Strategic Plan 2025-2030
Approved June 2025
Mission
To support and advance the work of counselors as they help students realize their full educational potential, with particular emphasis on the transition from secondary schools to colleges and universities, and with attention to access and equality for all students.
Inclusion
In all that IACAC does, we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our organization, the students we serve, and the communities we strive to educate.
Vision
Leading the way in transforming the landscape of college admissions through fostering a collaborative community of knowledgeable professionals who inspire and support students throughout Illinois in exploring their post-secondary options.
Membership
Goal = IACAC will strive to find balance and purpose for its members while meeting the needs of the organization as well as the needs of our member community.
- Increase membership for those who advocate for community college and transfer admission, who represent diverse geographic locations throughout the state, who are school counseling graduate students, who are CPS practitioners, and/or who serve in a community-based/service organization.
- Enhance areas where we welcome, educate, and satisfy members.
- Identify individual members’ strengths and areas for growth to grow volunteerism and engagement, as well as ensure programming aligns with growth desires.
Fiduciary Responsibility
Goal = IACAC will prioritize adhering to non-profit association best practices to continue to demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the management of daily and future operations, budget plans, and decisions to ensure the financial health and longevity of the organization.
- Maintain strong revenue in current partnerships and continually seek new avenues for revenue, emphasizing on external sources.
- Assess both real-time expenses and fixed ones to confirm that the organization’s financial priorities align with non-profit association industry success, best practices, and member needs.
- Review current investment strategy and earnings accounts, policies, and forecasts with a professional financial planner.
Educational Opportunities & Outreach
Goal = IACAC will focus efforts on ensuring the education opportunities & outreach in which we are involved are relevant, effective, and streamlined internally and with external partners.
- Evaluate current educational framework seeking consolidation and collaboration where effective.
- Pursue collaboration opportunities with external educational partners.
- Design and develop innovative and relevant programs that seek to cultivate the leadership skills of our membership.
- Continue expanding the delivery of Association deliverables to members of all geographic regions of Illinois with special attention to professionals who serve marginalized/underrepresented populations.
Brand
Goal = IACAC will determine our brand identity and impact while confirming our understanding of relevant digital space to connect with member needs.
- Define the IACAC “brand” with analysis of content strategy, brand perception, positioning, purpose, and target audience.
- Identify key influencers on digital platforms to enhance the IACAC “brand” strategically, internally and externally.
- Assess mechanisms in which members’ digital experiences occur.
- Implement a dynamic IACAC “Knowledge Base” tool.
Governance
Goal = IACAC will further define its structure of governance and management seeking well qualified volunteer leaders and support personnel to ensure effective volunteer service.
- Evaluate organization breakdown structure (OBS), with emphasis on staffing, independent contracts, purpose, effectiveness, and team divisions.
- Employ and yearly review credentialed staff as well as support a strong professional development strategy.
- Create a leadership matrix and solidify a pipeline to improve volunteer leader success and succession, nominating process, and candidate selection process.
- Identify and utilize a scholarly non-profit association curriculum to onboard new board members and volunteers.
- Improve and create diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives throughout the organization’s strategy, structure, and culture.