What is the purpose of the mission statement?
Before you tackle what you want to say in the mission statement, first tackle what you believe the mission statement means in itself. Will the mission articulate our goal, our vision for the future, or both? Will the mission statement mention the values that guide our leadership? Not all mission statements are the same in this regard. Once your board agrees upon the purpose of the mission statement, its contents should become much more obvious. • What is the purpose of the organization? Regardless of how you define the mission statement, it must in some way articulate the purpose of the organization. What gap do you see your organization filling? • What do you deem critical to success? Your purpose should be driven by at least one overarching goal. By what means will your organization fill the social gap it has identified? • What do you see as fundamental to your identity? Your purpose is driven by your identity, which may include the values you deem necessary to guide your operations.
