Planning: Mission

1. A nonprofit should have clearly defined, written mission, vision, and value statements that guide the overall aims and activities of the organization.
   
   
   1. A mission statement is a succinct expression (3-4 sentences) of an organization’s core purpose: what you do and why. It focuses on the present.
      
      
   2. A vision statement briefly expresses an organization’s aspirations: where it sees itself in the future.
      
      
   3. A value statement affirms the principles that underlie all organizational activities.
      
      
2. Originally defined by its incorporators or its initial board, a nonprofit’s mission, vision, and value statements should be periodically reviewed by the board to consider societal and community changes. This review should determine whether these statements are still relevant, and/or whether they should be adapted to address evolving needs of its target constituents and the community at large. The board of directors and the staff should be able to articulate a shared vision for the organization that can guide the establishment of goals and objectives.