Written by: Jane Ford, Joy Path and Speaker at the October 22 Non-profit Toolbox event.
Proposal writing is both an art and a skill – and the actual writing comes into the process only after you have completed several steps. The first and most important step in the grant seeking process is to make sure that you are clear about the mission of your organization. Nonprofit missions generally serve two purposes: to guide the board, staff and volunteers in all that they do and to let the outside world know exactly why the nonprofit exists.
A good mission statement answers three questions: Why does your organization exist? What purpose do you serve? Who were you created to help? Read the mission statement below:
Our mission is to provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive solution to drug and alcohol addiction.
In twenty words, you learn that this nonprofit exists to help people overcome the problems of drug and alcohol addiction. Not only does it work with youth and adults, it also provides solutions to the families affected by addiction.
If you are not sure that your organization has such a clear mission statement, do this. Pick up the phone and call a few people – a friend, a colleague, your mother, your Aunt Sarah – and read it to them. If they have to ask two or three questions before understanding your mission, then it’s time for the Board to take another look at its mission statement.
OCTOBER 22 SEMINAR
Thursday 10.22.09 /8:00AM-12:30PM
The Non-Profit Toolbox’ Seminar
has all of the tools you need!Holiday Inn / 929 Hingham St / Rockland, MA 02370
$129 Registration [Early Bird $99] → LEARN MORE