Imagine LA

Impact Stories

Imagine LA

Setting a New Strategic Direction

The Situation

Building and committing to a comprehensive strategic plan is a key driver of Imagine LA’s success in their work to end the cycle of family poverty and homelessness. For their 2022-2024 strategic plan, Imagine LA sought a partner to help guide and inform their strategic planning process, conduct extensive interviews and analysis, and fully incorporate an equity lens throughout the resulting plan. As an exciting addition to the project, Imagine LA looked for a partner who would collaborate closely with McKinsey & Company volunteers who lent their expertise to support the planning effort.

The Engagement

CNM planned and executed far-reaching stakeholder interviews to gather input from Imagine LA’s staff, board, partners, service providers, and – importantly – the families they serve. After conducting 83 in-depth interviews, CNM analyzed the results to uplift the needs of the community, identify opportunities to advance equity, and explore Imagine LA’s unique value proposition to inform the strategic plan. CNN fully embraced the input of the volunteers from McKinsey, working closely with them to combine their best-in-class expertise with our deep understanding of nonprofit strategy in crafting a final plan and implementation process that will guide Imagine LA through 2024.

CNM Services Provided

The Results

  • Imagine LA benefits from the “most comprehensive and forward-looking Strategic Plan to date” that they’re proud to present to their supporters, funders, and the families they serve.
  • Through close collaboration, the expertise and insights of McKinsey & Company volunteers were incorporated to enhance the strategic plan. 
  • More than 80 stakeholder interviews were analyzed to direct and inform the strategic plan.

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Need expert advice? We're only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below. You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








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CNM Nonprofit Hotline

Need expert advice? We’re only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below.

You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








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Maura Harrington Ph.D., MBA

Executive Vice President
Center for Nonprofit Management

Maura is known for her expertise in organizational development and strategy and in all aspects of organizational development with a focus on strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation. At CNM, she oversees the client services team and provides consulting, training, and coaching services to a broad range of organizations. Much of her consulting and capacity-building work has been with community-based organizations and public health departments related to effective organizational operations, evaluation practices, and the use of logic models and other assessment tools to support planning, evaluation, and management. A BoardSource Trainer, a certified Advanced Associate, and a Trainer for the Connective Leadership Institute; Maura has completed certification as an executive coach under the International Coaching Federation. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Claremont Graduate School, an MBA from the Peter Drucker Graduate Management Center, a BS in Psychology from Georgetown University, and serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Social Work and Department of Psychology.