This is Part 2 of a series on how to start a non-profit: although, some info is applicable to for-profits as well! Feel free to refer back to Part 1 of this series {Here} before getting started!
In this post, I’ll explain what vision, mission, values, and differentiators are. I’ve also provided examples of each from an organization that I’ve always admired: The Rock Church in San Diego (sdrock.com).
Vision
Your vision is a description (about one sentence) of what the world would look like if your organization had it’s way. What would the world be like if your team had unlimited funds and resources?
Example: The Rock Church’s vision is “Pervasive Hope – This means that for every way a person can be lost, we will provide a practical way for them to be found in the very place they have ended up.”
Mission
Your mission describes what your organization is in the business of doing, how you work towards your vision. What does your non-profit DO? Your vision, on the other hand, describes why your organization does what it does.
Example: The Rock Church’s mission is to “To save, equip, and send.” The Rock is in the business of spiritual salvation, spiritual equipping, and spiritual evangelism.
Values
Your values go even deeper to describe how you operate. They explain what is important to you as you’re working towards your mission and vision.
Example: The Rock’s values are: “Submitted to Christ; Loves, nurtures and values people; Attitudes that inspire; Warrior Spirit.”
Differentiators
Differentiators can go even deeper to describe your culture and what makes your organization different from others.
Example: The Rock calls their differentiators “Distinct Unique Attributes (DNA).” They are “Non-Traditional: Alive, out of the box, non-churchy, surprising; Fun: Entertaining, lively, positive, not boring; Young Minded: Contemporary, future-oriented, hip; Passionate: Enthusiastic, high energy, quick/fast; Simple/Direct: Basic, bottom line, down to earth, fearless; Transparent: Honest, no hidden agenda, straightforward; Challenging: Action-oriented, bold, practical, purposeful; Inclusive: Classless, diverse, friendly; My World Centric: Accessible, easy, personal”
Your turn:
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Draft your mission, vision, value statements, and differentiators. If you’re lacking inspiration, look up some of the organizations you admire or other organizations in your industry and see how they define their mission.
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Share your mission, vision, value statements, and differentiators with a few smart people whose input you value.
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Revise accordingly. VOILA!
Learn more: Here’s a good article on the difference between mission, vision, and values, and how to draft them.
Developing a business plan is also a great way to help you define these attributes of your organization. SCORE San Diego has business plan templates you can use as well as workshops to guide you. Creating a business plan will also help you think through some of the requirements for your incorporation and tax exemption paperwork.
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