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How to Create a Mission Statement

Mia-Mia by Mia-Mia

Why This Lens is Important:

This lens is the first in a series on starting and working with non-profit organizations, but it can apply to any organization.

After you have decided to form a new organization, or re-vamp an existing one, whether non-profit or for-profit, one of the first things to do is to create, or update, your mission statement. It's important to know the ins and outs of how to write a mission statement.

You should revisit this process every few years (at least every 3 to 5 years) to ensure that it still represents your primary purpose.

Other lenses in this yet-to-be-published series are:
- Starting a 501(c)3
- Building a Non-profit Board of Directors
- Writing a Grant Proposal

I make no claim to have all the answers, but will share here what I have learned over my years of working with non-profits. There is a wealth of information in books readily available. Before getting started, you should read some of those books, and don't hesitate to pick the brain of anyone you know who has training and/or experience in this area.

  1. What is a mission statement?
  3. Why Do I Need a Mission Statement?
  5. Some Great Resource Materials
  6. Take this poll about mission statements.
  8. Take this quiz about mission statements.
  10. CNN Always Has the Latest News
  12. Please Sign My Guestbook
  13. Indeed Jobs

What is a mission statement?

A mission statement is one sentence that will quickly and succintly tell anyone who reads it what the core values and purpose of your organization are.

It should be written in one of two ways:

1. The mission of XYX organization is to ...
2. Mission Statement: to ...

There should be no exceptions to this rule, but there are. I've seen multi-sentence paragraphs called mission statements. The word "statement" is not plural. I've seen bulleted lists of items full of semi-colons, with a period at the end; thus, making it technically one sentence. Actually, it was a run-on sentence, because it went on, and on.... This is not the place to go on and on about the purpose or good qualities of your organization. Save that for your brochure, newsletter, annual reports, grant proposals, and donor request letters.

I have seen a few written as "Our mission is to..." This is also incorrect, as formal writing of this type should always be in third person, that is, no use of the pronouns "I, we, our," etc.

Worse, I've seen what is actually a description of the organization referred to as a mission statement. This is not the place to describe your church, school, human-service, or arts organization. It is the place to offer a specific, narrowly-focused statement of the reason your organization exists.

The word "statement"
is not plural.

Why Do I Need a Mission Statement?

Your mission statement quickly provides information regarding your organization's core values and reason for being, and lets potential volunteers and donors know immediately whether this is an organization with which they would want to be associated.

- You will use it when telling others about your organization.
- You will put it in all your organization's brochures.
- It will help you in recruiting volunteers and board members.
- It will help you secure donations, especially corporate donations.

Important!

The most important things are to be brief and to the point while also being accurate; and to use plain, easy-to-understand language.

Some Great Resource Materials

To Help You With This Very Important Task

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Take this poll about mission statements.

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In formal writing of this type (grant proposals, scientific journal articles, mission statements) there is something called elegance. In this context, it means saying as much as possible with as few words as possible.

Take this quiz about mission statements.

Don't forget to present your new mission statement to your board (if you already have one) or to your planning committee (if you're just now forming an organization) for their approval.

CNN Always Has the Latest News

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Thank you for visiting my lens. I hope you find it to be informative and helpful; and if you're starting a non-profit, the best of luck to you.

  • hexadtraining May 1, 2012 @ 9:24 am | delete
    Very informative lens!!!
  • Demaw Oct 10, 2011 @ 1:03 pm | delete
    Some places have "The mission" but no mission statement.
  • sallemange Sep 12, 2011 @ 1:56 am | delete
    A great theme for a lens. I'm on the committee of our local residents association here in the UK. We have just completed a full so called Village Plan. Towns and villages in the UK are encouraged now to formalise these plans to galvanise the community and inform local government where we are heading, what our issues are and the specific actions we are taking to improve our communities. I was able to utilise my business studies degree and commercial experience to craft our mission statement. Its so good using appropriate business methods for social good.
  • Tipi Sep 6, 2011 @ 7:24 pm | delete
    Your expertise will certainly be valuable to many who are starting up with a non-profit organization. Your clarity leaves no room for doubt and sometimes know what not to do is as important as the what to do.
  • Tracy1973 Sep 6, 2011 @ 4:29 pm | delete
    I wish my company had a mission statement. It would be a huge moral booster to refer to on those to frequent "rough days".
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Mia-Mia

My real name is Maria Logan Montgomery. I am a public health educator, grant-writer, artist, and former part-time faculty at the University of North C... more »

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