Business Plans for Nonprofits and Social Enterprise
This outline was developed for nonprofit organizations to embark on social enterprise or earned income ventures with a business model.
Nonprofit Business Plan
Executive Summary
The Executive Summary provides the most important information for readers who need to understand and support the concept, but not necessarily know the detailed plans.
- Organizational description
- Business concept
- Market Description
- Value proposition (or competitive advantage)
- Key success factors
- Financial situation/needs
Mission
A social venture sponsored by a nonprofit organization may have the same, or a complementary, mission and vision.
- Mission and/or Vision statement
- Milestones
Background and Structure
This section clarifies the organization's history and programs and how the venture will fit in to the larger picture.
- Organization description of the sponsoring nonprofit, including short history, mission and services
- How the business venture will be structured in the organization
- Legal structure and governance (Boards, advisory committees, reporting)
Market Analysis
The market analysis is the heart of the business plan. Solid research is necessary to understand the needs and demands of the target market. No amount of mission or commitment will overcome a deficiency in market knowledge.
- Summary of current market situation
- Target market and customers
- Customer characteristics, needs and buying factors
Competitive Analysis
This section describes the competitors, both nonprofit and for-profit, and the advantage of the proposed business.
- Nature of competition
- Changes in the industry
- Primary competitors
- Competitive products/services
- Primary risks and opportunities in competitive market
- Specific description of advantage/value of proposed product or service
Products/Services
This section is a summary of the product or service. It does not need to include detailed descriptions, price lists or other materials.
- Product/service description
- Positioning of products/services
- Future products/services
Marketing and Sales
This section will describe how the organization will reach the target market and turn those prospects into contracts and revenue.
- Marketing strategy
- Sales tactics
- Advertising, public relation, and promotions
- Summary of sales forecasts
Operations
This is the "how to" section, describing the creation and delivery of the business' product or service.
- Key personnel
- Organizational structure
- Human resources plan - if this includes programmatic elements related to the mission, expand this section
- Production plan or service delivery, including summary of costs of materials and production
- Customer service/support strategy and plan
- Facilities required, including specialized equipment or improvements; if the business is retail, discuss location characteristics
Creating the Financials of the Business Plan
The financial section must address both the start up costs for capital equipment, inventory, marketing and staffing and several years' projections including how any losses will be funded.
- Assumptions and comments
- Capital requirements and sources
- Start up costs and investments in plant and equipment
- Subsidy amount, if required, and source
- Starting balance sheet
- Profit-and-loss projection (detailed by month for at least 12 months)
- Cash flow projection (detailed by month for at least 12 months)
- Balance sheet projection
Evaluation and Assessment
Most for-profit businesses measure their success by the financial results. Social ventures have a "double bottom line." This section describes the factors that will be evaluated to assess the success of the enterprise.
- Quantifiable goals for the business, both financial and non-financial
- Monitoring and evaluation strategy
Business Plan Template
Use this template to start developing a business plan for your nonprofit's social enterprise.