This web resource was created by students enrolled in POLS 4710,
“Topics in Nonprofit Leadership,” during the spring 2004 semester.
Group members responsible for developing this on-line chapter were:
Jackie Mehrer, Jackie Bredthauer, Dawn Miller, Joanne Heppner and
Heather Beardall.
Developing Mission Statement
-- Developing Vision Statement -- Leadership
Benefits
Quiz your Expertise -- Resources
WHY VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT: OPPORTUNITIES LOST...AND GAINED
A
vision is an inspired dream from a person or group that is driven
towards accomplishing their purpose. A vision is the idea that started
or will start your nonprofit. Whether or not it is in written form,
the motivating purpose is there. The vision spreads to others and
soon many share the inspired dream. A quality vision statement presents
one clear, concise dream of changing the future that will be the focus
of your accomplishments. Long term aspirations can be communicated
easily with a clearly written vision statement.
A written statement lets everyone know what your dream is.
A mission statement is a key tool for any business. It captures the
essence of your nonprofit’s goals and defines the philosophies surrounding
them. A good mission statement accurately explains why your organization
exists and what it hopes to achieve in the future. The mission statement
describes what your nonprofit is all about to customers, employees,
suppliers and the community. It is important to create a mission statement
that reflects every facet of your nonprofit. It should describe the
range and the nature of what you offer such as: quality, services,
growth potential, and relationships with customers and the community.
Crafting a mission statement requires time, thought and planning. Going through the process of writing a mission statement will help solidify the reason for your operations and clarify the motivations behind your nonprofit.
Once your mission statement is complete, start spreading the word! You need to convey your mission statement to those internal and external stakeholders of the nonprofit to let everyone know where the organization is going and why.
Display it in your office, where you (board members and directors), employees and visitors can see it every day. Print it on company materials like brochures and on the back of your business cards.
HOW VISION AND MISSION WORK TOGETHER
Vision and mission fit together. Several organizations have proven that having written versions of both the vision statement and the mission statement work well. Vision and mission go hand in hand. The vision statement includes where you want to go, who you want to be, and how you will get there. However, you cannot predict or plan the future without knowing what is happening right now. The mission statement clarifies who and what you are now. These statements will help your organization have purpose, direction, values, and create meaningful work.
Here is what some writers in the field have to say about it:
“How do vision and mission fit together? Basically, over time as your nonprofit’s vision of what it wants to be and the impact it aspires to have changes, your mission will be pressured to change, pushing out the boundaries. This it the way it works with both individuals and organizations, and for both it can cause quite a bit of tension and anxiety, since change can be a fearsome prospect. This is why individuals sometimes settle for a reduced vision as a way of feeling more secure, and this is why the strategic leadership team should expect to encounter substantial resistance when it sets out to change an organization’s mission in response to an expanding vision.” (“Extraordinary Board Leadership: The Seven Keys to High-Impact Governance” Doug Eadie,2001, Aspen Publishers Inc. page 181)
“Many leaders mistakenly think that if they have a good mission statement,
that’s enough. We disagree. An organization with a mission but no
vision is like a well-intentioned wanderer without a destination:
she may have some fine experiences, and even do some good things,
but she’s just as likely to dissipate her resources or get lost. A
mission is a statement of purpose, a brief delineation of the organization’s
reason for being…. Clearly, every organization needs to know what
business it is in and why, but that’s not enough. For example, although
all universities have a similar mission—to educate the young, do research,
and provide public service—they all have different visions.” (“Leaders
Who Make a Difference” Burt Nanus and Stephen M. Dobbs, 1999, Jossey-Bass
Inc., page 81-82)
“Mission, vision, and values are three important pieces of the puzzle.
Without mission, there’s no purpose. Without vision, there’s no destination.
Without values, there are no guiding principles. When mission, vision,
and values aren’t clear, it’s easy to lose focus, get off track, and
pursue the wrong goals. Effective leaders make sure all employees
understand and support the organization’s core beliefs. On a daily
basis, leaders demonstrate their commitment to these building blocks.”
(“The Foundation: Mission, Vision, and Values” by Paul B. Thornton,
www.refresher.com/!thefoundation.html.)
Sources:
The CEO Refresher: A Recipe for Mission and Vision Statements by Eugen
Tarnow,
http://www.refresher.com/!recipe.html
Leadership Challenge, James M Kouzes and Barry Z Posner, Third Edition, 2002, Jossey-Bass Inc. Publishers
Leaders Who Make A Difference, Burt Nanus and Stephen M Dobbs, 1999, Jossey-Bass Inc. Publishers
Developing
Mission Statement -- Developing Vision Statement
-- Leadership Benefits
Quiz your Expertise -- Resources