1. Mission, Vision & Values : The Heart of Your NGO
Presentation for the YSEALI Program
April 28, 2015
By: Keri McWilliams, MPA

2. 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

3. 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?

4. Your vision checklist:
Vision Statements
A good vision is…
Your vision checklist:
Inspiring
Focuses on serving the world
Is very ambitious
Describes the ideal result you want to achieve
Does it excite you?
Does it tell the world
about the good you
want to do?
Is it bigger than you?
Is it simple?
Is it clear?
Is it about what you
can give and not about
what you’ll get?

5. 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.

6. Organizational Values
Our values guide our decisions and tell the world how we interact with our staff, board, volunteers, clients, donors, partners, stakeholders and other constituents.
Value: any thing has a value to the organization.
Examples of Values:
Integrity Honesty Quality
Fairness Empowerment Professionalism
Fun Balance Trustworthy
Loyalty Partnership Accountability
Respect Creativity Communication
Teamwork Diversity Safety
Responsibility Growth Optimism

7. 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.

8. Examples of a Vision, Mission and Values from a Missoula Nonprofit: The Missoula Food Bank
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.

9. Mission, Vision and Values
Who participates in writing or re-writing the mission, vision and values for an organization?
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.
The staff has every day responsibility for achieving the mission. They have critical information and we want and need their participation.
Constituents (such as funders, donors or volunteers) can bring a valuable perspective.

10. 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?

11. 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.

12. Activity: Reviewing Your NGO’s Mission, Vision & Values