Why do I need a mission and vision statement for grant applications?
A mission statement tells the world who you are, what you do, and who you serve. A vision statement positions you, your organization, for its future goals and accountability. That sounds simple enough. But what are they for if you’re not trying to make a bazillion bucks off clever merch slogans?
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With a clear mission statement comprising your core purpose, who your customers are, how you do business, key values and stakeholder service, you have distilled your business into an ‘elevator pitch’-- that 9 second presentation which can win someone over between basement 1 and the penthouse stop. With a sound vision statement, you communicate your aspirations and direction for strategic planning.
With both a mission and a vision statement, you are prepared to make concise, repeated, verifiable assertions about who you are and what you do in all your grant applications. Think of the mission and vision statement as a kind of SEO for grant panel readers. They will be pleased to see consistency of ideas and ideals written into your narrative and explained in your budget. Grant panel readers will be delighted to observe your use of the same language on your website and in any collateral materials you use to represent you (food labels, descriptive reviews, sell sheets, &tc).
There are many tools on the internet to help you and your core team write up a mission and a vision statement. There are AI assists which will even give you something catchy, though not profound as such. There are eager wordsmiths on every work team who would be proud to have their contribution to the company embraced at the fundamental formative level of your business.
Take the time necessary to make the best of all possible mission and vision statements. They will clarify your perspective, your trajectory, and your grant applications too.