Teaching Paper: Agile Strategic Planning in Non-Profits

Agile methodologies, originally developed in the technology sector, are increasingly applied by non-profit organizations seeking adaptable, participatory, and iterative planning approaches. This Teaching Paper introduces two practical templates—Sprint Planning and Retrospective—that help non-profit teams operationalize agile principles in program design, implementation, and evaluation. It offers step-by-step guidance on sprint goals, backlogs, stand-ups, reviews, and reflections, along with contextual adaptations for low-resource and cross-cultural environments. A case study from a Kenyan maternal health initiative illustrates how these tools enhance collaboration, transparency, and impact. For academics, the paper bridges management theory with applied social practice; for practitioners, it provides ready-to-use templates for fostering continuous learning, accountability, and adaptive capacity.