Strategic planning efforts began with the identification of five priorities and culminated in development of detailed measures associated with each priority. The organization's energy and resources will focus on the following objectives over the coming year:  

Priority 1 – Financial Stability

• Raise $85,000 (100% of annual operating budget, outside of conference revenues and expenditures) by December 2009.
• Develop a reserve fund with sufficient operating revenue to support the organization for three months or $ 33,000 by December 2011.  Reserve fund to be phased in with $11,000 raised by December 2009, and another $11,000 by December 2010. 
• Launch individual giving campaign by June 2009, and raise at least $1,000 by December 2009.  Raise an additional $3,000 by December 2010.
• Launch IHN Corporate partnership program, and retain 10 corporate memberships by December 2009.  Explore multi-year agreements with corporate partners by December 2009.

Priority 2 – Membership Growth

• Negotiate affiliation agreements with nationally recognized nonprofit organizations ICMA and NALEO by December 2009.  In 2010, explore possibility of formalizing an agreement with NFBPA and HELO.
• Secure at least 75% of membership renewal from prior year within first three months of each fiscal year (March).
• Create chapter model agreement by September 2009; Enter into chapter agreements with two cities by December 2009.  Order of priority should be with communities that currently have local Hispanic organizations, but are not formally affiliated with IHN (i.e.  Fort Worth, Glendale, Phoenix and Austin) by December 2009.
  Enter into affiliate agreement with Miami by 2009. 
• Pursue agreements with cities that do not currently have a local Hispanic organization such as, Chicago, New York by December 2010.  
• Beginning March 2009, produce and distribute new Quarterly Newsletter (4 issues) with Imbedded Campaign to obtain new members and promote giving campaign. 

Priority 3 – Corporate Image

• Increase IHN visibility by issuing one media hit per quarter (hit means a I alert is picked up by the media)
• IHN members will participate on 10 conference panels or media events, as a way to increase awareness of IHN.
• Complete IHN Marketing and Communications Plan, including graphic standards by December 2009.

Priority 4 – Member Services

• With help of regional members, participate in or host three regional groups/events by the end of December 2009.
  Provide, or offer in partnership with affiliate organizations, three educational seminars, sessions to IHN membership by December 2009.
• Attendance at the annual conference will increase by 10% from previous year’s conference.

Priority 5 – ICMA

• ICMA Affiliation agreement finalized and signed by September 2009.
• One IHN board member will be appointed on ICMA-RC board. Two IHN members (not previously credentialed) will become an ICMA credentialed manager by December 2010.

If you are interested in helping us accomplish these objectives, please contact Alex Lopez at alopez@ihnonline.org.