Strategic planning helps organizations define priorities, align resources, and make informed decisions about their future. Crescendo provides strategic planning and organizational development services that translate priorities into actionable, measurable plans.
Following a Community Needs Assessment or population health research effort, Crescendo works with partners to translate findings into strategic priorities and implementation plans.
We support a range of strategy work, from large multi-year organization-wide strategic planning efforts to focused programmatic strategy sessions. This work may include community health improvement planning (CHIP) with health departments or implementation planning (IP) for non-profit hospitals following Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA). For many, this work also involves building cross-sector collaboration initiatives, such as regional opioid settlement collaboratives.
Crescendo’s client list includes organizations located in large urban areas in the North and East to rural communities in the South and West, and includes hospitals, health departments, municipalities, Tribal Nations, universities, nonprofit organizations, and regional collaboratives.
Who This Is For
Crescendo’s Strategy and Development services support a range of organizations working to improve community health, strengthen partnerships, and translate assessment findings into actionable plans.
- Hospitals and Health Systems
Developing Implementation Strategy Plans following Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA), aligning community benefit initiatives with identified needs, or supporting strategic planning processes that guide long-term organizational priorities. - Public Health Departments
Developing Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP) or strategic priorities following a Community Health Assessment. - Community Action Agencies
Developing a strategic plan every three to five years that outlines how an agency will reduce poverty, empower low-income individuals, and revitalize communities. This often uses the ROMA framework. - Municipalities and Regional Collaboratives
Supporting cross-sector initiatives that involve healthcare, public health, and community organizations. - Nonprofit Organizations and Universities
Developing strategic plans, partnership strategies, or community initiatives aligned with organizational missions.
Our Approach
Crescendo provides Strategy & Development services as standalone engagements or as a continuation of a Community Needs Assessment or Population & Market Research effort.
Crescendo can facilitate structured planning processes with leadership teams, coalitions, and community partners to identify priorities, develop strategies, and build shared ownership of implementation.
Our technical expertise includes work in the following domains:
- Serving as a primary and expert resource for policies, practices, and capacity.
- Conducting landscape analyses to identify existing programs, community resources, and funding streams that align with strategic priorities.
- Conducting comprehensive planning processes resulting in strategic plans, Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP), and implementation strategies.
- Translating identified priorities into measurable strategic objectives and SMARTIE goals, ensuring that plans include clear timelines, responsible partners, and metrics for tracking progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a strategic planning process typically include?
Strategic planning often includes reviewing existing priorities, identifying strategic objectives, aligning partners and resources, and developing measurable goals to guide implementation and evaluation.
How does strategic planning relate to a Community Needs Assessment?
Many organizations conduct strategic planning after completing a Community Needs Assessment or Community Health Assessment. The assessment identifies priority needs, while strategic planning helps organizations determine how they will respond to those priorities.
What is an Implementation Strategy?
Hospitals that conduct Community Health Needs Assessments are required to develop an Implementation Strategy outlining how they will address identified community health needs.
Can Crescendo support both assessments and planning?
Yes. Crescendo frequently supports organizations across the full process, from research and community engagement to strategy development and implementation planning.