Smart Chart 3.0 - An Even More Effective Tool to Help Nonprofits Make Smart Communications Choices - Getting Started - Step One

Sep 12, 2026

Smart Chart 3.0 is a strategic communications planning tool for nonprofits, guiding users through key decisions that drive high-impact outcomes. It emphasizes making strategy choices before selecting tactics, building consensus among campaign partners, and ensuring each decision rests on a solid rationale. The framework outlines program decisions, context, strategic choices, communications activities, success measurements, and a final reality check. Step one focuses on defining broad goals, objectives, and the decision maker to set clear guiding points.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Getting Started

Overview of the decision process

Step one: Program decisions

Broad goal, objective, decision maker

the spitfire strategies smart chart 3. 0 An Even More Effective Tool to Help Nonprofits Make Smart Communications Choices the smart chart for communications A Tool to Help Nonprofits Make Smart Communications Choices Whether you are just starting the communications planning process, checking in on a communications campaign already in progress, or interested in reviewing an effort you have already executed, the Smart Chart 3.0™ will help you assess your strategic decisions to ensure that your communications strategy delivers high impact. Strategic communications decisions are the building blocks of any successful communications planning and implementation effort. When used correctly, this tool will create stronger outcomes and help you use resources more effectively. Fight the urge to think tactically in the beginning. Strategic decisions must be made before you settle on tactics. To create a high impact communications effort, strategy must drive tactics—not the other way around. | What’s New?
For those already familiar with previous versions of the tool, here’s a snapshot of what’s different. At the center of this document, you will find Smart Chart 3.0 – an even more effective strategic communications tool that builds upon the original Smart Chart. You can remove the chart – or leave it attached. As you work your way through the planning exercises, stop and fill in sections of the chart. If you follow all the steps – in order – you will finish with a solid communications strategy.
For big fans of the old Smart Chart, don’t panic. We made only slight modifications, primarily to reflect feedback from more than 500 trainings and workshops with nonprofit organizations and foundations for how to make this tool even more user-friendly and effective.
Other updates reflect the findings from our research on the Activation Point™ . In December 2006, the Communications Leadership Institute partnered with Spitfire Strategies to research the best practices of persuasion. Through focus groups, case study research, an extensive literature review, brainstorms with an expert panel, and a proprietary research tool called PowerGames, we developed recommendations for the best strategies and approaches public interest groups can use to create change by getting the right people to take the right action at the right time. To access the full report, visit [www.activationpoint.org](www.activationpoint.org).
Based on the Activation Point, we’ve updated the Smart Chart with a new section on audience readiness that will |
| Our best advice:
Think inside the box | | --- | --- | --- | | | help you gauge the stage of persuasion you need to work through with your audience(s) . We’ve simplified some sections of the tool to streamline your planning process andreformatted the Smart Chart to account for communications efforts designed to engage multiple audiences. We’ve also added a section to help you plot your communications activities on a timeline and assign key tasks to the key players on your communications team. Finally, we’ve added a section on implementation and evaluation to help you test the rationale for your strategy, and set benchmarks to measure your progress as you put the strategy into action.
Smart Chart 3.0 can make your communications reach and impact even more effective. But despite the changes, we still want you to “think inside the box” and make the decisions in order.
To download and print additional copies of the Smart Chart 3.0 (or the original Smart Chart) log on to [www.smartchart](www.smartchart). org. The site also includes an interactive planning tool to further enhance your planning activities. | | 1 Getting Started This process is not rocket science, but it does require time, commitment and focus. Building consensus among campaign partners around the decisions you need to make is not always easy – but it is necessary. Abdicating decisions will lead to less effective communications.

FAQs

What is Smart Chart 3.0 used for in nonprofit communications planning?

It helps nonprofits assess strategic communications decisions to ensure their strategy delivers high impact, regardless of whether planning is just starting, a campaign is in progress, or an effort needs review.

Why does the tool stress making strategic decisions before choosing tactics?

Because strategic decisions must be made first; strategy should drive tactics, not the other way around, to create a high-impact communications effort.

What are the core decision sections covered by Smart Chart 3.0?

The tool covers six major sections: Program Decisions, Context, Strategic Choices, Communications Activities, Measurements of Success, and a Final Reality Check.

Sep 12, 2026

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