Vision and mission statements are at the heart of nonprofit work. Our vision and mission articulate our organization’s reasons for being. They drive our programs. They inspire our volunteers and donors.
So, if your organization has solid vision and mission statements, along with an annual plan, you might wonder: Do I still need a strategic plan?
Our answer is an emphatic yes (you can read up on everything that goes into strategic planning and why it’s so valuable here).
For this article, let’s take a look at the differences between each piece: your vision, your mission, and your strategy to achieve them.
Vision Statement vs Mission Statement: Key Differences
All nonprofits have vision and mission statements. Many for-profit businesses have them too. Which means there are a lot of vision and mission statements out there in the world.
But if having a vision and mission is so common, why is it still difficult to tell the two apart?
It’s a bit like telling right from left, which one in six people struggle to do. It’s a seemingly simple activity that requires unexpected nuance to get right.
So, let’s break down the differences between vision and mission.
- A vision statement is inspirational, describing a vision for a better future if the organization’s work is successful. A vision statement answers the question of WHY the organization exists. A vision statement can be a sentence or two, or longer if needed. Its purpose is to paint a picture of the world an organization is trying to create.
- A mission statement is informational, describing how the organization is working in the present moment to turn its vision for the future into reality. A mission statement answers the question of WHAT the organization does. This statement should be brief enough to pass the “T-shirt test,” meaning it could be printed on a T-shirt and still be legible.
Together, vision and mission statements are designed to:
- Resonate with members of your organization’s community—such as potential clients, partners, volunteers, donors, board members and staff
- Inspire people to learn more about your organization, the work you do, and what you’re trying to accomplish
- Compel people to act—which could mean applying for a job, becoming a volunteer, making a donation, or seeking services
As part of the strategic planning processes we lead with nonprofit clients, one of the very first steps we take is helping organizations assess, update, and refine their vision and mission statements. That’s because your vision and mission MUST be at the heart of your strategic planning process.
Can Vision and Mission Statements Replace Strategic Planning?
A strategic plan serves as a written roadmap for what an organization wants to accomplish over a defined period, generally 3-5 years.
While vision and mission statements are meant to be short, memorable, and easily repeatable, a strategic plan is a lengthier document. It provides details like goals and objectives, strategies, and measures of success. It also covers areas of internal capacity building, like operations and infrastructure, that work behind the scenes to keep an organization running.
Apart from format, vision statements, mission statements, and strategic plans have very different purposes and audiences.
- Vision and mission statements are outward-facing, designed to inspire, engage and inform people and institutions outside of the organization. Of course, these statements can and should be used to keep staff and board connected to an organization’s purpose.
- A strategic plan is initially inward-facing, designed to help board and staff leadership strengthen their organization’s sustainability and impact. A strategic plan can be adapted for and shared with external audiences and is a particularly powerful fundraising tool.
Strategic Planning Is a Tool to Make Your Vision and Mission a Reality
If vision, mission, and strategic planning were a chicken-and-egg situation, the answer to which came first is clear: vision and mission.
Then, a strategic plan should be a concrete and actionable plan to achieve your vision and mission. Without that roadmap and clarity—plus the interactive planning process that gets your team fully invested and connected—accomplishing your goals becomes much more difficult.
We like to think of it this way:
A strategic plan is your vision and mission in action. It provides the tools to go one level deeper and answer HOW your organization is going to accomplish its goals. Then, it gives you a roadmap for how to achieve your vision.
If you’re interested in starting your strategic planning process now, feel free to grab our free Strategic Planning QuickStart Kit—or book a call with our team to discuss your organization’s strategic planning needs.
