Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Openhouse was aware they were overdue for a shift in focus from all LGBTQ+ seniors in San Francisco to a deliberate focus on those who have been forced to demonstrate the greatest resilience in the face of longstanding structural and individual racism, classism, homophobia, and/or transphobia. Openhouse hired Facente Consulting to facilitate the development of a new strategic plan to help guide them during this transition.
Facente Consulting worked with Openhouse’s board, leadership, and staff to facilitate a year-long strategic planning process that included a review of existing background materials about the organization as well as suggestions from dozens of staff, board members, donors, volunteers, and clients/community members. About halfway through the process, the project was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a subsequent change in leadership at Openhouse led to further delay. However, in 2022 the strategic planning process resumed, with a goal to complete a user-friendly, professionally-designed plan featuring a new theory of change to support Openhouse as it moves into this new phase of work.