It might benefit from being simplified and shortened, using words that are easier to remember. We’d love to learn more about how One Degree uses best nonprofit mission statements equity-centered technology to empower people. A few more specifics here would help clarify exactly what their mission is and how it functions.
American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. We love the use of the word “empower” as it adds to the emotional intensity of the mission statement. Like with many short, one-sentence mission statements, it’s hard to share a lot of the “how”. This mission statement also scores lower on readability than some others on this list, but we still think this nonprofit mission statement is solid. Due to the nature of their work, some of the vocabulary used will be less accessible to the general public. However, their mission statement is straightforward and compelling.
- A well-crafted mission statement allows your nonprofit to have consistency across time and geography.
- More than that, your mission is the heart and soul of your organization and should be referred back to whenever your nonprofit is faced with important decisions regarding its future.
- It should guide them to successfully accomplish your organization’s goals and objectives.
- Consider designing your mission and vision page in a way that draws visitors in and makes it both easy and interesting to learn more about your work.
- It defines the actions that make your organization unique.
Mission statements often get confused with vision statements. While these two are closely related, they serve different purposes. Let’s look at mission statements from well-known organizations. Every mission statement should encapsulate https://simple-accounting.org/ why your nonprofit exists, whom it serves, and how it serves them. If it seems like too many other nonprofits are doing the same, change it. Your organization does something different than others (or at least it should).
The Rare Cancer Research Foundation
Similar to the other content on your website, your nonprofit’s mission statement involves strategic planning and brainstorming to truly define your core values and purpose. It’s worth mentioning, however, that many nonprofit organizations don’t follow this formula. Some choose to only focus on their why, their raison d’être, choosing not to specify the beneficiaries or their approach/methodology just yet. And while many nonprofit organizations need to follow standard business practices in order to succeed, mission orientation is what separates non-profit organizations from businesses. These fundamental elements characterize the most effective mission statements.
Nonprofit Mission Statement Template
Bring it to your board members and volunteers and see if they feel like the mission statement reflects your nonprofit. If you’re doing a revamp, you can also bring it to current members for discussion. Focus & Motivate Your Team – Staff and volunteers want to believe in the work they do. Your mission statement should be easy for staff & volunteers to understand, remember, and own.
Clarity is essential when crafting a great nonprofit mission statement. Ideally, your nonprofit mission statement can be understood by someone completely unfamiliar with the work that you do. Finally, a nonprofit mission statement is not enough by itself. Have it lead you to make a jump and take action to achieve your mission.
Great Nonprofit Mission Statement Examples
We love how specific “comprehensive dental care” is, and it would be great if the other two pieces of their mission were as descriptive. Financial support, emotional support, or community support? Getting specific here would better demonstrate the impact of this important organization.
Everyone for Veterans empowers veterans to lead healthy and fulfilled lives by providing them with resources, support, and comprehensive dental care. Hope Initiative Alliance work together with our partners in improving the quality of life of marginalised people globally. Let’s review a few essential tips to create a great mission statement. It provides a link between your every day goals and activities and what you hope to achieve long-term.
Feeding America Vision Statement
With this same group of people, reflect on real success stories from your nonprofit. This will give you examples of what your organization looks like at its best, and help you identify patterns that you want to include in your mission statement. Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) to provide lifesaving medical care to those most in need. Corporations are explicitly profit motivated and this profit motivation has helped distill many of the most memorable mission statements/slogans of all time.
The Attributes of Good and Bad Mission Statements
A straightforward mission establishes crucial boundaries which allow your nonprofit to exhibit responsibility and authority. It defines the actions that make your organization unique. It provides a foundation, a structure for thinking and a moral compass for organizational decision-making. This creates a framework that keeps your nonprofit on track with its purpose. They are part of your branding, and just like your website, logo, and social media presence — they should be great.
But it can feel impossible to write one that perfectly captures what you do and why you do it. If you need some inspiration, we’ve compiled 17 of the best nonprofit mission statements. We’ll also break down why each is working and what could be improved. Here are 10 impactful nonprofit mission statements you can use as inspiration to create an incredible mission statement of your own. This might not be the shortest and most catchy mission statement on the list, yet we love it because of how clear and comprehensive it is.
A nonprofit’s mission statement should clearly communicate what it is that they do. Many mission statements succumb to an overuse of words in general, but especially jargon. Good mission statements should be clear, concise, and useful. Some might also add “inspiring” to the list of descriptors.
To help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Project Ropa is a Los Angeles based nonprofit and certified social enterprise on a mission to reduce waste and restore dignity to those in need by providing clothing and hygiene essentials. Muso’s mission statement is memorable and to the point, with a compelling premise.
115 N 3rd St Sterling, CO 80751, USA