Services
How We Can Work Together
At Spark Solutions, I help nonprofit sport and recreation organizations strengthen their strategy, governance, and programs. Together, we’ll create clear, practical plans that fit your goals and realities—so you can focus on delivering lasting impact in your community.
Strategic Planning
This service includes developing a multi-year strategic plan, a shorter bridge plan in periods of extensive change, or dreaming big to create an aspirational long-term plan.
Together, we can also develop the multi-year or annual action plan to implement it. We consider the measurement indicators, resources required, and key steps.
In addition, we can complete a thorough review of the previous strategic plan, or check-in at the halfway point by doing a mid-term review.
Come away with a cohesive plan that guides the organization’s direction for years to come.
CONTACT US TO DREAM BIG AND PLAN SMART
Governance Reviews
This is a systematic evaluation of an organization's structures, processes, and practices to ensure they match the needs of the organization and ultimately support the achievement of its strategic objectives.
This is a valuable opportunity for boards and sport leaders to enhance transparency, accountability, and overall performance.
With your guidance, we dig deep, self-reflecting, analyzing essential documents, and engaging with participants through interviews and questionnaires.
This results in clearer roles, improved decision-making, enhanced accountability, stronger risk management, and increased board engagement and cohesion.
CONTACT US AND LET'S DEFINE ROLES AND DRIVE RESULTSProgram Reviews
This service is a comprehensive evaluation of a program’s effectiveness, quality, and overall health.
Essentially, we determine whether the program meets the organization’s stated goals, uses resources efficiently, and remains relevant to the needs of participants.
Program reviews include both internal self-reflection and external examination, with conclusions and recommendations shared in a report.
The ultimate aim is to provide actionable recommendations for enhancement and inform decision-making.
The process concludes with a facilitated discussion to develop an action plan that addresses the recommendations and guides future improvements.
CONTACT US TO ENHANCE PROGRAM QUALITY
“I had the recent opportunity to work on a project with Lara involving three other organizations to create a cooperative plan of high contention. Throughout the process Lara was able to guide the process that allowed for open and honest communication which resulted in an agreement being reached that I believe served all parties well. It was Lara’s ability to listen and guide which impressed me the most.”
— Hugh Dooley, Executive Director, QC United
"Lara facilitated an awesome Stakeholder Engagement session at the 2022 Special Olympics Saskatchewan Leadership Conference. She is an excellent speaker, and did a great job of engaging with the attendees. Her session was informative, interactive, and provided everyone with great tools and knowledge they could bring back to their communities. Thank you Lara!"
— Jaret Dezotell
"Lara was so great to work with! She really listened to our ideas and built a perfect presentation for our diverse community. She brought much energy, enthusiasm and excitement to our zoom session. I would highly recommend Lara and Spark Solutions! I can't wait to bring her to fierce skills to rural communities in the province! #virtualhighfives coming your way."
— Prairie Central District for Sport, Culture, and Recreation
" Our Strategic Planning and Operational Planning process with NWT Soccer was led exceptionally well by Lara Schroeder. Lara did an excellent job of engaging our membership, board members and staff. She kept us on track, and we were able to complete the process within our designated timeframe. Lara followed through with all the deliverables and went above and beyond guiding us through the process and answering all of our questions. Thank you for the great work Lara!"
— Lyric Sandhals, NWT Soccer
Frequently Asked Questions:
I’m not quite sure what we’re looking for but we know we need support. Where do we start?
Knowing something is amiss is a good first step. Let’s chat. After I understand the full scope of the situation and what your goals are, I’ll come up with the project plan to move you forward.
What is the typical timeline for these services?
Most projects take three months to complete. Some engagements are completed in as little as a day and some are longer due to the complexity of the project.
What is your fee structure?
It depends! The fee structure is highly dependent on the nature of the project.
Most often, projects are billed on a total project rate that is assessed based on a daily rate. However, I have completed projects both on an hourly and retainer rate.
What level of involvement do you require from our board and staff?
Most of my clients choose to form a smaller group from the larger board or staff to lead the coordination of the project.
The level of involvement from the board and staff is highly dependent on the project’s goals. Because directors are volunteers, we are thoughtful about how we engage them.
We want to get started. What’s the next step?
Wonderful!
The next step is to book a call to discuss your project.
We’ll discuss what you’re hoping to achieve, background information and how we can work together.
I will also l prepare a proposal that outlines each step of the project. When you approve the proposal, you will receive a client agreement and we can begin!
