When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it. W. Clement Stone

Your mission  describes the purpose  of your organization. Why you exist. It helps to identify  your audience, what they actually need and how you will provide it.  It is so tempting to create this new organization or program by yourself . You are just being more efficient, right?  Meeting time and time again over the same old agenda, discussing the same issues seem so 1992.

You are a quick start. You have a new idea. You see a need and want to get straight to the good stuff– the doing.

Its efficient and seriously risky. You can move on down the path only later to realize that there is some knowledge, experience or point of view that you have forgotten to invite to the party. One that can make or break your end goal.  Make or break your organization if I am being honest.

Not cool. Not cool and honestly not smart.

Make sure all the necessary voices are at the table and make sure you hear them. If you are having a big planning session. All the power players should be invited: key board members, big corporate partners, key volunteers, staff, community members. Please do not forget  the perspective, voice and wisdom of your clients/customers.

The staff, board and clientele should be a part of the development and planning. Everyone should be able to answer the question of what do you exist to do and what the desired outcomes will be. It is the burning desire that makes your staff, volunteer and board want to get to work.

If peeps ( board, staff, volunteers, advocates, your local community) can’t answer the question of why you exist  clearly and easily,  then its time to schedule another meeting because you have some work to do.

If you want to build core  nonprofit management skills crucial to your organization’s success you can schedule some 1:1 time with me here or learn about other ways we can work together here.