The Wilder Nonprofit Field Guide to Crafting Effective Mission and Vision Statements

Bring focus and direction to your work: Too often, if you ask four people in a nonprofit what their organization's mission is, you'll get four different answers. Organizations without clearly defined and agreed-to mission and vision statements frequently find themselves adrift at sea, in real financial trouble, and unable to make an ongoing, positive impact on the community.

But an effective mission and vision statement can help an organization unify services and create a consistent appro…