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Look here for information and the latest techniques to develop your board or committee. The purpose is to help those who work or serve on nonprofit boards of directors or committees.

~February 2010~

MISSION STATEMENTS

Nonprofit organizations need mission statements that are lean and terse.  And quite often they are neither.  Take an opportunity to look at both good and bad mission statements.  It is a quiz!  See how you do.  Test the strength of these mission statements by reading these sample mission statements and try to determine the type of organization described for each mission statement.  Click here for the test.   When you are done check out the answer key.  Click here for answers.

As you can see from the test, some mission statements are so pie in the sky that it is difficult to determine what the organization actually does.  And those that are clear are generally shorter and to the point. 

When was the last time your organization reviewed and/or revised its mission statement?  Here are some tips for creating or revising statements that sets the tone and goals for the organization.

• a mission statement is a succinct statement that conveys your organization's reason for being
• write to be clear, powerful, and broad enough to guide your decision-making
• make sure you write to help explain your organization’s efforts to potential funders
• seek input from staff, volunteers, and board members
• create an ad hoc committee to do the word “smithing”
• ask staff and volunteers to describe the organization's:
  • values
  • target audience
  • core services
  • unique attributes
• share the responses to the last item with the ad hoc team so they can work it into a coherent statement
• Expect variations depending on the view of on the mission of the organization
• Find the commonalities and share with the staff, volunteers, and board members
• Get positive feedback before finalizing the wording
• If you cannot get a cohesive statement there are two possibilities
  • Committee is trying too hard
  • Not effectively communicating internally

Adapted from information on mission statements at:
http://nonprofitmanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/writing_a_mission_statement