Five Year Strategic Plan for Els for Autism Foundation

Where possibilities are endless 2023-2027

FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN

®

EDUCATE • TRANSFORM • COLLABORATE

Table of Contents

2

A RESOLUTE PLAN

5

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

7

THREE PRIMARY IMPACT AREAS

9-10

FIVE-YEAR OVERARCHING GOALS

12

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

15

ADVISORY BOARD

16

3

A Resolute Plan

WHERE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

4

Strategic planning is essential to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working towards common goals, and establish an alignment on the organization’s impact and results.

Why develop a new Five-year Strategic Plan? The reason is simple – we serve the broad global autism community, and it is our organization’s responsibility to focus on transforming their lives, not just individuals impacted by autism but their families and caregivers as well.

Els for Autism® leadership team embarked on the Five-year Strategic Plan journey in the first quarter of 2022. In advance of developing the Five-year Strategic Plan, an internal and external environmental scan was conducted to enable the plan to reflect pressing organizational needs and give a voice to key constituents vital to the Els for Autism organization.

Included in this environmental scan were autism experts, board members, community officials, major donors, program participants, Foundation staff, The Learning Center staff, The Learning Academy staff, Els for Autism Golf Challenge participants, and sponsors.

These key constituents provided the impetus for developing the Five-year Strategic Plan through their knowledge, observations, and insights shared.

This new, resolute strategic plan builds on an infrastructure thirteen years in the making. It is a plan defining new goals, and ensuring a positive, forward-thinking transformation, and it is our roadmap to becoming the global leader for a world that envisions limitless possibilities for individuals with autism and their families.

The Els for Autism global mission is to transform the lives of people with autism and those who care for them through lifetime services and collaborative partnerships. We will do this in partnership with our Els for Autism organizations in Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This ensures the Foundation’s impact on the global autism community will be significant.

5

Guiding Principles

WE RENEWED OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, OBSERVATIONS, AND INSIGHTS PROVIDED BY OUR KEY CONSTITUENCIES.

Mission

THE GLOBAL MISSION OF ELS FOR AUTISM IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM THROUGH LIFETIME SERVICES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS.

Vision

WE ENVISION A WORLD OF LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Values 6

TRUST / COLLABORATION / INTEGRITY / RESPECT EXCELLENCE / INNOVATION

7

Three Primary Impact Areas

A NEW SUPPORT MODEL AND VISION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ELS FOR AUTISM PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

EARLY INTERVENTION & EDUCATION SERVICES

RECREATION SERVICES

Research

Family Support

ADULT SERVICES

Global Outreach

Research, Family Support, & Global Outreach services are threaded across our three impact areas and throughout the lifespan.

8

9

Three Primary Impact Areas EARLY INTERVENTION & EDUCATION SERVICES

• Diagnostic Services • Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program • Rehabilitative Therapeutic Services Including Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling • Caregiver-Implemented Intervention Program

RECREATION SERVICES

ADULT SERVICES

• Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports programs, with Ernie Els #GameON Autism Aquatics coming soon

• Employment Programs

• Music Therapy, Dance & Movement Therapy, and Art Programs

• Independent Living Programs • Social and Recreation Programs • Therapy Services

• After School Respite Program • Spring and Summer Camp Programs

• Therapy Services • Parent Training Services

10

GLOBAL OUTREACH

RESEARCH

FAMILY SUPPORT

Validating the effectiveness of Els for Autism programs & services. Replicating branded programs worldwide.

Helping parents, siblings, and caregivers access a multitude of programs and services that promote well-being.

Providing access to services globally. Developing and disseminating information through webinars and conferences. Providing educational opportunities through practica, internships, and professional observerships.

11

Five-year Overarching Goals

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING ARTICULATES WHERE AN ORGANIZATION IS GOING, THE ACTIONS NEEDED TO MAKE PROGRESS, AND HOW IT WILL KNOW IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL. THE NEW FRAMEWORK CENTERS ON FIVE GOALS:

1.

Governance that advances the mission and global impact

4.

Awareness and engagement that drives increased fundraising and program expansion

12

3.

2.

World leader in transdisciplinary customized programs for individuals with ASD

Management/staffing that ensures world-class status

5.

Long-term sustainability

13

Board of Directors and Executive Leadership OFFICERS DR. MICHAEL ALESSANDRI (CHAIRMAN) Executive Director, University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities

LIEZL ELS (SECRETARY AND MANAGING DIRECTOR) Founder, Els for Autism Foundation

BOARD MEMBERS ERNIE ELS Founder, Els for Autism Foundation

STEVE PECK SAP Global Alliance Relationship Leader, EY

GIUSEPPE CIUCCI Chief Executive, Chairman of the Board, Stonehage Limited

MARVIN R. SHANKEN (HONORARY CHAIRMAN) Founder, Els for Autism Foundation, Publisher & Founder, M.Shanken Communications

STUART MAKIN (TREASURER) Partner, Stonehage Limited (non-voting member) PATRICK MCMAHON Founder, Chief Executive Officer, CoChief Investment Officer, MKP Capital Management, LLC

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DR. MARLENE SOTELO Executive Director, Els for Autism Foundation YVONNE D’AMELIO Chief Financial Officer, Els for Autism Foundation

PAMELA MINELLI Co-Founder, Autism Project of Palm Beach County 14

15

THE ADVISORY BOARD IS MADE UP OF AUTISTIC SELF-ADVOCATES WHO SERVE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE FOUNDATION’S INTERACTIONS WITH CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS SUE ABRAMOWSK ANDREW BLITMAN GYASI BURKS-ABBOTT MIKE DIMAURO MERRICK EGBER (CHAIRMAN) ADAM JONES DR. KERRY MAGRO PAUL MORRIS RON SANDISON KATIE SANTORO DR. STEPHEN SHORE CONNOR B. STURGIS

16

17

®

ELS FOR AUTISM 18370 Limestone Creek Road Jupiter, Florida 33458 561-598-6200 elsforautism.org

@elsforautism @elsforautism @els_for_autism @els-for-autism