Hi, my name is Pisana Ferrari, and in this PEP Talk I’m going to be talking to you about how to write a business plan in three easy steps.
I’ll start by introducing myself. I’m a former pulmonary arterial hypertension patient. I was diagnosed in 1988—so a very long time ago—when there were no treatments and surgery was just starting. The disease progressed, and I had a double lung transplant 23 years ago. I’ve been a patient advocate since 2001 with different organizations. I’m currently President of the Italian Pulmonary Hypertension Association AIPI, and Secretary General of the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension (AfPH)
Today, my PEP Talk will cover what a business plan is, why having one is important, and how to write one. I’ll also provide a practical fictional example.
When we first discussed this topic within the Alliance, I wondered whether it would actually be useful—because I assumed most associations already had a business plan. But it turned out many didn’t. Even France didn’t have one, the association I work for didn’t have one either, and others too. So I hope you’ll find this useful. I’ve really tried to make it as simple as possible to show that it’s not a big deal—it’s something anyone can do.
So, first of all, what is a business plan?
It’s basically a document that describes who you are as an organization, what services you provide to patients, families, and the community, what your aims and objectives are, how you’re planning to achieve them, and what resources you’ll need—especially funding.
Why is it important to have a business plan? There are several reasons:
- Clarity of purpose: A business plan helps define clear roles, goals, and a path to achieve them.
- Credibility with stakeholders: It establishes your association as credible and organized in the field.
- Sharable information: It presents your mission and activities in a format that’s easy to communicate.
- Supports funding applications: It demonstrates planning and organization.
- Helps track success and growth over time.
Now, let’s talk about how to do it. It’s really easy.
Create a Word document which can then be converted to a PDF. It doesn’t need to be long—a couple of pages are enough. More details can be shared during a meeting or call. There are many free templates online. If you can’t find one, ask another patient association. No need to reinvent the wheel.
To show how easy it is, I created a fictional example: an association called PH Italia.
Step One: General Information
Include when your association was established (here I used fictional dates), your mission statement (e.g. support, education, advocacy, capacity building), and your target audience (patients, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals). List your services (helplines, virtual support, social media groups, leaflets, etc.), your goals (e.g. improved visibility, expanded services), and mention if you are a member of larger organizations if this is the case (in my example: Italian Rare Disease Org, PHA Europe, and the Alliance for PH).
Step Two: Governance Structure
This is important for credibility. Define your legal framework—ideally, a nonprofit registered with national authorities. Include a list of board members with brief backgrounds (e.g. patient, caregiver, accountant, community health worker). Mention any volunteers—for example, someone who helps with IT or social media. State your income sources—membership fees, fundraising events, industry grants, or government support. In some countries, like Italy and Hungary, citizens can donate a portion of their income tax to an association. Include your main expenses—administration, IT, printing, or salaries.
Step Three: Funding Needs
Outline your projects and what funding is needed. For example:
- A basic website with info about the association and PH resources—include an estimated cost.
- Educational materials—costs for developing, translating, and printing.
- An annual patient meeting—calculate venue, refreshments, and materials.
- Any core operational costs—you can list them separately or include them in project budgets, but they should be mentioned.
That’s it! Your business plan is done. It can be just one and a half pages. I actually created one for this fictional association to show how simple it is.
All you need to do is include the information outlined in the three steps and add your statutes, latest financial report, and contact details. Depending on your country, you may also need other documents like:
- Annual activity report: A summary of your yearly work. Not mandatory everywhere, but useful for transparency.
- Annual social report: Required in some countries (like Italy), focusing on the impact you made.
- Policy plan: Required in countries like the Netherlands for tax exemption—this outlines your strategy, activities, and fund management.
So, check your national requirements. These documents may be legally necessary for compliance, charitable status, or grant applications.
I hope this has been useful! I’ve written quite a few business plans in my 22 years of patient advocacy, and I’m happy to offer more tips and advice. This was just a very simple example—you can build on it and expand.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.