strategic transition

Civil society organizations, including nonprofits and philanthropies, are currently navigating a complex landscape marked by political challenges and shrinking resources. Many are re-evaluating their operational structures and core missions, grappling with fundamental questions of purpose, equity, and long-term sustainability.

During these periods of change and disruption, merely adjusting existing plans is insufficient. A collaborative approach is essential to developing innovative methods of organizational design, collaboration, and leadership.

Frontline Solutions offers Strategic Transition services to help nonprofits, collaboratives, and their funders make thoughtful, values-aligned decisions about their future. These services preserve critical infrastructure and ensure that community needs continue to be met, even during times of transition.

APPROACH

Our approach to strategic transitions are designed as generative experiences, not traditional consulting engagements focused on "solution delivery." We aim to uncover internal organizational wisdom to guide decision-making. Our bespoke processes are rooted in organizational self- reflection, stakeholder (or market) analysis, systems thinking, and ancestral wisdom. This approach helps organizations understand complexity and make courageous—and sometimes difficult—decisions about their future direction.

Whether an organization is sunsetting, shifting direction, or seeking to merge or change structures in order to increase impact, our holistic and disciplined offerings equip stakeholders with:

  • A structured process for transition planning

  • Tools for refined strategy, systems insight, and future design

  • A supportive learning and design environment rooted in equity, place, and co-creation

CORE COMPONENTS

  • Scenario Planning:

    A process to help organizations anticipate and prepare for various potential future scenarios by identifying key uncertainties and exploring different possible outcomes.

  • Organizational Opportunity Assessments:

    Organizational Viability Assessment or Organizational Culture Due Diligence processes designed to ascertain whether organizations are aligned to merge.

  • Strategy Sprints:

    Structured, focused, and collaborative processes designed to help organizational leaders make strategic decisions, set goals, and map out next steps. These processes are often employed to respond to significant shifts within the organization or its operating context.

  • Healing Circles:

    A structured process that enables organizations and partners to come together, share experiences, provide mutual support, and foster healing. This is achieved through deep listening and collaborative learning, ultimately guiding them toward the envisioning and implementation of decisions.

  • Market Analysis:

    A research and scanning process that provides an organization with a fresh look at its market, stakeholders, and operating context.