How NGOs Are Turning Big Visions into a One-Pager That Delivers
Last week I was in London with the global Theirworld team, celebrating progress at the halfway point of our five-year Strategic Framework. The word “strategic” can be a turnoff, but this plan has been really working. It’s not on a shelf – it’s in our everyday work.
Theirworld is a global children’s charity dedicated to ending the global education crisis and unleashing the potential of the next generation.
Reflecting with my colleagues in the Projects Team, we can really see that setting specific goals and aligning our activities to meet them has turbo-charged our impact in the last 2.5 years. We have genuinely elevated our ambition, as we co-design education projects in and with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Now, looking forward, we have set our sights on even more systems change through connections with Theirworld’s ambitious advocacy goals and research agenda.
The best thing about that strategy? It fits on one slide. And we mostly don’t even need to open that slide, because the goals are clear enough to remember.
Strategy That Works for Busy Organisations
Last month I led a workshop on Strategic Planning and Decision-Making for the amazing OPORA Foundation and Open Society Foundations Civil Society Hub. The leaders of 14 civil society organisations learned tools for decision-making in uncertainty, and how to formulate and use a one-page strategic plan.
I designed the session in partnership with the organisers, shaped by detailed inputs from the participants. I also drew on insights from years of working with nonprofits at AMS.
I remember one founder telling me they’d received pro-bono support for strategic planning from a major management consultancy. We were impressed — with a big name involved, we expected a powerful, usable plan. After months of consultation, we waited eagerly for this magical document to arrive.
And when it did? It was… comprehensive. Titanic, even. It had pillars. Departmental visions. Colour coding. But it was practically unusable.
A 50-page strategy might work for a corporation or a large foundation. But for a small NGO — often volunteer-led, time-poor, and operating in volatile conditions — that kind of plan is too much. You need clarity, not complexity.
This approach also helps in navigating major changes — When the ground fell away is one example.
The Power of a One-Pager
With the civil society leaders, we built a one-page strategic plan — simple, grounded, and adaptable. It provided just enough structure to guide decisions, without overwhelming teams already stretched thin.
A good strategy:
- Creates focus
- Helps you say no to distractions
- Aligns your team around tangible goals
- Makes ambition feel possible, even in uncertain times
And yes — all of that can fit on one page.
When you work with partners, this clarity pays off — How to make sure your comms agency partnership goes right explains why.
Work With Us
At AMS, we advocate for just the right amount of strategic planning — empowering, collaborative, actionable, and brief.
We offer tailored training sessions for NGOs, foundations, and mission-driven teams ready to move from scattered activity to focused impact. We do the prep so your team can get the most out of their time — whether through a half-day workshop or a longer-term engagement.
The goal? A strategy your team can actually use — in real time, with everyone behind it.
For campaigners, pairing your plan with ‘Stop greenwashing fossil fuels’ can help align messaging with ethics.
If you want to move from good intentions to clear direction, let’s talk. Get in touch to explore how AMS can support your next planning moment.
