Helping the National 4-H Council cultivate growth through an intentional process toward strategic alignment
Executive Summary
Emerging from the pandemic National 4-H Council – the non-profit partner of America’s largest youth development organization – recognized the opportunity to evolve its business model to better meet the needs of the Cooperative Extension System, youth, and families today. AlignOrg Solutions partnered with the National 4-H Council to implement a comprehensive organizational redesign, resulting in improved collaboration, significant cost savings, and a more agile structure poised for future growth and impact.
Introduction
For over a century, Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program has been at the forefront of youth development in the United States, reaching nearly six million young people annually. The National 4-H Council plays a crucial role in the fundraising and marketing efforts to support the 4-H movement. However, in an evolving landscape, the organization recognized the need for a business model change to address the pressing issues facing youth and fulfill its mission in service to Cooperative Extension.
Opportunity
A thoughtful approach to transformation
The Cooperative Extension System recognizes the country’s future depends on a talent pipeline that is ready to address society’s greatest challenges. 4-H is uniquely positioned to equip the next generation with the skills to thrive in an ever-evolving world. Launching a national work and life readiness initiative in partnership with Cooperative Extension, required changes to how development and marketing leveraged their strengths.
To ensure a thoughtful and intentional approach for the next phase of their business model evolution and to support a larger campaign growth goal, the National 4-H Council partnered with AlignOrg Solutions, effectively hitting the pause button to assess their direction and optimize their strategies.
Solution
A collaborative process toward strategic alignment
AlignOrg Solutions implemented a comprehensive transformation process, kicking off by conducting a comprehensive stakeholder analysis and dedicating time to understanding the diverse needs of 4-H’s stakeholders.
After establishing these priorities, AlignOrg facilitated collaborative visioning sessions with leadership and team members. These inclusive workshops united leaders from various areas to brainstorm the future of the National 4-H Council Marketing function, fostering a sense of ownership and teamwork while building a more collaborative approach in strategy development and day-to-day execution.
With stakeholder buy-in secured, AlignOrg then focused on redesigning the Marketing operating model. Rather than merely creating a new structure, they engaged team members in exercises that connected current and future-oriented organizational capabilities to the core values and mission of 4-H. This thorough reorganization introduced key new roles, such as the Vice President of Communications, ensuring streamlined communication efforts under one executive umbrella to enhance organizational cohesion.
The process provided an opportunity to assess the shifting landscape of youth development post-pandemic and how marketing could evolve to serve primary audiences and elevate storytelling. Throughout this transformative journey, AlignOrg delivered targeted change leadership support, equipping management with the tools necessary to communicate these changes effectively to associates, board members, and other stakeholders, thereby ensuring a smooth and positive transition.
Impact
Leadership collaboration and role clarity leading to enhanced engagement and organizational efficiency
4-H’s transformation resulted in direct outcomes, significant savings, and enhanced leadership alignment. The process had a deep focus on ensuring the opinions of associates were acknowledged and valued, fostering a more inclusive environment. This assessment also enabled decision-makers to tackle challenging choices with an informed, systematic approach.
Looking ahead, 4-H anticipates measurable success in their upcoming campaign over the next five years and hopes to partly attribute this progress to the organizational changes implemented. While the future remains to be seen, all signs suggest a positive trajectory.
