Case Study: The Beltrami Humane Society

I served as Executive Director of the Beltrami Humane Society (later renamed Great River Rescue) for 11 years. When I arrived, the organization was in crisis — the Board had even considered closing the doors. Needless to say, change was urgent if the shelter was going to survive.

Before stepping into this role, I had been studying Nonprofit Management at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Minneapolis. One course in particular, Strategic Planning with John Bryson, shaped my thinking. It showed me how developing and implementing a strategic plan can completely transform an organization.

So, early in my tenure, I proposed to the Board that we create a strategic plan. They agreed, and I facilitated the process. Within a few months, we had a roadmap to guide us into and through an uncertain future.

The road wasn’t easy. We still struggled financially, and we had to work hard to repair broken relationships in the community. But little by little, things improved. As we clarified our identity, strengthened our operations, and demonstrated commitment to our mission, the tide began to turn. Adopters returned. Sponsors stepped up. Volunteers re-engaged. We were once again able to fulfill our mission.

Casting a Vision

One of the most powerful outcomes of strategic planning was setting a vision for the future. Before that, our leaders and supporters were stuck in survival mode, focused only on day-to-day fires. I often had to do the same just to keep things running. But growth doesn’t happen when all you see is the problem in front of you.

It’s like trying to sail across the ocean while staring only at the water right beneath your boat. You’ll never reach your destination unless you know where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

Together, with input from board members, staff, and supporters, we created this vision:

“The Beltrami Humane Society is dedicated to operating an animal shelter for the purpose of finding a quality forever home for each animal we serve, encouraging a community of responsible companion animal guardians, eliminating the community’s need to euthanize dogs and cats as a means of population control, and promoting a society where companion animals become more valued.”

This shared vision gave us something bigger than ourselves. It motivated us, united us, and inspired others to join us.

Looking Beyond Today

Of course, we still had to manage daily tasks — paying the bills, responding to emails, buying supplies, filing reports. But we never lost sight of the bigger picture.

I was struck recently by a finding in The Leadership Challenge by Barry Posner and James Kouzes: on average, leaders spend only 3% of their time thinking about the future. That’s not nearly enough! Without vision, leadership gets stuck in maintenance mode. The daily tasks matter, but they should serve a larger purpose.

Through strategic planning, we not only defined values, goals, and strategies — we cast a compelling vision that everyone could believe in. That vision didn’t solve every problem, but it gave us the confidence and boldness to move forward. It pulled us back from the brink of closure and set us on a path to growth.

Moving Forward

If you feel stuck in the tyranny of day-to-day operations, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to stay there. At Mustful Strategic Consulting, I help organizations create a vision that lifts them out of survival mode and into a better future.

Let’s work together to cast a compelling vision that inspires your team and your community.