Islamic Society of Central Jersey
Strategic Planning in Action
From October 2024 through October 2025, Oaktree Institute partnered with the Islamic Society of Central Jersey (ISCJ), the largest masjid in Central Jersey, for a powerful, year-long strategic planning journey.
The goal? To help ISCJ clarify its vision, align its leadership, and chart a sustainable roadmap for the future. Together, we worked through a process designed to listen deeply, plan intentionally, and turn strategy into real impact.
Phase 1: Discovery and Assessment
Why it mattered: Before you can plan where to go, you have to understand where you are.
We started by taking a full 360-degree look at ISCJ, reviewing governance documents, finances, and organizational structure to understand how decisions flowed. Through surveys, interviews, and one-on-one conversations with board members and key leaders, we uncovered insights into ISCJ’s strengths and challenges. But the real heartbeat of this phase came from the community. We hosted focus groups with youth, parents, seniors, and young professionals, and wrapped it all up with a Community Town Hall on January 26th.
That session brought together voices across generations, sparking meaningful dialogue about ISCJ’s direction and priorities. All of this came together in a Diagnosis Report presented to the full board on March 9th, a pivotal moment that grounded the next phase in shared understanding.
Phase 2: Strategic Planning Retreat
Why it mattered: Strategy isn’t just a document; it’s shared ownership.
On June 22nd, we hosted an eight-hour strategic planning retreat led by Rami Kawas and Mohammad Hasan. Board members, staff, committee leads, donors, and advisors all came together for a day of honest reflection and forward-thinking collaboration.
Pre-retreat sessions gave participants the tools and mindset to think strategically, so when everyone came to the table, they were ready to align around a clear, collective vision. The morning focused on identifying ISCJ’s key priorities. The afternoon turned those ideas into concrete, measurable goals complete with metrics, timelines, and accountability.
Phase 3: Implementation Support
Why it mattered: A plan is only as strong as its follow-through.
In July, we transitioned into execution mode, guiding ISCJ through working sessions to finalize outcomes, KPIs, and a multi-year roadmap. Each step focused on turning vision into tangible action, with clear benchmarks to track progress and celebrate wins.
The engagement wrapped up with a debrief and next steps for storytelling and reflection, ensuring that this wasn’t just a plan on paper, but a movement in motion.
The Impact
ISCJ walked away with more than a strategic plan; they gained clarity, confidence, and cohesion as a leadership team. Through this process, their leaders strengthened alignment, deepened community engagement, and built a clear roadmap to carry their mission forward. At Oaktree Institute, we’re proud to have been part of this journey and even prouder to see ISCJ continue to grow with purpose and direction. If your organization is ready to clarify its vision, engage its people, and plan for lasting impact, we’re here to help you take that next step.
