by M. J. Joachim

Created on: June 18, 2009

Explaining Nonprofit Mission Statements

As a person in business, you need to communicate what you do and how you do it with the world at large. It is not enough to go about performing your daily tasks and promoting yourself. You need to clearly articulate to the greater community the reason you are a person to be trusted and depended upon for the services you provide. "When a Non-profit organization's purpose is to serve humanity, it is essential that their Mission Statement clearly defines the services to be performed and the compassion driving the people who provide those services," indicates

Missions Statements, a website that clarifies and promotes effective communication for nonprofits and other entities.

You may offer great services, and you might be really good at what you do, but if you don't have a valid reason for being one more nonprofit organization, among the thousands already out there, it will be difficult to get the attention and support necessary for your survival. Your mission statement can be as simple as stating why you formed an organization in the first place. As the years pass and your nonprofit organization gets bigger, it will be important to reevaluate your mission statement and amend it accordingly.

"A great mission statement is also a great branding tool. Use it to promote your organization and to help convey the essence of what you are all about," says Joanne Fritz, author at About.com. She elaborates on how a good mission statement defines goals and explains how those goals will be achieved.

Creating a good mission statement is the first and most basic step for beginning a nonprofit organization. Once you have clearly defined your purpose in a good mission statement, you will be able to focus your energies on the actual work you plan to do to help the community and serve others. The length of your mission statement is not as important as the overall message which should be clear and concise, although some mission statements can be up to a few pages in length.

Things to Include in Your Mission Statement

*Give a basic description of your nonprofit organization.

*Tell clients what you offer them. Include services and benefits.

*Explain who is eligible for services: groups and/or individuals

*Share your core values so that clients will understand your principals.

*Define your vision and the perception you hope people will have of your nonprofit.

Now that you have the tools to create a perfect nonprofit mission statement, you can decide what type of organization you want to be. Do you plan to file for tax exempt status? Do you want your business to have specified legal rights so it can function effectively on its own? Are you planning to purchase office space for your nonprofit and raise funds that pay the overhead of this investment? If you answer yes to any of these questions, one of your greatest assets will be the mission statement you took the time to create.

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