Collaborative Strategic Plan 2026-2028
Throughout 2025, the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, guided by its Steering Committee and a Strategic Planning Committee, revisited and refreshed the Strategic Plan that guided its work from 2023 to 2025. The original Strategic Plan was developed from anin-depth, iterative strategic planning process to identify our core priorities and strategies for the coming years. The refreshed 2026-2028 Collaborative Strategic Plan will guide the Coalition's long-term organizational resilience and significantly advance the protection of Virginia's soil health and diverse landscapes.
Below you can find the Collaborative Strategic Plan that was approved by the Coalition Steering Committee to guide our work for the years to come. You can download a pdf version of the plan here. Interested in getting involved with any pieces of the plan? Reach out to the Coalition Director, Mary Sketch Bryant at msketch2@vt.edu.
Our Collective Results
People engaged in protecting and caring for soil
Resilient landscapes across all of Virginia
Sustainable food systems to support thriving communities
Priorities & Strategies
1) Strengthen the Coalition's organizational and leadership capacity
We aim to build a more resilient and connected Coalition by building lasting partnerships, broadening who is at the table, ensuring stable resources, and learning from others across the region and nation.
-
Cultivate relationships with existing partners to leverage our network’s skills and expertise.
-
Engage new partners that represent all landscapes of Virginia.
-
Secure sustainable funding sources to support Coalition functions.
-
Connect with and learn from broader regional and national soil health, agriculture, and conservation networks.
2) Enhance partner collaboration and participation to drive research and implementation
We aim to strengthen coordination, communication and ultimately collaboration among partners by sharing knowledge and resources, supporting farmer-driven research, and creating spaces for coordination and innovation that move soil health science and practice forward together.
-
Facilitate resource and information sharing through meetings, online platforms, and continuous communication among partners.
-
Support innovative, farmer-driven research in partnership with universities and communicate findings to organizations implementing soil health on the ground.
-
Develop formal and ad-hoc work groups as needed to enhance coordination, communication, and collaboration on topics such as policy, communications, and science.
-
Identify, seek funding for, and promote projects that advance partner capacity and implementation of soil health approaches.
3) Promote soil health by educating diverse audiences and connecting partners to align advocacy efforts and drive meaningful action
We aim to strengthen collective communication and outreach to broaden soil health understanding and engagement, while fostering a coordinated approach that translates shared knowledge and values into actionable policy outcomes through partner collaboration.
-
Sustain and enhance communications strategies through the 4 The Soil Initiative that resonate with a broader constituency such as youth, consumers, and urban constituents.
-
Provide resources and educational materials to allies working on advocacy for sharing with decision makers.
-
Organize and convene partner organizations to align advocacy messages, explore potential legislative approaches, and advance policy that promotes soil health best management practices.
-
Convene partners, farmer mentors, and agency leaders to inform state programs and administration to effectively incorporate soil health.
4) Evaluate and share the impact of the Coalition's network capacity
We aim to understand and share how the Coalition’s network capacity, partnerships, and coordination support soil health progress and water quality priorities statewide.
-
Link Coalition soil health impacts to state and regional water quality goals.
-
Develop an impact monitoring plan to track Coalition outcomes and broader soil health progress across the state.
-
Track and create a social network map including connections, growth of relationships, and capacity of partner organizations.
-
Synthesize and share evaluation findings annually through accessible products to support learning and partner alignment.
Collective Action Plan
What does the Strategic Plan look like in action? The Virginia Soil Health Coalition Management Team, Steering Committee, and network of partners are excited to be implementing our strategic priorities on the ground. Learn more about what partners can expect to see as we move the plan forward in the Collection Action Plan At A Glance. You can download a pdf of the Collective Action Plan here.
%20(1).png)