Why did we create a new strategic plan?
As a nonprofit organization, setting a clear strategic direction is paramount to our success. Over the course of eight months, 4ATX Foundation engaged in a strategic planning process that helped identify our key strengths and areas for greater alignment and impact. Since our launch, we have grown rapidly, and as a result, our operational capacity no longer matched our program output or the impact we seek to drive. Additionally, our initial strategic plan, developed at the time of our founding, had reached its expiration. Our new strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for our future, guiding our operations, organizational structure, programs and partnerships.
How did we develop this new strategic plan?
4ATX Foundation developed this strategic plan in partnership with David Kaplan, Sindey Dranoff and Molly Rosenberg of Panoramic Strategy. Building on the 4ATX Foundation’s five years of success and impact in Austin, the 4ATX Foundation Board of Directors formed a strategic planning Task Force that was comprised of nine Board members and professional staff who collectively represented a cross-section of organizational leadership.
Through an inclusive process that valued diverse perspectives, we gathered input from over 70stakeholders, including 15 key stakeholder interviews; six focus groups with donors, Austin FC staff, corporate partners, community partners, Board members, program participants and coaches; and seven Task Force sessions. We appreciate the participation of everyone who helped us develop a robust plan for the years ahead.
Does this change any of our current work?
The 4ATX Foundation strategic plan remains rooted in the founding mission and vision of the organization. It also reflects the opportunity over the coming years to equip youth to become future leaders through the power of soccer, who invest in themselves and create thriving communities across Central Texas. With this focus, we have refined our three pillars, or areas of focus: Cultivate Welcoming Soccer Spaces, Build Future Leaders, Connect the Verde Community. The first two pillars build on two pillars from our prior strategic plan, while the third and new pillar highlight the importance of accelerating impact through connected VERDE communities in the coming years.