Nonprofit Strategic Planning Framework

Introducing Ariadne

Most strategic plans fail because they fall into one of two traps.

Some are too fluffy, heavy on vision and values, but light on clear choices. Everyone feels inspired, but no one knows what to do differently on Monday.

Others are too tactical—lists of operational imperatives masquerading as strategy. "Do more do better, do it quicker." Without differentiation or deliberate trade-offs, they're just work plans with a nicer cover.

The Ariadne Strategy Framework fixes that by weaving together three layers of Identity, Focus, and Execution so every choice connects back to who you are and where you're going.

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MFM Ariadne Strategy Framework - December 2025 v20-Final-White-Sm

“Working with Jeff at More For Many was truly one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. His approach helped our leaders discover the foundation for our entire strategy. Our work together made Horton Group a better, more purposeful organization.”

Dan Horton

CEO, the Horton Group

Do you know the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur? In the story, Theseus is the hero. He sails to Crete, enters the labyrinth, slays the Minotaur, and escapes. These are the pieces most of us know.

Few know the part about Ariadne.

Ariadne (pronounced eh·ree·AD·nee) was a princess trapped in her father's kingdom — a place built on human sacrifice, with a monster in the basement she didn't create. When Theseus arrived, it was Ariadne who gave him the way to survive. She handed him a ball of thread and a simple instruction: tie it at the entrance, unwind it as you go, and follow it back out.

In the version we tell now, Theseus is the hero and the sword was the tool. But the thread, not the sword, was the real solution. And Ariadne was the real hero, because when Theseus escaped, so did she.

That's why we named our framework after her. Most strategic plans give you lots of tools, tactics, and quarterly goals. But without a thread connecting where you are to where you're going, you're just creating organized busyness.

Ariadne helps you find the thread.

Most plans fail because they are either too fluffy—full of vision but lacking clear choices—or too tactical, acting as glorified work plans without real differentiation. Ariadne solves this by weaving a connecting thread between who you are and what you actually do to ensure you task list traces back to your long-term strategic initiatives.

Alignment starts with the Identity layer, where you build a shared foundation of Vision, Mission, and Values. By facilitating "discussion before decision," the Ariadne framework surfaces difficult strategic questions early, preventing the common problem of diverse stakeholders being on different pages. This process transforms everyone into inspired owners of the strategy.

Ariadne is designed to create a playbook for action, not a term paper for the shelf. Unlike top-down models that stay abstract, this framework builds from the ground up: establishing a stable base (Identity), making deliberate trade-offs (Focus), and translating those choices into measurable projects (Execution). It’s a tool for leadership teams who need to move fluidly between visionary aspiration and concrete business tactics.

Success is tracked through the Execution layer, which identifies the specific metrics and annual priorities that prove progress. By following the thread back through your differentiators and value creation, you can quickly see if an initiative is a dead end or a path to growth. This allows your organization to adjust in real-time rather than waiting years for a post-mortem.

The timeline is as flexible as your needs. If you need immediate clarity, we offer workshops that can create alignment and momentum in as little as a single day. For organizations looking for a full strategic plan or organizational transformation, engagements typically range from three to four months across three stages of Explore, Build, and Multiply. Learn more here.

Logistics shouldn't be the dead-end of strategic planning. While in-person sessions are powerful, in today's world much of the work can happen in interactive virtual workshops with tools and activities to keep everyone engaged and aligned. We also use individual interviews, assessments, and surveys to gather diverse perspectives and build consensus without requiring everyone to be in the same place at the same time.