The framework for our consultation is derived from our view of "sustaining creativity" that focuses on:

envisioning improved reality,

engaging others in the mission and vision,

enabling successful strategic planning, resource acquisition, marketing, organizational development and budgeting, and

enduring, once initial success has been achieved, though the creation of structures such as endowments and/or strong sources of earned revenues, that help to sustain the vitality of the endeavor.

eQuad Associates recognize that improved reality begins with imagination and vitality. Four steps are taken to assure success: envision, engage, enable and endure. ("e" to the 4th). Specific planning support may focus on:

- Development planning: Helping to create a plan for identifying, cultivating and soliciting prospects for donated financial resources. This Plan generally focuses on annual, capital, and planned giving.

- Business planning: Helping to create multi-year proforma financial statements, inclusive of operating revenues and expenses, cash flow statements, and balance sheets. This presentation is most often in Excel spreadsheets augmented by a text narrative.

- Marketing planning: Helping to create a plan that would set a price for services, determine a means for facilitating access, propose the best means for promoting the services, and develop a clear definition of services. In addition, Virgil and Associates would work together to identify the primary influencers on the market and select the best means for reaching these influencers. This would include setting the geographic scope of the programs services.

- Legal planning: Although eQuad can not be the attorney, Virgil is able to give limited advice on licensure, not-for-profit law, and means of obtaining approvals for the regulations that may need to be met before programs open.

- Organizational planning: This could include board (volunteer) development and staff development. As a Board is created, expanded, educated, focused or changed, eQuad can facilitate strategic planning, which helps both staff and volunteer leadership to examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, while ultimately creating multi-year plans for action. For new organizations, this may also include consultation on the acquisition of staff and the creation of job descriptions.

eQuad proceeds to develop each thread, only after Virgil or his Associates have fully discussed the approach with you, so that eQuad can determine priorities and schedule next steps and work plans.