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What is a Mission Statement Builder?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A mission statement builder is a tool people can use for guidance while constructing a mission statement, a written document setting out the aims and ethics of an organization. Mission statements are used to provide guidance to the parent organization, and they also inform members of public about the purpose of an organization and how it intends to operate. They usually have a specific style and tone, and using a mission statement builder can help people achieve the desired effect.

These brief documents are used by many nonprofit organizations, along with some businesses. People may also use personal mission statements on resumes and brochures, with the mission statement acting as a promotional tool to provide people with a thumbnail picture of a person's ethical beliefs and life goals. Most are very short, and many do not exceed a paragraph.

People work together to start an organization often use a builder to guide the process of writing their mission statement.
People work together to start an organization often use a builder to guide the process of writing their mission statement.

People can build mission statements with the help of software or workbooks. In both cases, a series of prompts is used to get people to articulate the key points they want to make, discussing what they are doing and what kinds of ethical standards they want to maintain. For example, a person starting a green investment firm wants to convey that the business is in the investment industry, that it intends to focus on environmentally friendly investments, and that it plans to do business with the welfare of the environment in mind.

A mission statement might focus on personal development goals.
A mission statement might focus on personal development goals.

Using the responses to the prompts provided, the mission statement builder can assist people with constructing sentences and paragraphs for their mission statement. The document should have a logical flow, keeping the reader engaged by using dynamic, interesting language, and avoiding repetitive statements and sentence structures. A mission statement builder may provide formatting suggestions such as bullet pointing key messages or using subheaders in a long mission statement so people can get an idea of the information being provided at a glance.

Mission statements can be a way for someone to build toward larger goals.
Mission statements can be a way for someone to build toward larger goals.

Before using a mission statement builder, it can be helpful to sit down for a brainstorming session with people involved in a company or organization. People can talk about their personal visions and what they think the long term goals for the organization are, and this information can be pulled together to create a unified and coherent mission statement reflecting input from people at multiple levels of an organization. The internal use of mission statements can help companies stay on track and make decisions in line with their stated goals and principles; in the example of a green investment firm, for example, analysts working for the firm would recommend against investments in companies known to pollute or skirt environmental regulations.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • People work together to start an organization often use a builder to guide the process of writing their mission statement.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      People work together to start an organization often use a builder to guide the process of writing their mission statement.
    • A mission statement might focus on personal development goals.
      By: George Dolgikh
      A mission statement might focus on personal development goals.
    • Mission statements can be a way for someone to build toward larger goals.
      By: Brian Jackson
      Mission statements can be a way for someone to build toward larger goals.