It’s clear what they’re aiming to do (improve lives and efficiency of humanitarian services), who they’re serving (refugees), and how they’re doing it (eliminating language barriers). In the nonprofit world, very little is more important than crafting a compelling mission statement. Corporations are explicitly profit motivated and this profit motivation has helped distill many of the most memorable mission statements/slogans of all time. If more of us paid attention to this, we would avoid a lot of the mishaps that occur when we’re not clear on our purpose and we’re trying to navigate the startup years. Check out my nonprofit startup workbook below to have a roadmap for starting your nonprofit.

Harley Davidson: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul

By clearly articulating an organization’s purpose and foundational values, a well-crafted core statement provides direction and focus. This clarity ensures every team member understands their role and their contribution toward achieving organizational goals. Mission statements should be as varied as the organizations that launch them.

Mission Statement Inspiration From Corporations

Incorporating these key elements creates an impactful statement that captures attention and drives action from supporters, helping to further advance your cause effectively. Key elements of an effective core statement include its brevity, power, and shareability. Short and impactful, these declarations can inspire and motivate employees, aligning them with the organization’s vision. This motivation not only enhances employee performance but also nurtures a strong, cohesive workplace environment. Its foundational statement, “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” uses action-oriented language that conveys urgency and focus.

Your Nonprofit’s Mission and Vision

One addition that might help is understanding how they provide service dogs. They have a special breeding program that allows them to serve more people over time. While separating the vision and mission statements usually brings more clarity, Wild Tomorrow Fund managed to combine them in a natural and smooth way.

Whether launching a new nonprofit or refining an existing one, a strong mission statement is the key to making a lasting impact. Key characteristics of a powerful core statement include clarity, inspiration, and a compelling call to action. These elements help distinguish an organization’s unique contributions to the broader community. The language used is pivotal; terms that convey a strong purpose, such as “curing,” inspire deeper engagement than more passive phrases like “reducing rates.” A well-crafted purpose declaration is foundational for decision-making and strategic planning, ensuring that all organizational efforts align with its core objectives. The Bridgespan Group’s research demonstrates how mission alignment directly impacts organizational effectiveness and measurable outcomes.

Steps to Write a Mission Statement For Maximum Impact

• After 14 years transforming brands through cause marketing, I’ve learned consumers don’t buy products anymore—they buy permission to feel good about themselves.
• When it feels right, you’ll know you’ve hit the right tone and you can celebrate your accomplishment.
• Check out these 20 mission statement examples for guidance and inspiration, along with our tips on how to write an impactful nonprofit mission statement.

Your mission statement should be used as a vehicle to distinguish your organization from others. Your nonprofit mission statement is the core that defines the purpose of your organization. It’s the first thing people mention when they’re writing about you, or on a listing of your organization on sites like Guidestar. Your mission is a cohesive statement that describes what you do and why you exist.

• But even more than that, mission statements should be powerful.
• This mission statement doesn’t say they are “creating opportunities for…” or “gathering the brightest minds to…” They do all of these things as well.
• Though Monterey Bay Aquarium doesn’t spell out the impact here, we can infer it easily; we’re all familiar with the need to protect our waterways.
• Ask them for their immediate, unfiltered, emotional reaction to the statement.
• But without a clear mission that’s consistently shared, who knows what the board, staff, and volunteers are saying to describe who you are.

Bringing clean and safe drinking water to people indeveloping countries. At Patagonia, the focus is on creating high-quality products while minimizing unnecessary harm. This approach is intertwined with their core mission to use business as a catalyst for environmental solutions.

Get the latest fundraising tips, trends, and ideas in your inbox. Contact a qualified business attorney to help you navigate the process of starting a business. Include your mission statement video as part of hiring announcements or other HR video communications. Or send it over to your marketing team to use as a Facebook cover, website content, and more. Task this pair with writing several drafts of a mission statement, so the final decision makers have choices to work with. According to a recent Gallup poll Gen Z and millennials (who make up nearly half of the full-time workforce in the US) value belonging to a company with a strong moral compass.

Mission Statements: 15 Must-See Examples and How to Craft Your Own

But considering the role the company played in reviving coffee house culture in the US, the human spirit and a sense of community doesn’t seem like too big of a stretch. It paints a small-scale picture of the company and its work. But if you take the time to do it right, the process is a really useful exercise. Think of this as a chance to clarify and fine tune your 10 killer nonprofit mission statements to check out purpose so you can point the company in the right direction for years to come.

Josh has been working with nonprofits on annual reports, brands, and partnerships since 2011. He is helping nonprofits create more engaging, digital annual and impact reports with Yearly. From American University in Communications and his M.B.A. from American University in Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship.

Make Music Matter is a Canadian nonprofit that helps to heal trauma and empower marginalized individuals and communities with an innovative music therapy program called Healing in Harmony. Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services (JANS), founded in 1999, is a multi-service community based registered charitable organization for newcomers, seniors, youth and women. Ascend is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals in North America, with 60,000+ senior executives, professionals, and MBA/undergraduate students. American Counseling Association (ACA) is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.

It must be pointed and unambiguous, typically containing around 100 words and one to three sentences. Similar to a vision statement , it’s best to use common language that everyone understands and avoid using jargon or buzzwords. Instead of packing your nonprofit mission statement full of words, work on getting everyone to a consensus on why the organization exists. Your communications plan is a vital tool that helps build your organizations’ credibility, reputation and visibility.