MISSION, VISION & VALUES :

THE HEART OF YOUR NGO

Presentation for the YSEALI Program

April 28, 2015
By: Keri McWilliams, MPA
 Mission, Vision and Values
Mission = Your nonprofit’s purpose

Vision = The impact we intend to make

Find the Path to your Vision

Issue Mission Planning Action Vision

Vision Statements
This is the place to dream
big!

Imagine the organization

was wildly successful, with
unlimited resources and
no barriers whatsoever.

If you achieve your vision,

how would the world be
different?
Vision Statements
A good vision is… Your vision checklist:
Inspiring  Does it excite you?
 Does it tell the world
Focuses on serving the about the good you
world want to do?
 Is it bigger than you?
Is very ambitious
 Is it simple?
Describes the ideal  Is it clear?
result you want to  Is it about what you
achieve can give and not about
what you’ll get?
Mission Statements:
• Define the organization’s purpose.

• Are short, clear and simple (only need to be one

or two sentences).

• Capture how you serve people, animals, the

environment (what ever it may be).

• Needs to tell people how you intend to achieve

your vision.
 Organizational Values
o Our values guide our decisions and tell the world how we
interact with our staff, board, volunteers, clients, donors,
partners, stakeholders and other constituents.
Examples of Values:

Integrity Honesty Quality

Fairness Empowerment Professionalism
Fun Balance Trustworthy
Loyalty Partnership Accountability
Respect Creativity Communication
Teamwork Diversity Safety
Responsibility Growth Optimism
Examples of a Vision, Mission and Values from a
Missoula Nonprofit: The Missoula Food Bank

• Vision: The Missoula Food Bank envisions a community

that works together in building a hunger-free Missoula.

• Mission: The Missoula Food Bank provides emergency

food to people and strives to reduce hunger.
Examples of a Vision, Mission and Values from a
Missoula Nonprofit: The Missoula Food Bank

• Values:
• We respect and treat every person with dignity, empathy and
equity.
• We believe that access to nutritious food is a basic right of
every person.
• We respect the concept of client choice in the selection of
available food.
• We provide compassionate service that is proactive,
innovative, and collaborative.
• We believe that we must be excellent stewards of our
resources.
• We act with openness, integrity and accountability.
• We actively advocate for solutions to hunger.
Mission, Vision and Values
Who participates in writing or re-writing the mission, vision
and values for an organization?

o In the United States, the board of directors of the organization

owns the mission; they make the final decision with guidance,
input and suggestions from key staff members.

o The staff has every day responsibility for achieving the mission.
They have critical information and we want and need their
participation.

o Constituents (such as funders, donors or volunteers) can bring

a valuable perspective.
Questions to ask yourself about your organization
when thinking about mission and vision.

1. What needs to be done that only we can do, or that we

can do better than anyone else?

2. Who benefits from our products/services and how?

3. How do we accomplish our work?

4. What do we value most?

5. How broad or narrow is our focus?

Use your mission and vision
statements to…

1. Define your organization to the world.

2. Guide your decision making.
3. Inspire your constituents (clients, community,
board, staff and donors).
4. Promote your cause.
Activity: Reviewing Your NGO’s Mission,
Vision & Values