Writing the Mission Statement

Applying for grants as a school puts us in a different position that most nonprofits. The language for what we do isn't always well established, which leaves us to make it up for ourselves. But how do we create a mission statement that sounds professional and meaningful, like those of nonprofit organizations?

Compare these two mission statements. The first is from Camp Wildcat, a nonprofit I worked with in college. The second is from the high school I work with.

1. Camp Wildcat is a student-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based out of the University of Arizona devoted to improving the lives of Tucson's youth. Over 100 dedicated volunteers provide cost-free activities for fun, friendship and to portray college as an attainable goal for everyone!

2. Our mission is to provide San Fernando Valley families with an innovative college-preparatory visual and performing arts high school that employs an interdisciplinary curriculum to develop all students' intellectual skills and creative talents in order to attain measurable artistic and academic excellence.

Obviously, these two organizations are serving two very different populations, but they both include a couple major components:

• Who they serve
• Their goals
• The services they provide

These are the mission statements put forth by each respective organization. However, when I write grants for them, I will often re-word the mission statement to be more applicable for the funding organization. Here, I will use examples from Camp Wildcat because I have written the most widely varied grants for them.

For an arts and culture grant aimed at "neglected urban neighborhoods" and desiring to "leverage and enhance resources and talent": Camp Wildcat is a student-run, non-profit organization based out of the University of Arizona. Each year, student volunteers organize and staff camps in which students from Title 1 elementary and middles schools in Tucson have the opportunity to camp with collegiate role models and to learn about subjects related to each camp's theme.

For a community foundation desiring to fund organizations that helped child development through creativity and exposure to nature: Camp Wildcat is a non-profit organization that aims to provide cost-free camps and specialized activities for Tucson's youth. University of Arizona student volunteers provide children with the opportunity to challenge their personal limits, build interpersonal skills through teamwork, explore creative outlets, enhance their own self image and view higher education and general success as attainable goals.

Make your mission work for both your organization and the potential funding organization. You wat to give them a piece of literature they can believe in and that fuses their values with your outcomes.