A social change agency, specifically, a youth empowerment program, can be a powerful planning and strategic powerhouse. It can help nonprofits understand how to get from here to there by mapping out strategies for change. Plans can then be developed and executed, and funds sourced to achieve further goals. By engaging youth on all levels, the agency can build a capacity that brings people into the process of change. Through comprehensive strategies, the agency can empower leaders within the organization to work as partners with the community.

Youth empowerment is a strategy that many social change agencies use as an integral part of their work. In this case, youth are seen as the most important part of any plan. By bringing in new, and possibly less experienced, minds, nonprofits can learn from those who have been successful in the field. While magazine may view youth as weak and frail, many see them as the most important element to getting any given plan through. By delegating magazine to a trusted advisor, nonprofits have the ability to focus on implementation instead of fear.

For social change agencies, there are two basic roles that an adviser should fill. The first is as a trusted advisor. While not required, a trusted advisor is critical to the work of any nonprofit. An adviser helps to foster relationships among key stakeholders, provides information and counsel, develops strategy based on needs assessment, provides support to the staff and board, and brings in new faces to the organization.

As part of the trusted advisor role, an adviser also should engage on a regular basis with nonprofits’ staff. While not required, magazine shows that the planner is attentive to the needs of the staff and to the missions of the nonprofit. Regular contact gives nonprofits a way to identify gaps in their strategy or to receive feedback on what is working and what is not. It also allows nonprofit leaders to reach outside the organization for support in areas where the nonprofit is weak. Lack of coordination between staff and leaders can create problems that will delay the implementation of strategic planning, so it is absolutely critical that nonprofit leaders maintain regular communication with each other.

A second role for a trusted advisor is to act as a liaison with the public. This role is most useful when the nonprofit organizations and communities are at different stages of development. If the nonprofit organizations have already begun implementing strategies, then the adviser is the person who is tasked with keeping the organization connected with the rest of the community. A trusted advisor can do this by hosting town-hall events, participating in community events, visiting schools and holding seminars or workshops to discuss community development.

In some cases, a strategic planning consultant also serves as the liaison for the members of a local or national advisory board. Nonprofits frequently consult with business or industry groups, but they may not have the budget for such engagements. A strategic planning consultant can provide the expertise and the networking opportunities that many nonprofits don’t have. A social change agency should be especially interested in working with civic leaders or members of local government, because they typically have an ear toward policy changes that could benefit their sector.

Another way that a trusted advisor can play a role in the operational strategy of a social change agency is by becoming a public relations expert. PR professionals to help nonprofit organizations and groups to develop and promote their public image. They help them develop and maintain effective public relations campaigns that build goodwill among their target audiences. Many PR professionals work with nonprofit boards and key stakeholders to conduct in-depth strategy consultations.

The third job of a public relations expert working in a nonprofit is to educate others about their cause and the programs and policies that they support. A professional PR specialist can use many of the same methods of communication as a communications specialist, such as press releases, blog posts, newsletters, and conferences. The first job of a social change agency professional is to develop “initiatives” that help their target audiences gain a better understanding of their work and mission. In some cases, this means developing an online presence or blogging that answers frequently asked questions. Other times, it means speaking to the press on specific issues. No matter what the case, a social change agency needs to put itself in the position of being “social.”