Mission Statement resources
Saturday, March 21, 2009
from the Center for Nonprofit Management:
Can you clearly state your mission?
Is it important to be able to define clearly the mission the organization will pursue. A mission statement should be short (suggested maximum of three simple sentences) and should quickly and clearly convey to readers the organization's purpose.
A mission statement should include:
- Why? The purpose or essence of the organization; the change that will occur because of its existence.
- What? A brief description of the services provided by the organization that lead to the change or impact.
- Whom? The target population served by the organization.
- Who? The staff and/or volunteers that deliver the service - outlining any distinctive characteristics.
- Where? The geographic parameters that define your service area.
- How? The method by which the services are delivered.
The mission statement services multiple audiences. Internally, it provides the focus and momentum for all activities within the organization. The mission statement also provides outsiders (funding sources, community members and constituents) with a concise statement about the organization, from which they can determine if they want to develop a relationship with your program.
A mistake that many groups make is to reduce their mission statement to the "betterment of humanity." While no one disagrees that this is a worthy goal, it is not specific enough to describe your true mission. By providing specific information on the organization's purpose, you help potential donors and volunteers to make an informed decision about whether to support your cause. As the organization grows, you should monitor progress against those goals and objectives.
See full document here
Posted bySarah at 12:33 PM
Labels: mission statement
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