When running a nonprofit, there are so many things you have to get right that it can be overwhelming. But a key component in combating this is to ensure that you have a solid nonprofit mission statement.
A good mission statement can shape and influence your entire organization’s culture while communicating what your nonprofit is about.
So, how do you write a mission statement for a nonprofit? We’ll explain what you need to do to give your nonprofit the best mission statement possible!
A mission statement is a foundational part of running any kind of business. It identifies the whole reason behind the business.
A nonprofit mission statement is slightly different because it must outline your cause and your solution.
Essentially, a nonprofit mission statement outlines what your organization does, who it helps, and why it exists.
It needs to be simple and not too wordy. You want people to remember it and understand your nonprofit at a glance.
When you have a clear mission statement for a nonprofit, you have a general template to follow for your communications, strategies, and content. It can help guide both your strategic vision and your short-term decisions.
Here’s how to write a nonprofit mission statement in four simple steps.
One of the most challenging parts of writing a mission statement for a nonprofit is trying to keep it short and sweet. It’s tempting to include everything your organization does or cares about.
But a mission statement needs to be simple and easy to digest. Rather than listing every service you provide, how can you group these services? What bigger picture is your nonprofit working towards?
People (both regular people and potential funders) need to see your mission statement and walk away with a good sense of what your organization is about and what sort of work you are doing.
A mission statement can’t just focus on values and ideas but needs to clarify what concrete work you do to achieve your goal. It also needs to be action-oriented.
To create a powerful and concise mission statement, you need to identify the core of what you are doing, why you are doing it, and who it is for.
This is the cornerstone of your nonprofit mission statement. You need to describe who you are trying to help, how, and why. These three parts are interconnected, so it isn’t a case of choosing which one goes first but rather about how all three work together.
Be very clear about which group you aim to help with your nonprofit work. Simply saying “help people” does not give a clear idea of your values or purpose. When you identify this group clearly, the problem you’re trying to solve becomes evident, and you can explain it better.
Your mission statement also needs to clarify why this group needs your support. Try to be specific while also keeping it very simple.
You can combine these two elements smoothly to identify the group and the problem affecting them in a few words. For example, let’s say you are providing water to Tanzanian villages.
Your mission statement could include “providing disadvantaged Tanzanian villages with access to water”. This makes your intended beneficiaries and the problem very clear.
The last step in crafting a mission statement is outlining your action. Are you building wells, transporting water, or providing financing solutions? Make it clear how you are doing the work in very concrete terms.
And this is the foundation of your mission statement. You could then add in things like long-term causes (e.g., because of water shortages due to drought) or your partners (e.g., in partnership with X Foundation) if needed.
It’s important to remember that there are many targets for your mission statement. On an internal level, it serves as a guide to your employees, an anchor that reminds them why they are here and what they are doing.
This helps shape your nonprofit and motivates everyone who works there. If you have a constant reminder of why you are there, it can be easier to remain focused and engaged, especially when things are hard.
At an external level, your mission statement will determine how the general public and potential sponsors see you. You want to ensure your mission is well expressed so your message gets across clearly.
Because a nonprofit mission statement has essential functions internally and externally, you need to consider both levels when crafting it. Doing this requires a delicate balance, but it is crucial to get it right.
Getting input is essential when crafting your mission statement for the first time and when revising it. You should regularly look back at your mission statement and see if there are ways to improve it.
Whether you are trying to write it for the first time or simply make it better, get input from people who know your nonprofit well. These include founders and management, but you should also ask employees.
You want to get diverse inputs to understand how people see your nonprofit. If you like how they see it, ensure your mission statement reflects that. If you don’t, redo your mission statement to match how you’d like people to see it.
You also want to ask people outside of your organization - everyday people and funders. If you have existing sponsors, ask them what made them decide to sponsor your nonprofit, and see if your mission statement aligns with their answers. Using this type of data and feedback is a vital part of running a successful nonprofit.
A perfect nonprofit mission statement looks simple but takes a long time to craft. So don’t worry if this takes you a while.
You must work out how to distill your mission into a sentence, which can be tricky. However, the three key things to always remember and make sure you get right are what, why, and who:
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