Identify your organization’s purpose and what you exist to do
Define the core problem you solve for customers/clients/community
Clarify your primary beneficiaries (who you serve)
State your scope (what you do and what you don’t)
Describe your core values or principles that guide decisions
Write a mission statement that is clear, specific, and action-oriented
Keep the mission focused on “present” activities and outcomes
Use simple, direct language without jargon
Ensure the mission can be understood in one read-through
Draft 1–3 mission statement options
Review each option for clarity, relevance, and alignment with values
Validate with key stakeholders (leadership, staff, customers, partners)
Finalize the mission statement and make it usable for day-to-day decisions
Identify the future you want to create (the change you aim to bring)
Define long-term outcomes and measurable direction (where you want to be)
Specify the impact you want to have on beneficiaries and/or society
Determine your differentiators (how you will achieve it)
Write a vision statement that is inspiring, aspirational, and future-focused
Keep the vision concise and memorable
Use language that describes the desired end state
Avoid operational details better suited to strategy or plans
Draft 1–3 vision statement options
Review each option for ambition, credibility, and alignment with the mission
Validate with key stakeholders for shared understanding and buy-in
Finalize the vision statement
Align mission and vision so the mission supports the vision
Set targets or themes that translate the vision into strategic priorities
Create a short set of guiding values (optional but helpful for consistency)
Revisit and refine statements periodically based on progress and feedback