If you’ve been around Bluebonnet for more than a year or so, you’ve probably heard about our strategic plan. But if you are new to Bluebonnet, this may be the first you are hearing about it. Either way, I wanted to give you all an update and include a survey to get your input on our next steps.
I know this email is long, but not only did I want to let you know about the strategic work behind the scenes, but I wanted you to see what we’ve accomplished so far and what we’re still working on. AND I really would like your input on our next steps.
The Board of Directors (BOD) and I launched a strategic planning process a little over four years ago because we wanted to ensure we have a sustainable organization that outlasts any one of us and helps horses, and horse lovers, far into the future.
Through these discussions and interviews, we identified our mutually reinforcing Core Capabilities: Team, Trusted Partners, Foster Homes, Equine Professionals, Programs, and Finances. These all work as cogs in the machine, feeding off of and into each other. They’re all part of what makes Bluebonnet work.
Next, we analyzed the components that made up each of these capabilities and identified what we did well and where we could improve. Then the BOD, myself, and staff (both paid and volunteer) discussed actions we could take, or programs we could implement, to improve the organization. These became our strategic priorities.
I took all this information we’ve gathered, the discussions we’ve had, and the things we’ve considered and created our three year Strategic Work Plan that has guided our priorities from 2024 to now. Each year, the BOD and staff review the strategic goals for that year and adjust them based on emerging needs.
Our overall theme has been: Building for the Future. This strategic plan has been about the future of the rescue, the future of our volunteers and supporters, and the future of our horses.
The theme is divided into three overall goal themes: Building Blocks, Building Community, Building Influence.
In 2024, we focused on Building Blocks. Strategic goals accomplished in 2024:
- Working with Rob Camper to do a branding exercise which identified who are, what makes us different.
- Begin documenting the processes that make Bluebonnet work so that we have consistency of operations across staff and volunteers and are able to more easily train new people. This has continued into 2025 and 2026 and is now part of the staff culture: when we create a new program or update an existing one, we create or update all the necessary documentation.
- Improved our data tracking, storage, and collection.
- Improved our Guidestar and Charity Navigator ratings.
- Collected stories from volunteers, foster homes, and adopters and shared on social media.
- Researched ways to improve our communication strategy. This has continued into 2025 and 2026.
In 2025, we continued our focus on Building Blocks and added in Building Community. Strategic goals accomplished in 2025:
- Continue branding work with updated presence on LinkedIn, new logo, updated name, and new mission. Began work on a new website.
- We also continue documenting processing, improving our data management, sharing our stories, and improving communications.
- Updated the Volunteer Coordinator job description, outlined needs for a Volunteer Coordinator, and begin training Chrys Cory as Volunteer Coordinator.
- Developed a horse sponsorship program.
- Restructured the Expo/Challenge sponsorship and donation programs.
- Forged our first major corporate partnership with Bluebonnet Feeds (what a natural fit!).
- Joined the Chamber of Commerce in Taylor, Elgin, and Bryan/College Station so we could expand out outreach in those communities.
- A group of BOD members and volunteers begin outlining a corporate sponsorship program.
In 2025, we had planned to outline a Volunteer Recognition program, but this was tabled after the results of a member/volunteer survey showed that few volunteers were interested in a formal volunteer recognition program.
In 2026, we continue working on our goals. These include:
- Website: I have been working with a website development team to create a new, streamlined website that better reflects our needs, is easier to navigate, and combines both the main website and the Expo/challenge website. This will be live later this year.
- We are also continuing to refine the processes from previous years.
- We’ve adopted a new database for storing our horse and adopter/foster information and continue to refine its operations.
- We have hired our first part-time Volunteer Coordinator, and one of her jobs this year is to help us build a robust volunteer program that includes recruiting new volunteers, better volunteer training, volunteer appreciation, and more.
- We also plan to devote more time this year to working with our new Volunteer Coordinator and Admin Assistant to improve our communication strategy to make it easier for members/volunteers to get the information they want from
It is now time for us to work on the next stage of our plan and identify our goals for the next few years. And we want your input. Each person in Bluebonnet sees the rescue in a slightly different light based on how long they’ve been in the rescue, who they interact with, their own life experience, etc.
And while we cannot accomplish everything everyone wants (unless someone leaves us billions of dollars, anyway 😊), we really want to work together to make this rescue the best it can be. Because when we’re the best, we can help more horses and humans. And that’s why we’re here!
So we’ve created a survey to collect your thoughts so we can figure out what to focus on for the future:
If you got to the very end of this, give yourself a pat on the back and a piece of chocolate (or treat of your choice!).
I really do appreciate you.
