Arbutus Folk School Strategic Plan
2020-2023
The Strategic Plan for Arbutus Folk School’s next three years focuses on increasing access to our programs, expanding our positive impact, improving financial stability, and creating stronger, more efficient systems for administration and planning. This work would not be possible without the support of Arbutus instructors, students, staff, donors, and volunteers! Thank you for the part you play in helping us achieve our goals.
Goal: Promote creative expression and vibrant communities through increased access to hands-on learning activities in arts, culture, and heritage. Objectives include:
- Expand AFS class offerings, artist roster, and participants served.
- Retain existing student base by collecting and addressing feedback.
- Increase number of students served each year, with allowances for changing COVID safety needs.
- Engage diverse identities and art forms in instruction and outreach.
- Evaluate opportunities to meet community needs through AFS programming and partnerships.
- Identify and build relationships with potential partners for new course offerings and projects.
- Identify and build relationships with potential partners for engagement with new and underserved audiences.
- Assess and address barriers to engagement with AFS programs.
- Create and fund a scholarship program
- Explore opportunities for bilingual and/or bicultural instruction.
- Conduct research both internally and in the community to identify gaps in service.
- Communicate the value of engagement in the arts, culture, and heritage at AFS.
- Improve Arbutus branding and communications to clarify our role and value in the community.
- Expand public engagement efforts by staff and board.
- Collect data and documentation of the positive impact of our programs.
Goal: Increase our capacity for positive impact in the community by improving fiscal sustainability. Objectives include:
- Develop and maintain oversight of an annual budget that aligns with the strategic plan.
- Diversify and increase revenue to build a minimum of a three month cash reserves.
- Strategically grow programs that will earn income, attract grant awards, and inspire donors.
- Develop 1-year and 5-year fundraising plans to connect donors and sponsors with our mission
- Increase effectiveness in researching, writing, implementing, and reporting on grants
- Expand opportunities for community contributions through special events and inspiring communications
- Explore long-term possibilities for reduced-cost facilities based on community developments and organizational needs.
Goal: Maintain an effective Arbutus Board culture. Objectives include:
- Maintain a 4-year Strategic Plan and review work plans annually
- Annually review the actions/strategies that relate to the 4-year Strategic Plan.
- Evaluate progress against the Strategic Plan’s Goals and Objectives quarterly at a Governing Board meeting.
- Create clear roles, responsibilities, and procedures for Board meetings.
- Based on the Bylaws and Strategic Plan, identify specific responsibilities for the Board, committees, and staff.
- Define and implement Board meeting processes that ensure that new ideas are identified and openly discussed.
- Develop a program for evaluating Board effectiveness.
- Annually evaluate the Board’s effectiveness against established criteria.
- Grow Board membership with attention given to demographic representation and needed skills and experience
Goal: Ensure a rewarding workplace environment. Objectives include:
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- Ensure staff are provided the guidance and tools to be successful.
- Regularly assess and address workplace satisfaction with consideration to compensation, recognition, and meaningfulness.
- Redevelop a robust volunteer program as COVID safety needs allow.
- Develop a continuous improvement cycle for staff and volunteers.
