Wanna know one thing that can make nonprofit management and nonprofit leadership easier? A kickass mission statement.

Most mission statements are vague descriptions of an organization and a generalization about what they seek to accomplish.

These mission statements are probably hurting you more than they are helping. And I’m going to tell you why.

When I read these mission statements my mind wanders, I don’t get a clear picture of what the organization is about, and it’s not helpful to me...or the organization.

In this article, I want to help you discover the secrets to a powerful mission statement and be able to use your mission statement to move your organization forward and avoid mission creep.

Let’s dive in.

There are countless definitions of mission and loads of opinions on how to write a mission statement...but at the end of the day, your mission statement is a tool you use to run your nonprofit well.

A powerful mission statement is a useful mission statement.

Now you’re probably wondering...what does it mean for a mission statement to be “useful?”

The primary purpose of a mission statement is to be your organization’s guiding star. It’s a strategic tool that is telling you the ultimate destination you’re trying to reach.

When you examine your programs and services and ask “is this mission aligned?,” you should be able to think of your mission statement and answer with a simple yes or no.

Your mission statement should not serve as a marketing tactic.

If you need some marketing tips...check this training on essential marketing concepts every nonprofit needs to know.

Don’t write it to engage your audience. Just make sure it resonates with your team so they can remember it, recite it, and let it guide them. If it happens to be great for your marketing then that’s a bonus, but really, I don’t even want you to think about your marketing while you are working on your mission.

Remember, your mission statement is just one tool in your arsenal, it’s not the end all be all. Let your other tools do their job and let your mission statement just tell you where you’re going.

If you remember one thing from this article, it’s this: make your mission statement unique.

Your mission statement is the destination for your organization, but more than that, it’s your organization’s unique destination. And it should consist of three parts.

Get your team together and do this exercise. On a sheet of paper or a whiteboard, draw three columns.

In column one I want you to write "who" at the top and brainstorm with your team about who it is that you're serving. The more specific, the more unique, the better.

Label your second column “outcome” and get really clear on what your outcome is as an organization. If you get too general, just dial it back. For example, if your outcome is for everyone to be happy and healthy, you’re going to have to get a little more...you guessed it, unique.

If you need the third column, labit it “approach” and add the way you’re going to achieve your outcome.

Once you've done the work of writing out stuff in each of those three columns, then you can construct one or two sentences that capture all of the information. It needs to be clear and it needs to mean something to your team.

If you can’t come up with something that is easy to remember and that everyone feels good about, then send it to a copywriter and let them wordsmith it for you.

At this point you should have everything you need to write a powerful mission statement that describes your organization and the unique impact it hopes to make.

Remember, this is one tool in your toolbox for gaining clarity on who you are and what you are trying to achieve as an organization.

Check out the articticles below to fill out your toolbox.

If you still find your organization rudderless or stuck, I am here to help. Book a free consultation with me. I’d love to connect with you and learn about your organization.

You can also check out my YouTube channel for additional resources on everything from fundraising to DEI to strategy.