center for social creativity
Funding & Organizational Development Training (FODT)
Organizational Development: Mission, Vision & Values
start
Overview
Click on the buttons below to understand the layout of this training, what will be covered, and a view of all trainings available.
Layout
Content
Trainings
Mission, Vision & Values Content
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Values
The big picture
Mission Statement (Point A)
The WHO: Describes who we are today and what we do.
How do mission, vision, and values connect?
Your mission, vision and values are your organization's northstar. They help you align your programs a nd work to a unifying message.
Vision Statement (Point C)
The WHY: Describes what we want to aspire to in the future, and why we want to do that.
Point A: Mission
Point C: Vision
Values (Point B)
The HOW: Describes the behaviors and culture we'll promote to live the mission and achieve the vision.
Point B: Values
AI
Mission Statement
the who
Mission Statement Guidelines
CLEAR
"This is not the time to show off your vocabulary. Use concrete language and keep things simple. Try to keep an 8th-grade reading level."
CONCISE
"Don't fall prey to buzzwords, adjective strings and fluff. Aim for 5-14 words, 20 max. This is often the hardest part, but anything longer and you undermine its utility."
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
USEFUL
"It doesn't matter how short, clear, or cute your phrase is if it fails to inform others about what you do an focus and guide internal team members and decisions."
Environmental Justice Mission Statements
Organizational Examples
The Nature Conservancy
Greenpeace
You will notice that these mission statements are clear, concise, and useful, thus maximizing their memorability and impact.
To ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity.
To conserve the lands & waters on which all life depends.
Sierra Club
Friends of the Earth
To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.
To create a just and sustainable world.
Earthworks
To protect communities & the environment from the harmful impacts of mineral & energy development.
Oxfam
To tackle poverty and inequality.
mission statement exercise
Story time!
Nonprofit Hub has helped many nonprofits clarify and create a memorable mission statement. The following exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
The perfect day
Circle the nouns
mission statement exercise
Story time!
Nonprofit Hub has helped many nonprofits clarify and create a memorable mission statement. The following exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Square the verbs
Underline the outcomes
Combining Components
A mission statement has three components: Our Cause: Who? What? Where? Our Actions: What we do Our Impact: Our changes for the better
Pieces go together
drafting your mission statement
Sort Themes
Draft Your Statement
Sleep on It
Test & Adopt
Mission Statement: Additional Resources
Good & Bad
Examples of good and poor mission statements.
board involvement
Understand the board's responsibility.
mission anatomy
More on mission components.
living your mission
Make your mission statement come alive.l
Vision Statement
the why
Vision Statement Guidelines
CLEAR & CONCISE
Your statement should be straightforward and easily understood. Aim for a brief statement that encapsulates your aspirations without jargon or complex language.
INSPIRE & MOTIVATE
Your statement should evoke a sense of purpose and possibility. Use positive and uplifting language to inspire stakeholders, volunteers, and donors about the future you envision.
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
Values & Mission Alignment
Ensure that the vision aligns with your nonprofit's core values and mission. It should serve as a guiding star for all strategic decisions and activities, reflecting what you stand for and hope to achieve in the long-term.
Environmental Justice Vision Statements
Organizational Examples
Greenlining Institute
CEJA
You will notice that these vision statements are clear, concise, and aspirational, thus maximizing their memorability and impact.
A California where all communities have clean air, clean water, and a health environment.
We envision a future where communities of color thrive.
Earthjustice
Environmental Defense Fund
We wield the power. of law & the strength of partnership to protect people's health & the environment.
We envision a thriving Earth where people coexist with nature.
We Act for Environmental Justice
People's Action
A country where all people have the power to create a better life.
We envision a healthy environment & a just society for all.
Vision Statement Exercise
Name the targeted impact
Putting it together
Define your aspirations
Envision the ideal state
Vision Statement: Additional Resources
Good & Bad
Examples of good and poor vision statements.
board involvement
Understand the board's responsibility.
strategic planning
Vision statements in strategic planning.
Aspiring to your vision
Tactics to make your vision tangible.
Organizational Values
the how
Vision Statement Guidelines
SIMPLICITY & CLARITY
Your values should be a listing of up to five key words that can be broadly understood as the behaviors your want to reflect.
ACTION-ORIENTED
You values are words, or small phrases that provide a roadmap of the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors you and your team will exhibit in your work.
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
AUTHENTIC & REFLECTIVE
Ensure that the vision aligns with your nonprofit's core values and mission. It should serve as a guiding star for all strategic decisions and activities, reflecting what you stand for and hope to achieve in the long-term.
Greenlining Institute
Values examples
Your values can be developed once your North Star is defined through your mission and vision statements. The Greenlining Institute clearly lists their values, with definitions on how they want to be interpreted.
Equity
Sustainability
Empowerment
Innovation
Collaboration
Integrity
Organizational values exercise
Values
This exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Values lists
Combine & vote
Organizational values exercise
Values
This exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Define values
Test & adopt
Values: Additional Resources
when values backfire
Values in a poor organizational culture.
values & deiJ
Using values-based approach toward DEIJ.
personal values
The benefit of aligning personal and company values.
budgeting with values
Using values to drive your budget.
Thank you for learning with us!
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
Draft Your Statement
For some inspiration, here is an example mission statement drafts from charity: water.
Mission statement development
The perfect day
One paper or by typing, share a short story (less than a paragraph) that represents your organization's best day.
With your team, identify what conditions would have to exist to make your organization irrelevant, or no longer needed. Pick out key words from those statements.
Similar to the mission statement, theme your results and brainstorm sentences using the guidelines. This is a great time to use AI tools, like ChatGPT. Sleep on your vision statement, test with a broader community, and then adopt!
Clearly identify your key stakeholders. This may be a demographic, community, or part of the earth. Your stakeholders do not necessarily need to be confined to humans.
After your table is complete:
Test the draft sentences out on one another.
Test
Group like thoughts with one another.
Group
Start putting together some sentences.
Sentences
Overview
Content to be covered
This training will help you identify a mission, vision, and values. It will also give you practical exercises to build them with your team. This section covers:
How to use this training
Method of learning. The training may be facilitated by your CRES and/or as a self-study tool. Navigation. Click on the links in the beginning of each section if you'd like a targeted understanding of a certain subject. Additional resources. At the end of each section, you'll find links to further learnings, if you want to go deeper. For each topic. Each topic contains definitions, practical applications, the pros and cons, and additional resources.
Sleep on it...
New insight may be gained by taking a breather from your draft statement(s). Put the process aside for a few days to a week. Revisit your mission statement to determine any needed adjustments.
Test your mission statement on a larger audience. This can be a greater portion of your team, community members, etc. Your board of directors must vote to adopt your mission statement in the official board meeting minutes.
values development
Combine & vote
Create a larger list of the full team's values. Combine any repeats.Using markers, voting dots, or other tools, have team members vote on their top three to five.
values development
Define values
Like the example with Greenlining, develop a short definition for each value - no longer than one sentence.The definitions should express how you will exhibit each value in your work.
values development
Values list
Each member of your team should develop a list of their top 10 values that relate personally and to the mission.
Mission statement development
Square the verbs
DRAW A SQUARE around any mention of making a difference or taking action.
values development
Test & adopt
Share your values with a larger audience and stakeholders. Ask them for any suggestions or clarification needed.Adopt your values and start living them!
With your team, create a list of your favorite aspirational words. Some examples words: thrive, transform, equity, sustain, unity, resilience, harmony, elevate, nurture
mission statement development
Underline outcomes
UNDERLINE anytime something changes for the better or results from your work.
Trainings Available
We are regularly adding to our curriculum. So, if you don't see one that you need, let your CRES know!
Organizational Development
- Strategic planning & project planning
- Organizational lifecycles
- Organizational structure
- Leadership development
Grants
- Prospecting
- Relationship building
- Grant writing
- Grant submission
- Grants management
- Funding strategies
Policy Influence
- The role of associations
- How to impact policy & building social capital
- Nonprofit policy rules and latitudes
- The social network analysis
- Statute versus legislation
mission statement development
Circle the nouns
CIRCLE every time you mention a specific place or person.
Organizational Development: Mission, Vision and Values
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Created on October 11, 2024
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Transcript
center for social creativity
Funding & Organizational Development Training (FODT)
Organizational Development: Mission, Vision & Values
start
Overview
Click on the buttons below to understand the layout of this training, what will be covered, and a view of all trainings available.
Layout
Content
Trainings
Mission, Vision & Values Content
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Values
The big picture
Mission Statement (Point A)
The WHO: Describes who we are today and what we do.
How do mission, vision, and values connect?
Your mission, vision and values are your organization's northstar. They help you align your programs a nd work to a unifying message.
Vision Statement (Point C)
The WHY: Describes what we want to aspire to in the future, and why we want to do that.
Point A: Mission
Point C: Vision
Values (Point B)
The HOW: Describes the behaviors and culture we'll promote to live the mission and achieve the vision.
Point B: Values
AI
Mission Statement
the who
Mission Statement Guidelines
CLEAR
"This is not the time to show off your vocabulary. Use concrete language and keep things simple. Try to keep an 8th-grade reading level."
CONCISE
"Don't fall prey to buzzwords, adjective strings and fluff. Aim for 5-14 words, 20 max. This is often the hardest part, but anything longer and you undermine its utility."
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
USEFUL
"It doesn't matter how short, clear, or cute your phrase is if it fails to inform others about what you do an focus and guide internal team members and decisions."
Environmental Justice Mission Statements
Organizational Examples
The Nature Conservancy
Greenpeace
You will notice that these mission statements are clear, concise, and useful, thus maximizing their memorability and impact.
To ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity.
To conserve the lands & waters on which all life depends.
Sierra Club
Friends of the Earth
To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.
To create a just and sustainable world.
Earthworks
To protect communities & the environment from the harmful impacts of mineral & energy development.
Oxfam
To tackle poverty and inequality.
mission statement exercise
Story time!
Nonprofit Hub has helped many nonprofits clarify and create a memorable mission statement. The following exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
The perfect day
Circle the nouns
mission statement exercise
Story time!
Nonprofit Hub has helped many nonprofits clarify and create a memorable mission statement. The following exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Square the verbs
Underline the outcomes
Combining Components
A mission statement has three components: Our Cause: Who? What? Where? Our Actions: What we do Our Impact: Our changes for the better
Pieces go together
drafting your mission statement
Sort Themes
Draft Your Statement
Sleep on It
Test & Adopt
Mission Statement: Additional Resources
Good & Bad
Examples of good and poor mission statements.
board involvement
Understand the board's responsibility.
mission anatomy
More on mission components.
living your mission
Make your mission statement come alive.l
Vision Statement
the why
Vision Statement Guidelines
CLEAR & CONCISE
Your statement should be straightforward and easily understood. Aim for a brief statement that encapsulates your aspirations without jargon or complex language.
INSPIRE & MOTIVATE
Your statement should evoke a sense of purpose and possibility. Use positive and uplifting language to inspire stakeholders, volunteers, and donors about the future you envision.
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
Values & Mission Alignment
Ensure that the vision aligns with your nonprofit's core values and mission. It should serve as a guiding star for all strategic decisions and activities, reflecting what you stand for and hope to achieve in the long-term.
Environmental Justice Vision Statements
Organizational Examples
Greenlining Institute
CEJA
You will notice that these vision statements are clear, concise, and aspirational, thus maximizing their memorability and impact.
A California where all communities have clean air, clean water, and a health environment.
We envision a future where communities of color thrive.
Earthjustice
Environmental Defense Fund
We wield the power. of law & the strength of partnership to protect people's health & the environment.
We envision a thriving Earth where people coexist with nature.
We Act for Environmental Justice
People's Action
A country where all people have the power to create a better life.
We envision a healthy environment & a just society for all.
Vision Statement Exercise
Name the targeted impact
Putting it together
Define your aspirations
Envision the ideal state
Vision Statement: Additional Resources
Good & Bad
Examples of good and poor vision statements.
board involvement
Understand the board's responsibility.
strategic planning
Vision statements in strategic planning.
Aspiring to your vision
Tactics to make your vision tangible.
Organizational Values
the how
Vision Statement Guidelines
SIMPLICITY & CLARITY
Your values should be a listing of up to five key words that can be broadly understood as the behaviors your want to reflect.
ACTION-ORIENTED
You values are words, or small phrases that provide a roadmap of the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors you and your team will exhibit in your work.
Visual accompaniment convinces 67% ofthe audience.
AUTHENTIC & REFLECTIVE
Ensure that the vision aligns with your nonprofit's core values and mission. It should serve as a guiding star for all strategic decisions and activities, reflecting what you stand for and hope to achieve in the long-term.
Greenlining Institute
Values examples
Your values can be developed once your North Star is defined through your mission and vision statements. The Greenlining Institute clearly lists their values, with definitions on how they want to be interpreted.
Equity
Sustainability
Empowerment
Innovation
Collaboration
Integrity
Organizational values exercise
Values
This exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Values lists
Combine & vote
Organizational values exercise
Values
This exercise can be done alone, internally with your team and board, or including community stakeholders. Ask your CRES for resources on running this as a virtual exercise, if needed.
Define values
Test & adopt
Values: Additional Resources
when values backfire
Values in a poor organizational culture.
values & deiJ
Using values-based approach toward DEIJ.
personal values
The benefit of aligning personal and company values.
budgeting with values
Using values to drive your budget.
Thank you for learning with us!
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
Draft Your Statement
For some inspiration, here is an example mission statement drafts from charity: water.
Mission statement development
The perfect day
One paper or by typing, share a short story (less than a paragraph) that represents your organization's best day.
With your team, identify what conditions would have to exist to make your organization irrelevant, or no longer needed. Pick out key words from those statements.
Similar to the mission statement, theme your results and brainstorm sentences using the guidelines. This is a great time to use AI tools, like ChatGPT. Sleep on your vision statement, test with a broader community, and then adopt!
Clearly identify your key stakeholders. This may be a demographic, community, or part of the earth. Your stakeholders do not necessarily need to be confined to humans.
After your table is complete:
Test the draft sentences out on one another.
Test
Group like thoughts with one another.
Group
Start putting together some sentences.
Sentences
Overview
Content to be covered
This training will help you identify a mission, vision, and values. It will also give you practical exercises to build them with your team. This section covers:
How to use this training
Method of learning. The training may be facilitated by your CRES and/or as a self-study tool. Navigation. Click on the links in the beginning of each section if you'd like a targeted understanding of a certain subject. Additional resources. At the end of each section, you'll find links to further learnings, if you want to go deeper. For each topic. Each topic contains definitions, practical applications, the pros and cons, and additional resources.
Sleep on it...
New insight may be gained by taking a breather from your draft statement(s). Put the process aside for a few days to a week. Revisit your mission statement to determine any needed adjustments.
Test your mission statement on a larger audience. This can be a greater portion of your team, community members, etc. Your board of directors must vote to adopt your mission statement in the official board meeting minutes.
values development
Combine & vote
Create a larger list of the full team's values. Combine any repeats.Using markers, voting dots, or other tools, have team members vote on their top three to five.
values development
Define values
Like the example with Greenlining, develop a short definition for each value - no longer than one sentence.The definitions should express how you will exhibit each value in your work.
values development
Values list
Each member of your team should develop a list of their top 10 values that relate personally and to the mission.
Mission statement development
Square the verbs
DRAW A SQUARE around any mention of making a difference or taking action.
values development
Test & adopt
Share your values with a larger audience and stakeholders. Ask them for any suggestions or clarification needed.Adopt your values and start living them!
With your team, create a list of your favorite aspirational words. Some examples words: thrive, transform, equity, sustain, unity, resilience, harmony, elevate, nurture
mission statement development
Underline outcomes
UNDERLINE anytime something changes for the better or results from your work.
Trainings Available
We are regularly adding to our curriculum. So, if you don't see one that you need, let your CRES know!
Organizational Development
- Strategic planning & project planning
- Organizational lifecycles
- Organizational structure
- Leadership development
GrantsPolicy Influence
mission statement development
Circle the nouns
CIRCLE every time you mention a specific place or person.