Renewal and Realignment

 by Liz Moore, Executive Director  

Last week the MNA staff and board of directors spent a day in conversation realigning ourselves with MNA’s five year business and strategic plan.  Foundational to the plan – which was crafted in 2010 – were the hopes, needs and wishes for the nonprofit sector as expressed by MNA members and partners. Shortly after the business plan was rolled out, we all watched the recession alter the external environment and then, more recently, MNA’s executive transition brought internal change.  While these events have certainly impacted MNA, our board/staff dialogue gave us the chance to reconnect with our strategic trajectory – which has held remarkably strong even in the midst of change.  The retreat was a chance to once again articulate the MNA bedrock:

• We continue to be about the members – Montana’s 501 (c) 3 organizations. You are the driver for everything we do.
• We direct our resources and activities toward a single high aim: to strengthen Montana’s charitable nonprofit sector.
• We believe more than ever in the power and necessity of our collective voice; whether we are heightening public awareness, providing sector research and education, or engaging in advocacy,  we are fully invested in developing and supporting the nonprofit seat at the table – particularly in the public policy arena.
• We are grounded in partnership; we believe the nonprofit sector is only as strong as our connections with one another as well as with our public and private partners.  

There’s nothing new or earth shattering here – and that’s what was so reassuring. Yes, the timeline we laid out some time ago has altered somewhat, but the MNA fundamentals are absolutely solid. Even in the context of significant change, our strategic direction is spot on. The board/staff conversation was rich, thoughtful, and punctuated by laughter - a great setting for renewal and realignment.