
region
• Developing more in-depth knowledge around public
policy
and advocacy and a higher profile.
• Making better use of technology as a communications
and
networking medium
• Increasing revenues and staff capacity
• Building credibility in the community
• Developing defined measures for organizational
success
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Future
Vision |
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In the next 3 to 5 years,
DVG will deliver high-quality member services while seeking
to increase its role as a regional philanthropic leader.
In the longer term, DVG will evaluate opportunities to
act as a civic leader where warranted and serve as a catalyst
for community change. Implications for DVG Membership,
Programs and Services:
• Become more inclusive – consider additional
types of members
• Where helpful in impacting issues, encourage
more
grantmaker/grantseeker conversations
• Support gatherings of DVG members, who see value
in knowledge-sharing around countywide needs, issues
or peer organizations, such as family foundations or
corporate foundations and giving groups
• Cultivate stronger relationships with members
of the media
and the public sector
• Produce and disseminate research on philanthropic
giving in the region
• Support member-identified opportunities for
funder
collaboratives
• Expand topical tracks within our program offerings
• Develop cross-sector partnerships
• Create more opportunities for grantmaker/grantseeker
interaction
• Develop and periodically offer a grantmaker
basics curriculum
• Increase the accessibility of programming throughout
DVG’s region
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DVG
Strategic Planning Committee |
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Beth Feldman Brandt, Stockton Rush Bartol
Foundation, Chair
Ronnie Bloom, William Penn
Foundation
Nancy Burd, The Philadelphia Foundation
Victoria K. Flaville, Connelly Foundation
Russell Johnson,
North Penn Community Health
Foundation
Bruce Melgary, Lenfest Foundation
Kate Moore, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
Catherine Murphy, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Andrew Swinney, The Philadelphia Foundation
Cathy Weiss, Claneil Foundation
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DVG wishes to thank these members who provided funding for
the strategic plan:
• Claneil Foundation
• Connelly Foundation
• The Lenfest Foundation
• William Penn Foundation
• The Pew Charitable Trusts
• The Philadelphia Foundation
We would also like to thank the Nonprofit Finance Fund for
contributing their expertise in performing a Nonprofit Business
Analysis for DVG.
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