MEGA list of Nonprofit Mission Statements
We just released a list of 50 mission statements selected from the top top 100 nonprofits (based on a series of web, social, and financial metrics).
Many nonprofit mission statements succumb to an over use of words in general, but especially jargon. Good mission statements should be clear, memorable, concise. Some might also add “inspring” do the list of descriptors. I don’t altogether disagree, but I find that including this as an upfront criteria often ends up with a frankenstein that is part mission statement, part vision statement, and almost always too long.
Be sure to check out our Guide to Creating Mission Statements for more.
Details on how this list was compiled can be found by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.
GENERAL FINDINGS
- The best mission statements are clear, memorable, and concise.
- Avg length for the full 50 organizations listed here is only 15.3 words (excluding brand references)
- Avg length for the first 20 organizations below is only 9.5 words (excluding brand references).
- The shortest contains only two words (TED)
- The longest mission statement from the top 100 nonprofits list contained 235 words (UNHCR)
Craig Van Korlaar
Craig specializes in strategy, systems, and metrics. He enjoys cross-pollinating ideas from the nonprofit, government, and business sectors (all of which he's worked in). In addition to heading up topnonprofits.com, his passions include technology, books, social causes, and the global church.
