Prepare Now for 2026 Success / Quarterly Workstream Nonprofit Update

By Deena Englander @ 2025-10-07T15:05 (+6)

The most effective organizations don’t wait until January to think about the year ahead. They use the fall to plan, align, and set themselves up for success. If you want 2026 to be a year of real impact, now is the time to prepare.

Here are a few steps to guide your planning:

1. Set measurable goals.
Decide what success looks like for your organization next year. Identify clear objectives with metrics you can track.

2. Build your measurement tools.
If you cannot measure your goals yet, dedicate time now to create a system that allows you to track progress accurately.

3. Plan for capacity.
Growth does not happen without support. If you plan to expand, think about how you will increase the capacity of your current staff so they can sustain the additional work.

4. Audit your resources.
Look honestly at what you will need to achieve your goals. Do you have the money, staff, and technology required? Make a quick list of what is missing.

5. Create a resource plan.
Once you know what is missing, outline a plan to acquire it. Whether it is hiring, fundraising, or implementing new systems, put concrete steps in place now.

Next Steps

If you want to make 2026 a breakthrough year:

• Schedule time to review your 2026 goals with your leadership team
• Run a quick resource audit and identify gaps before the end of this year
• Book a call with me if you’d like guidance on strengthening your systems, planning your capacity, or preparing your team for growth

The work you do in the coming months will set the tone for the entire year ahead. Thoughtful preparation now will give you clarity and momentum when 2026 begins.

If you'll be at EAG NY, stop by to meet us at the organization fair or find me on Swapcard to connect.

Some posts worth reviewing:

Operations Capacity-Building Services

Q2 Quarterly Update

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What People are Saying

"Deena quickly surfaced levers, including executive assistant support, and thinking more deeply about our role scopes, and translated them into concrete next steps.The result was sharper accountability and momentum across our work, which should translate into impact for animals!" - Aaron Boddy, Shrimp Welfare Project

If you're feeling overwhelmed with trying to run an organization, I can't recommend Deena enough. - Kat Woods, Nonlinear

Deena's ability to step into a fast-moving organization and provide immediate structure and support has been a huge asset. I highly recommend her to any organization looking for experienced operational leadership. - Oliver Zhang, Center for AI Safety

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We look forward to partnering with you to establish your nonprofit's operational infrastructure to scale and thrive!

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