Executive Summary of the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan
INTRODUCTION
This strategic plan is a product intended to capture the vision of many FSNYC participants, the focused ideas and writing of the Strategic Planning Taskforce, and the planning process suggested by our facilitator Alison Cohen.
The strategic plan is designed to provide a blue print for FSNYC's next 3 years plus. Perhaps the best way to evaluate it as a guide for us is to use the Network's re-crafted mission and values as a filter through which we view the proposed goals, objectives and strategies. The actual implementation of the plan will depend on the availability of the human and financial resources required, the leadership of the Board, and the enthusiasm of the general membership of the Network.
FSNYC STRATEGIC PLAN – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Mission:
Food Systems Network NYC is a membership organization working toward universal access to nourishing, affordable food. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, the Network is helping to establish a just and vibrant regional food and farm economy that promotes human and environmental health and prevents hunger.
We embrace the following values:
A culture of involvement and activism is central to our work.
Access to nourishing food is a basic human right integral to healthy individuals and healthy communities.
Every stakeholder has a voice in food systems issues--- from agricultural producers and food processors to distributors, emergency food providers, marketers, shoppers, and eaters.
Collaboration among stakeholders is a critical tool for making effective change in food systems policy and programs.
Diversity of food sources, distribution channels, and access opportunities is fundamental to healthy food systems.
What flows from this statement is who we are, what beliefs we share, what we do and how we do it. In summary, what emerges most strongly from these statements forms the basis for and the main theme of the strategic plan: it is the Network's role in fostering collaborative action among all stakeholders in New York City's food systems. To guide our work together toward fulfilling this role, the following plan is offered.
The Vision
The FSNYC Strategic Plan is divided into four focus areas that provide the structure for the 3 year blue print and suggest the vision for the Network in 2012:
A. Financial Future FSNYC will be financially secure, with sufficient funds to maintain its operations and, working collaboratively with its members, to achieve its goals.
B. Leadership & Governance FSNYC will have a strong, diverse, and accessible leadership team that works to develop the organization, steward the mission, and engage members.
C. Membership & Outreach FSNYC will diversify and grow its membership by retaining current members and seeking new members from all sectors of the food system, especially from geographic areas and sectors that are currently underrepresented.
D. Programming FSNYC will significantly increase its capacity to host member planned activities and programs in order to more effectively achieve its mission.
Plan Highlights
A. Financial Future FSNYC will be financially secure, with sufficient funds to maintain its operations and, working collaboratively with its members, to achieve its goals.
· Progressively scaled membership dues implemented by January 1, 2010.
· Development of a sustainable revenue plan based on diverse revenue streams by January 1, 2010 to include: progressively scaled membership dues, events, donor campaigns, in-kind donations; grants; social venture partnerships. Exploration of potential project collaboration to share funding with partners.
· Outcome Indicators: FSNYC is successful in acquiring the revenue it needs to support its planned programs and activities. FSNYC maintains a balanced budget where annual FSNYC revenues meet or exceed budget projections.
B. Leadership & Governance FSNYC has a strong, diverse, and accessible leadership team that works to develop the organization, steward the mission, and engage members.
· Present Strategic Plan to membership and recruit for committees July 2009
· By January 2010, make nominating and voting for governing board positions a benefit of membership to build involvement and leadership.
· By January 2011, implement revitalized organizational (governing board) and committee structure that integrates on-going development of new leaders representative of the organization’s vision for NYC food systems.
· Outcome Indicators: FSNYC’s Governing Board (leadership team) is nominated and elected by an increasing number of general members for each election. Governing board and general members share responsibilities for each committee. Members feel represented by the Governing Board.
C. Membership & Outreach FSNYC will diversify and grow its membership by retaining current members and seeking new members from all sectors of the food system, especially from geographic areas and sectors that are currently underrepresented.
· Working group on race, class, religious, and other issues in food justice work established by June 2010.
· Revision and restatement of benefits of membership, criteria for and process of becoming a member by December 17th, 2009, in coordination with implementation of membership dues.
· By January 2010 FSNYC will develop and implement a membership and outreach plan that will ensure representation from all boroughs, the greater foodshed, and as many food systems sectors as possible, with emphasis on diversity.
· Outcome Indicators: A broad range of stakeholders create a membership and outreach plan which forms a foundation to measure FSNYC’s growth and diversity.
D. Program FSNYC has significantly increased its capacity to host member planned activities and programs in order to more effectively achieve its mission.
· Establish a Program Committee representative of diverse interests by August 1, 2009. Planning to focus on structure, content, location and calendar, and will be developed in collaboration with Membership and Outreach Committee, Policy Committee and Governing Board. Phase 1: September 2009 - December 2009
· Increase opportunities for all members throughout the greater foodshed to participate in Network programs by introducing online meeting tools and other technology by March 2010.
· By October 2010 FSNYC will serve as storehouse for comprehensive info on regional food policy issues, and members will be better equipped to advocate around FSNYC’s mission.
· By December 2010, FSNYC will put into operation a comprehensive two year program plan to host ongoing monthly educational activities in a variety of meeting formats, technologies and locations.
· Outcome Indicators: FSNYC hosts programs planned by members through a collaborative process that builds participation, fosters dialogue, and inspires activism.
