Board & CEO Support

Police Athletic League of NYC: 
Felix Urrutia, Executive Director

A new leader who understands the value of planning Police Athletic League of NYC (PAL) Executive Director Felix Urrutia had taken the helm in 2006, coming up through the ranks as a program director. He quickly recognized that he needed to bring a new planning discipline to PAL, and leveraged his experience at the Columbia University program for nonprofit executives to write a strategic plan document called PAL 2010.

Urrutia needed to update his strategy and focus on execution

While that document provided a good background context for the issues PAL would face, Felix still found that he and his staff still operated in the reactive, firefighting mode that was a cultural legacy. There was plenty of firefighting to do, as the organization was rocked by the financial collapse of 2008. PAL was in the midst of a wholesale transition of program delivery and staff leadership – a link between strategy and execution was essential.

INPEx planning tools guided the improvement process

When he was exposed to the INPEx planning approach, Felix recognized immediately that this was exactly the tool kit he would need to survive and flourish in an ever changing environment – with shifting needs for kids and their families, evolving demographics and neighborhood dynamics, and the new financial paradigm.

Now, measurable goals and tight tactical plans ensure daily focus on the right initiatives

The new INPEx plans included a five-year strategy, and a detailed year-one tactical operating plan. There would be no more reacting to the latest crisis or demand of the day. He and his top staff could focus on the objectives they had all agreed were the most important, and would lead to the realization of a grand vision they all aspired to.

It’s still early, but already the results are beginning to show

So far, the organization has benefited from an improved staff focus on meeting shared and individual goals and increased awareness by the board and the funding community of PAL's working agenda.