What We Offer
Intentional strategic planning engages all of an organization’s valuable stakeholders.
Strategy By Design enables each client organization to create a future that matches its goals, mandates, and mission. We assist nonprofit, arts, cultural, and other organizations across central Iowa and beyond.
We see potential. Looking beyond day-to-day demands, Strategy By Design works with clients to identify the group’s unique needs. With our clients, we devise custom strategies to match those needs. We guide clients to set achievable goals. We then partner with them to design an action plan. We facilitate processes that define a learning baseline. That learning baseline can be used as the organization changes and grows.
We design for success. Through intentional planning processes, our clients capitalize on assets and reveal new growth potential. Our strategies create momentum for future success.
OUR STRATEGY
EXAMINE MANDATES
We help organizations define the requirements of bylaws, regulations, and stakeholders.
UNDERSTAND NEEDS
We help identify and understand the needs of the organization’s members, leadership, staff, volunteers, and other key participants.
ASSESS CULTURE
We help evaluate the organizational culture and environment in order to facilitate matching strategies.
MAP PRIORITIES
We help prioritize needs and goals for organizations to effectively reach desired outcomes.
FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION
We help facilitate strategic implementation plans that lead organizations to their goals for the future.
SET MEASURABLE GOALS
We help organizations create goals that are both concrete and achievable—enabling them to build on success.
DEFINE ACTION STEPS
We help organizations establish step-by-step action plans with checkpoints and defined time lines for each step.
ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITY
We help organizations assign responsibility for each step of the action plan—giving ownership to appropriate parties.
MONITOR PROGRESS
We help organizations follow through with six-month and one-year check-ins to review progress and make adjustments.
FRED DARBONNE, FOUNDER
Phone: [319] 213-0080 | Email: Fred@Strategy-By-Design.com
Our Facilitator
Fred Darbonne, founder of Strategy By Design,
works with organizations in strategic planning
and organizational development.
How we help. Fred helps nonprofits and other organizations define their direction, grow their mission, and achieve their goals. He applies education, training, and hands-on experience to enable each group to chart its unique path to success. His concrete action plans offer measurable ways to evaluate implementation progress—a valuable advantage of Fred’s strategic planning process.
What we know. Fred’s experience includes:
- Systems Theory and Organizational Design instructor, MBA program, Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids
- Learning groups of the Iowa Quality Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Des Moines
- Trainer for leaders, judicatory officers, and others in organization planning, development, and group conflict resolution
- Facilitator for colleague fieldwork cohorts in project design and implementation
Who we connect with. Fred has ongoing involvement with:
- Iowa Quality Center
- Greater Des Moines Partnership
- Des Moines Downtown Chamber
Why we are effective. The Association for Strategic Planning certifies Fred as a Strategic Planning Professional. The certification ensures that Fred offers a high level of quality and consistency in working with executives, managers, and their teams to help them meet and overcome the challenges of the 21st century.
Client Experience
