{"id":4772,"date":"2020-11-13T14:35:05","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T19:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mypar.org\/?p=4772"},"modified":"2021-04-02T08:43:45","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T12:43:45","slug":"marketing-your-mission-part-one-identify-your-mission-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.mypar.org\/marketing-your-mission-part-one-identify-your-mission-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Marketing Your Mission, Part One: Identify Your Mission Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t

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All of our associations, regardless of the industries we represent, have a mission to strengthen and grow the communities we serve. But how well we connect to those missions in our day-to-day operations and long-term plans are key in the process of fulfilling those missions. In part one of this two-part article, \u00a0CAE-certified Marketing Executive Nikole Tenbrink addresses the importance of developing a strong mission statement.<\/em><\/p>\n\t

Why does your association exist? What does your association do? Who does your association serve? What is its core purpose? How easily can your association\u2019s staff and members answer these questions? The answers will be evident if you have crafted a mission statement that is clear, concise and noteworthy.<\/p>\n

A mission statement is vital to conveying your association\u2019s value and purpose, so it is crucial to ensure it is well-defined. Whether your association is just starting out, or was established decades ago, it needs a mission statement that can inform, connect and guide.<\/p>\n

Your mission statement will be referenced in presentations, marketing collateral, media coverage, and listings or directories. It\u2019ll inform the outside world what you do and help attract members, advocates and support. It\u2019ll bring a group of peers and\/or organizations together to connect via certain commonalities and goals, while also inspiring your organizational culture. It\u2019ll guide your staff and board in the decision-making process. In fact, before committing resources to a new product, publication or event, you should determine whether it fulfills the mission.<\/p>\n

Crafting Your Mission Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because the mission statement influences how your association relates to current and future members, as well as sponsors and other funding sources, it\u2019s important to bring together a group of stakeholders for real-world input. When you are ready to develop your association\u2019s mission statement (or revisit your existing one), establish a task force that represents your core audience(s). This task force should be diverse in their backgrounds and how they engage with the association. This can include current members, prospects, new\/next generation members, board of directors, sponsors, subject matter experts, staff, and so on.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve established your task force, provide some basic guidelines to help keep the group focused. Here are some criteria to consider.<\/p>\n

Do: <\/em><\/p>\n