Setting Up for Agile Planning in Non-Profit Organizations
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-04
This material forms part of the NEYA Global knowledge architecture. Institutional, organizational, professional, training, consulting, curriculum, program design, or implementation use requires an active license from NEYA Global
Explore Architecture →
Module Overview →
Request Institutional Access →
About the Article
This article explores how non-profit organizations can prepare for the transition to agile strategic planning through systematic readiness assessment, team structuring, and continuous learning. It argues that successful adoption depends not only on tools or frameworks but on cultivating an agile mindset across leadership and teams. The paper outlines practical strategies for evaluating organizational capacity, building collaborative and cross-functional teams, and integrating low-cost tools to support agile workflows in resource-limited settings. Through real-world examples from Asia, Latin America, and Africa, it illustrates how small and mid-sized organizations can establish agility using accessible platforms, local expertise, and learning ecosystems. Framing agile preparation as a process of cultural transformation rather than technical change, this article contributes to scholarship on organizational adaptability while providing a pragmatic roadmap for practitioners building resilient and learning-oriented non-profits.
Key Topics
- Agile readiness and assessment
- Team structuring and leadership
- Continuous learning and professional development
- Cultural change and resistance management
- Low-cost tools and digital adaptation
- Non-profit organizational transformation
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Setting Up for Agile Planning in Non-Profit Organizations. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-04
References
Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1996). Organizational Learning II: Theory, Method, and Practice. Addison-Wesley.
Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Denning, S. (2018). The Age of Agile: How Smart Companies Are Transforming the Way Work Gets Done. Harper Business.
Ebrahim, A. (2010). The many faces of nonprofit accountability. In D. O. Renz (Ed.), The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit Leadership and Management (pp. 101–123). Jossey-Bass.
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Agile Strategic Planning: Adapting to Change. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/agile-strategic-planning-2025
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Crisis & Contingency Planning. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/crisis-contingency-2025
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Strategies for Sustainable Growth. NEYA Global Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.64357/strategies-sustainable-growth-2025
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). The agile strategic planning process in non-profit organizations. Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-03
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Execution and monitoring in agile strategic planning for non-profits. Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-07
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Tools and resources for agile planning in non-profits (teaching paper). Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-tp-02
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Agile strategic planning in non-profits (teaching paper). Neya Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies.
https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-agstrpladptch-tp-01
Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review Press.
https://doi.org/10.15358/9783800646159
Ries, E. (2011). The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. Crown Business.
Schwaber, K., & Sutherland, J. (2020). The Scrum Guide. Scrum.org. Retrieved from https://scrumguides.org
