The Nonprofit FAQ

How do we change our mission statement?
Tony Poderis (see http://www.raise-funds.com) responded to a question in Nonprofit (http://www.rain.org/mailman/listinfo/nonprofit) on October 2, 2003:

Hannah wrote:

> What is the procedure for expanding a missions statement?

Your bylaws and articles of incorporation should be taken
into consideration relative to the degree you are "expanding" your
mission statement.

In revising the mission statement, all
constituencies must have input. Changes come about because either the
environment changes or the needs of one or more of the constituents
change. Know the reasons why you wish to expand the mission. They
should have come from a recently developed long-range strategic plan.

You might have everything in order and be ready for rewriting your
mission statement, and you might need to engage an experienced writer
who will fashion the document for you based on your input. You usually
can find the right person by checking with non-profit or for-profit
consultants in your area who specialize in long-range - strategic
planning. (In addition to strategic planning expertise, the "right"
person will also have in-depth
understanding of the fund raising process.) If there is a local
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) chapter in your area, ask
their officials for leads to the right people. See the AFP’s geographic
chapter search page: http://www.afpnet.org/country.cfm?cntry=USA&folder_id=932

If you do not have the background material necessary to write the
statement yourself or to turn that information over to a writer, you
will most likely need an expert consultant to facilitate the basic
mission development process with you. The development process usually
involves the following:

  • Define your organization: What is the "end result" of your
    organization's efforts? What value is the end result to your
    constituency --- to those you serve? What value is the end result to
    the community?

  • Seek "outside"opinions and impressions of why your organization exists
    and who it serves; likewise, seek evaluations of the quality and
    integrity of your programs and services. Undertake a "market" study
    among your clients,
    their families, and others of influence and affluence in the area you
    serve. Collect as much input as you can and use it to help define your
    organization's reason for being.

  • Convene a few board members to review the results. Identify the
    language used most frequently by different constituencies (and it will
    be there, I promise!) for use in the mission statement. Work to
    integrate the words into a "living and breathing" expression of passion
    and dedication rather than the stiff and formal language of a
    "document." Be sure to work to ensure that the organizational
    expectations are not diminished as you strive to infuse them into the
    mission statement.


For more on mission statements, you might want to read my article: "Don't Make Your Organization's Statement Of Purpose a 'Mission
Impossible'" --
http://www.raise-funds.com/1101forum.html



For another discussion of what goes in a mission statement in the first place, see http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/03/21.html




Posted 10/9/03 -- PB