Welcome to The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast! In this foundational episode, your host Matt Stockman tackles the single most important reason most nonprofits fail—and it isn't a lack of funding. It's a lack of clarity. Your organization's mission statement is the bedrock of your success, influencing everything from leadership and fundraising to daily operations and measuring impact.
Before you skip ahead thinking you've "checked the box" on your mission statement, Matt challenges you to ask: Is it truly working for you? This episode dives deep into how to transform your mission statement from a forgotten line on your website into a powerful tool that functions as your organization's compass, magnifying glass, and yardstick.
Learn the simple but powerful formula for crafting a mission statement that is clear, concise, and compelling. We'll break down real-world examples from successful nonprofits like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the American Red Cross, and expose the common pitfalls of vague, jargon-filled statements that hinder growth. If you want to ensure your nonprofit is built for lasting success, this episode is your essential first step.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- The 3 critical functions of a powerful mission statement:
- A Compass: Guiding your daily decisions and keeping you focused on what truly matters.
- A Magnifying Glass: Helping you focus on the specific problem you are uniquely called to solve.
- A Yardstick: Creating a clear and measurable way to track your progress and impact.
- The clear distinction between a Mission Statement (your daily purpose: the what, how, and for whom) and a Vision Statement (your long-term future: the why and where you're going).
- The proven formula for a great mission statement: Who you serve, What you do, and How/Why you do it.
- Actionable steps to evaluate your current mission statement or write a new one from scratch using a simple sentence-completion exercise.
Free Resources & Links
- [FREE MINI-COURSE] The Fearless Fundraising Framework: Are you struggling with fundraising? Overcome your fear and build confidence with our free mini-course. You'll get a PDF workbook and 5 short videos walking you through the proven 5-step process to clarify your message and invite others to partner with you financially.
- [FREE CONSULTATION] Book a Free Call with Matt: Are you facing a specific challenge or feeling overwhelmed? Book a free, no-pressure discovery call. We'll get to know each other, discuss what you're dealing with, and I'll follow up with recommended next steps.
Strong Mission Statements:
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: To advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
- American Red Cross: To prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
- Wyoming Hunger Initiative: We work to prevent food insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local anti-hunger organizations statewide through innovative programs that connect like-minded organizations as well as funding support for local solutions.
Connect & Subscribe
Thanks for listening to The Nonprofit Launch Plan Podcast, for Startup, Small, and Growing Nonprofits.
- Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.
- Share this episode with another nonprofit leader who is working to create lasting impact.
- Visit our website for more resources, tools, and guidance: https://www.nonprofitlaunchplan.com
- Matt's email: matt@nonprofitlaunchplan.com
- LinkedIn: (2) Matt Stockman | LinkedIn
Until next time, keep making a difference!
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