Don't pass up the chance to engage with our exclusive Grant Writing Series, where you'll gain invaluable knowledge about achieving Grant Readiness! This educational journey will empower you to skillfully prepare and finalize your grant proposal, paving the way for successful grant funding.
Welcome back to our Grant Readiness Series, where we've been embarking on an exciting journey to equip your church or faith-based nonprofit organization with the essential tools for successful grant writing. If you're just joining us, don't fret – there's still a chance to catch up on the wealth of knowledge we've shared in our prior articles. These insights encompass everything from crafting impactful narratives to assembling Articles of Incorporation and DEI Policies. We've even delved into topics like identifying the appropriate point of contact and determining the information to furnish to the grantor.
Now, as we approach the culmination of this series, we've reached the finish line for grant readiness. This phase is where all the pieces converge, transforming the grant writing process from an intimidating endeavor into a streamlined one. Whether you've been with us from the outset or are joining us now, you won't want to overlook the pivotal information that can make all the difference in securing the funding your organization rightfully merits. Make sure to allocate some time to revisit the earlier articles in this series.
In the forthcoming article, we'll explore the significance of Mission and Vision Statements and their crucial role in preparing to attain grant readiness. Let's get started!
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement defines your church' s purpose, objectives, and how it plans to reach those objectives. It focuses on what an organization seeks to achieve presently.
Your mission statement will answer:
What does your church or church programs do?
Whom does your church or ministry serve?
How do you serve them?
Riley Martin of River of Life Church in Muncie, IN says, “Having a clear, concise, and measurable mission statement is essential to writing a good grant proposal. It needs to be clearly defined. Everyone working in your church should know it. It should be concise. If your mission statement is three pages long, it will be impossible to easily convey to someone. Think elevator speech.”
“It should also be measurable. You should be able to show how this grant will help you fulfill your mission in the church and community. For example, if your mission is to REACH, then your outcomes should show the number of people you are reaching through your program,” continues Martin.
As an example, Exousia Group’s mission statement is to accelerate faith-based nonprofit growth by increasing the knowledge and resources needed to research, write and land grants.
Grant funding organizations want to know exactly who they’re funding, why they exist, what they desire to do and how they’re going to get there. This is your chance to persuade them, and you don’t want to persuade amiss.
What is a vision statement?
A vision statement details where the organization aspires to go tomorrow. In other words, what is your church or program striving to become? This is a future goal, which provides intent to every ministry, program or project that your church operates.
Your vision statement will answer:
What are your church's or program's hopes and dreams?
What problem are you solving for the greater good?
Who and what is your church and church program inspiring to change?
For instance, Exousia Group’s vision statement is to empower organizations to make world-changing dreams a reality.
If you and your organization have dreams and aspirations and you are passionate about them, let the passion come through in your vision statement! You want the grantors to feel what you feel.
Importance of mission and vision statements
Growing up, a common phrase that was thrown around my household was: “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it.” And, if that isn’t grant writing, then I don’t know what is. Anyone can write mission and vision statements, but you want to write mission and vision statements that set you apart from the rest of the grant writing crowd.
The vernacular of your mission and vision statements is so crucial, because you are trying to get the grantors to understand the urgency of what is taking place in your organization. You need to succinctly convey to funders that your non-profit is impacting the real needs of real people. You need to be passionate about it and you need to use words that will demonstrate you are the solution.
Or, think of the opposite: “If it doesn’t happen, if what you're doing, if what you're program is doing doesn't happen, then this will happen.”
You need to use drama-laden words. Use words that portray urgency, extreme needs, dire situations. You need these grantors to feel compelled to come through with financial support.
Let’s take a look at a couple of mission and vision statements from well-known companies around the world.
Nike
“Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.”
The focus on equality and body positivity in Nike's mission statement helps the company appeal to millennials and Gen Z workers.
Amazon
“To be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.”
The emphasis on customer service and affordable costs in this mission statement perfectly captures what Amazon offers to its consumers while also demonstrating how big and far-reaching Amazon is.
Through using descriptive language, these two companies appeal to the emotions of its audience. Words like inspiration, innovation, and endeavors, show the audience how critical their existence is to the world around them.
Let’s go back to this phrase: “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” It does not matter how much you say to these grantors if they do not understand the motivation behind what you’re saying. Your words need to speak life into the situations you are trying to portray to them.
So, what are some keywords that can help you accomplish this?
Keyword Bank
Keywords are critical for stirring up emotion within your audience. It is good to use words that create a sense of empowerment.
Check out the following words that motivate readers to engage:
Empower Motivate Discover Endeavor
Inspire Innovate Collaborate Influence
Fulfill Improve Enable Assure
Advance Accelerate Demonstrate Strive
Offer Revolutionary Focus Implement
Build Create Spread Universal
Most Access Become Organize
Promote Nurture Inclusive Sustain
Save Essential Achieve Lead
Integrity Provide Superior To end
Reinvent Connect Redefine Define
Ensure Help Power Deliver
By using words like these, you create an image within the grantor's mind of the communities they want to participate in or connect with. It takes them from where they are sitting and places them right in the middle of it.
To repeat, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Use that to your advantage when writing your mission and vision statements. Appeal to the audience’s emotions. Take them to the world that you are living in!
🚀 Ready to Take Your Grant Writing to the Next Level?
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📋 Unlock the Comprehensive Packet!
Our Full Readiness Packet is your key to grant writing excellence. It includes meticulously crafted exercises tailored to specific topics, ensuring your organization is fully prepared for the complex world of grant applications. With this packet, no aspect will be left unexplored.
📘 Master the Art of Grant Writing:
Our comprehensive textbook, “Grant Writing Strategies for Churches,” is your ultimate resource for mastering the art of grant writing. This textbook devotes an entire chapter to laying the foundation of your grant application. This chapter also includes two worksheets to help develop your mission and vision statements.
Stay Connected
Be a part of the Exousia community, where we're committed to cultivating success stories in grant writing. Take the first step on this transformative path towards securing the funding your organization dreams of. Act now—claim your Readiness Packet today, and let's bring your grant writing aspirations to life!
As we conclude our Grant Readiness Blog Series, we want to extend our warmest wishes for your continued success in grant writing endeavors. We trust that this educational journey has provided valuable insights to enhance your proficiency in the world of grants. Remember, every step you've taken brings you closer to achieving your goals. May your future grant applications be met with resounding success. Thank you for being a part of this enriching experience!
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