Building an annual activity plan
A community in its early stages usually acts intuitively, but as it grows and becomes established the need arises for an orderly activity plan that directs the work.
An effective community plan combines three main axes of action: the value-to-the-member axis, the growth and development axis, and the purpose and impact axis. The balance between the axes changes according to the community's stage of development and the needs of its members. An annual activity plan helps a community grow and strengthen faster.
Process stages
Intake and mapping the current situation
Diagnosing the community according to the Community Mechanics methodology and mapping the needs and wishes of its members.
Shared dreaming
A conversation with the community leaders to shape a direction for the coming year: opportunities, challenges and goals.
Defining measurable targets
Translating the direction into clear targets with success metrics and due dates.
Planning the work plan
Building an annual Gantt chart including activities, events, milestones and division of responsibility.
Creating work routines
Defining ongoing work mechanisms (meetings, control, measurement and communication) that will support implementation of the plan.
Community leaders, nonprofit staff and local authority employees working in the community field.
Final output
A plan of measurable targets, an annual activity Gantt chart and a work-routines document, all implemented in a Notion environment with calendar, timeline and task-management views.