Book a Spark Session to chat about what your organization is facing. There is no pressure to move forward if we are not a good fit. We’ll share more about how our process could support you.

Yes, this process is great for organizations that haven’t done strategic planning before. Spark Solutions will manage the process and guide you through it. The process has been carefully planned to include all of the elements that will create a robust strategic plan.

I grew up in a town that was home to 100 people – yes, you read that right! All of my participation growing up was in volunteer-only, tiny, rural organizations. Even small and informal sport organizations should think strategically – what’s important is the scope that we choose to think in. If this is a concern for you, book a no-obligation Spark Session and let’s talk about it.

Here are 6 reasons why you should invest in a facilitated strategic planning process instead of doing it yourselves. We build the process so you can focus on developing the process. We offer a “cross-sport” advantage in that we work across many different sports and bring a wealth of knowledge and cross-pollinate ideas from other sports that are working well. Consultants create a safe and equitable space that ensures all voices receive equitable weight. We know how to skillfully navigate conflict. Consultants also know when to dig in to find clarity and challenge assumptions. And, we know how to make the process feel energizing and engaging. We have a post on our blog where we’ve said so much more about this – feel free to check it out!

We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring the process and we’ll walk you through it – that’s a major advantage of hiring a strategic planning consultant. You’ll only have to focus on participating in the process and communicating to your group. If we need things from you, we’ll tell you in advance and offer advice on how to get it done.

Our Confidential Community Insight scan will have your board, staff, and members complete surveys to gather their opinions. You will be responsible for promoting the surveys to your members and we offer advice on how to do that so we hear from as many members as possible. If you’re interested to incorporate members’ voices even more, you can add the Community Feedback Cycle to the process to gather their ideas on the draft plan.

Our Confidential Community Insight scan will have your board, staff, and members complete surveys to gather their opinions. You will be responsible for promoting the surveys to your members and we offer advice on how to do that so we hear from as many members as possible. If you’re interested to incorporate members’ voices even more, you can add the Community Feedback Cycle to the process to gather their ideas on the draft plan.

This is very common. We often encounter a few people who take up a lot of air time, some of whom disagree. Hiring a facilitator to manage group dynamics is a very valid reason to bring in a strategic planning consultant. We’re skilled at ensuring everyone contributes and at addressing differences of opinion because we use a variety of facilitative techniques.

Lara brings something most consultants can’t offer: a strategic planning process that’s been intentionally designed, tested, and refined—not a custom-for-custom’s-sake approach that shifts based on whatever a client thinks they need. This gives organizations a clear, structured pathway they can trust, rather than a plan built on guesswork or preference.

She also brings a small-community lens that many rural or Western organizations rarely get from consultants based in major cities. She understands the realities of limited capacity, volunteer-driven systems, and the unique dynamics of sport in smaller communities—because she’s lived them.

Her perspective is shaped by having participated in sport from nearly every angle: recreational participant, competitive athlete, coach, referee, volunteer at every level (including the Olympics and Paralympics), administrator, and now consultant. That lived experience allows her to offer grounded, practical opinions on initiatives because she knows how they land with athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and staff.

Compared to general nonprofit or management consultants, she brings deep sector-specific knowledge—trends, emerging issues, system shifts, and what’s on the horizon for sport in Canada. She’s worked with more than 30 different sports and holds a diploma, degree, and master’s degree in sport management. She understands the system from the inside out and helps organizations make decisions that reflect where sport is going, not just where it’s been.

All of this combines into a perspective that is both deeply informed and uniquely relevant to sport organizations—especially those in smaller or rural communities who want a consultant who truly understands their world.

We are very aware that sport leaders are constantly asked to do more with less. We’ve designed our process to minimize overwhelm for you. We hold one kickoff call to talk through all details and then we take care of the rest by email. Key representatives participate in surveys, the planning day, and, if added, the feedback cycle—enough to ensure meaningful buy-in without overburdening anyone.

The Spark Solutions strategic planning process has been carefully developed from our experience of working with more than 20 organizations to develop more than 30 strategic plans. We offer a variety of different add-ons for those who are seeking more than the core process; however, we are open to customizing a process that meets your organization’s unique needs. Book a Spark Session so we can talk about what you’re looking for.

Once the strategic plan is created and approved, it’s your organization’s responsibility to make sure the plan is actually used. We understand that this can be the most challenging part. We share our Reporting Well Resource, which is a guide that provides guidance on how to bring the plan to life by evaluating progress and effectively reporting on outcomes. We also offer project add-ons in a Performance Indicator Design, a collaborative session to define measurable indicators for each strategic objective, and the Operational Action Plan, a process to support the development of the operational action plan. Both steps offer tangible tools to support tracking and reporting.

Strategic planning can be difficult for some people. Many people are not used to thinking strategically, because their main roles are operational or because the organization hasn’t been strategically-focused in the past. We’ve developed a Prime Your Strategic Thinking resource for our clients, to help people who will participate in the One-Day Strategic Development Session to get into the right frame of mind. During that session, we guide our clients through questions and steps to get them thinking at a high-level. We also take care of the word-smithing of the plan and present you with the document, so you don’t have to spend time deciding where the commas live and whether the verb tenses are right.

For most organizations, the core strategic planning process takes about three to four months. Additional steps usually add on one to three more months, allowing more time for deeper engagement and community input. Both programs are aligned with your organizational calendar and structured around clear milestones, so progress feels manageable and purposeful every step of the way.

You’ll receive an invoice at the completion of each step in the program. This ensures payments are tied directly to progress made.

Absolutely. You can choose the option that works best for your organization—whether that’s electronic transfer, credit card payment, or traditional cheque.