All nonprofits are started by ambitious individuals or groups who want to change something about how the world currently operates. But no nonprofit succeeds in a vacuum. CEOs and the rest of their executive teams must be able to craft a strategic plan that can connect to a wider audience and potentially convince people to become active supporters or donors of the organization.
One of the most direct ways to present a nonprofit’s philosophy to the masses is to write a mission statement. Mission statements provide a broad summary of your organization’s ideals and programs to help the community. These statements are not meant to be long, but finding the right combination of words to sum up your passion can be difficult for even the most experienced governing board. In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to write a great nonprofit mission statement.
What is a Mission Statement?
A mission statement is a brief, clear declaration of an organization’s core purpose, goals, and values. A nonprofit mission statement outlines the key social issues or community needs it addresses, including the community and people it serves. An effective mission statement is usually concise and memorable, designed to inspire both internal and external stakeholders.
Mission statements are sometimes referred to as vision statements, but nonprofits should view these statements as complementary pieces rather than solely using one of the other. A vision statement should describe an optimistic version of the future if the nonprofit’s strategic plan works as intended, while a mission statement is meant to describe the current context of the organization and its operations. The finalized mission statement should be the result of a collaborative process between the nonprofit executive director and other stakeholders in board member positions.
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How to Write a Nonprofit Mission Statement
Follow these steps to write a nonprofit mission statement.
1. Define the Nonprofit’s Core Purpose
Above anything else, your mission statement has to answer one question about your nonprofit: What do you want your organization to accomplish? The statement should address the central issue your nonprofit was formed to tackle in simple terms.
Defining the purpose of your organization will be beneficial for people inside and outside the organization. A mission statement can guide the work of your board members and staff. It also informs the outside world of your cause and may entice some to join your cause in some capacity. Without this core element, your mission statement will make no impact and your nonprofit will be unable to stand out among other organizations.
2. Identify Target Audience
Another useful piece of a mission statement is to identify the target demographic that you are most seeking to aid with your work. There are a lot of meaningful causes that warrant support, but if you want to change the world, it’s best to choose a specific community or topic that is meaningful to you and other board members.
Whether you serve underserved youth, environmental advocacy, or health care access, make it clear in your mission statement who benefits from your work. This specificity shows prospective donors, volunteers, and partners that you understand who you’re helping and that you’re dedicated to their specific needs.
3. Highlight Impact or Outcomes
It always helps to have some proof that your nonprofit really can influence your chosen community for the better. Make it a point to underline the current impact or potential outcomes of your nonprofit’s achievements. This can generate more confidence among internal and external stakeholders that the organization will practice what it preaches and work toward its stated goals.
4. Clarify Core Values
The core values of an organization are the defining characteristics that shape how you make decisions and treat people. Core values shouldn’t be something that can be molded by short-term trends or affected by the size of your organization. They are indicators of your nonprofit’s working culture and can give staff more motivation to contribute to the organization. Core values can also convince outside parties to become advocates of the nonprofit or supply more resources.
5. Make it Concise and Memorable
It’s tempting to put every detail of your nonprofit’s work into a mission statement, but you’re much better off avoiding that trap. Simplicity is a key aspect of a good mission statement. They should never be longer than a couple of sentences at the most. Use simple, memorable language and choose words that evoke emotion and resonance
Like most endeavors, crafting a mission statement is usually easier with some help. Gather insights from the board of directors, staff members, and strong supporters to ensure the statement covers all bases. You can also review the mission statement for its effectiveness once it’s in use to ensure that it’s accurate and has utility for your nonprofit.
OnBoard Powers Nonprofits
Writing a mission statement may not seem like the most important component of setting up a nonprofit, but a well-written one can have huge dividends for your organization. It can serve as the foundation for your nonprofit’s philosophy that informs how your staff will conduct itself and defines the image you want to project to the rest of the world.
Nonprofit leaders are responsible for several other tasks in addition to writing mission statements, such as attending to their board fiduciary duties and writing the nonprofit’s annual report. The supporting features of digital board management software can assist executives in performing their jobs at a higher level and improve the results of board meetings.
OnBoard equips nonprofits with the tools they need to operate efficiently and drive meaningful impact. From simplifying board meetings to enhancing collaboration, OnBoard’s board management software helps nonprofit leaders focus on what matters most: advancing their mission.
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About The Author
- Gina Guy is an implementation consultant who specializes in working with nonprofit organizations get the most from their board meetings. She loves helping customers ease their workloads through their use of OnBoard. A Purdue University graduate, Gina enjoys refinishing furniture, running, kayaking, and traveling in her spare time. She lives in Monticello, Indiana, with her husband.
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