What Is a Mission Statement?
The nonprofit organizations mission statement describes the purpose for which your organization exists. Without a clear mission statement, the nonprofit organization will not be able to remain focused and provide quality services for its target market.
A great mission statement is also a great branding tool that can be used to promote your organization and help convey the essence of what you are all about.
Essentially, your mission is your goal – your reason for existing. Try answering the question, “Why did I start this organization?” The answer will be your first try at writing your mission statement.
To carry out your mission, you will develop objectives and strategies. All of these will be part of your strategic plan. But it is important to first write a clear, succinct, and inspiring mission statement. It will pay off in the end and keep you from wasting time and resources on non-essential activities.
The Benefits of a Well-Defined Mission Statement are:
- It focuses your energy and clarifies your purpose. When you try to write your mission statement, you will find that you have to really define what you are going to do. Many questions will come up that must be resolved. For instance, whom will you serve? What areas will you serve – local or the whole sate? Keep your mission narrowly focused to ensure that you don’t bite off more than you can chew.
- A well-defined mission statement can and should motivate board, staff, volunteers, and donors. It also helps attract people and resources. A mission statement is not just for internal use or to submit to the IRS for tax-exempt status. It is a beacon that will attract people and resources to your cause.
- Make your mission statement compelling as well as clear. It will be your best public relations tool.
Some Tips for Writing Your Mission Statement
- Bring in different perspectives. Get input from the community you plan to serve, as well as from your board, staff, and volunteers. This will help you develop a broad base of support. You can obtain this input through meetings, surveys, or phone calls.
- Allow enough time. Provide time to reflect on the information you gather, so you can write an initial draft and allow key participants to read it and make changes.
- Be open to new ideas. The founders and the Board of Directors should be open to new ideas. You may have had tunnel vision while getting your organization set up, but now it is time to get some fresh perspective. Be open to different interpretations of what you should be doing, and new ideas about how to accomplish your goals.
- Write short and only what you need. The best mission statements are clear and concise. Your statement’s length and complexity depends on what your organization wants to do, but keep it as brief as possible so it can be easily remembered and easily communicated.
- Review your mission statement regularly. Some major nonprofit organizations review their mission statement every two to three years because the organization changes. Therefore they want to ensure that the mission statement is alignment with its purpose and reality.
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Karmen A. Booker is an Attorney, Business Consultant and Owner of Compu-Perfect Professional Services, a business consulting firm specializing in Business Entity Formation (Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Nonprofit Corporations), Completing 501(c)(3) Federal Tax Exemption Applications, Grant Research and Writing services, and more.
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