A national nonprofit organization supporting professionals and communities in the urban planning field recognized the need for a more structured way to deliver strategic initiatives. As the organization continued to grow, leadership sought to enhance project management capability and strengthen alignment between leadership, teams, and strategy. We partnered with the organization to create a Strategy Delivery Office (SDO), develop internal capability, and embed a culture of strategic delivery.
Client: National Nonprofit Organization
Scope: Development of a Strategy Delivery Office and organization-wide project management training
Focus Areas: Project Management Capability, Sponsor Development, Portfolio Management
Results: Established an SDO framework, trained project managers and sponsors, and embedded a culture of strategic delivery
The organization had a strong record of getting work done but lacked a formal structure for delivering projects tied to strategy. Leadership saw this as an opportunity to formalize project delivery and strengthen execution across the organization.
Key challenges included:
Limited project management capability across the organization
Lack of consistent sponsor support and role clarity
Minimal visibility into the overall project portfolio and resource utilization
Need for a structured, sustainable approach to managing strategic initiatives
We began by understanding the organization’s culture, goals, and structure to design a Strategy Delivery Office that fit its unique environment. With the full support of leadership, we created a roadmap for training, coaching, and governance that would build internal capability and ownership over time.
Our approach included project management training for all team members through small-group cohorts, tailored coaching for project managers, and clear guidance for sponsors and stakeholders. In parallel, the newly appointed SDO leader participated in a structured strategy delivery program, connecting the organization’s progress to global best practices.
Key actions included:
Designed and launched the Strategy Delivery Office framework
Delivered project management training cohorts for project managers and staff
Coached leaders and sponsors on their roles in project success
Provided education on portfolio management and workload balancing
Supported the SDO leader through a global best-practice framework
Within the first year, the organization established a strong foundation for project management excellence and began delivering its top four strategic initiatives using new tools and methods. Internal project management capability grew, leadership alignment improved, and visibility into strategic execution increased.
Key results included:
Formalized Strategy Delivery Office structure in under 12 months
Trained and coached a cohort of project managers across departments
Built clear sponsor engagement and accountability practices
Improved consistency and effectiveness in project delivery
Enabled the organization to continue operating its SDO with minimal external support
Over time, the Strategy Delivery Office is expected to mature further, expanding its services, implementing additional tools, and continuing to strengthen its ability to deliver strategic value across the organization.
