Mission Statement: Writing a Great One

A great Mission Statement is a wonderful thing. It guides you everyday in your work but it also gives anyone new to your organization an understanding of what you do and what you believe in.

If you haven't read Nonprofit Mission: A Consistent, Shared Vision Gets Results Read it now.

If you feel yours deserves a review, or you are writing one for the first time, follow these steps:

1. Form a Team (with all constituencies represented) to review the statement and make a recommendation.
2. Come to agreement on what the revised statement will convey – use simple language, do not wordsmith yet.
3. Make sure it answers the four questions.
4. As a team determine who will finalize wording (this may mean paying a copywriter) and have it done.
5. The team should approve the final wording and ask the board to accept the revised statement.

Have some fun with your mission statement. Make your own version! Reduce it to a few quick words that get the point across. Think of Nike’s “Just Do It” or Disney’s “To Make People Happy.”

Be creative. Make your short statement your screen saver. Let it inspire you! Print it out in a bright color and hang it on the wall.

Send us your great mission statement, we'd love to share it.