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I feel that mission statements are frequently abused by non-profits. Given all of the heavy lifting we expect of mission statements, I think it’s a mistake to also expect them to serve as effective marketing messages – taglines in particular. To help make my point, I invited mission statement expert, Sam Frank, Principal at Synthesis Partnership,to weigh in on the matter. I ended up getting more of a debate than I expected. In part one of this post, Sam describes what mission statements are and why they are important. In part two – coming tomorrow – we will agree to disagree.

One of the things Karen Glover noticed in 2007, when making the transition from software marketing to non-profit marketing, was the dearth of available networking and professional development opportunities. Which is why she took the initiative to create the local group, Marketers Making a Difference, which is still running today.

The non-profit sector can offer communicators enhanced opportunities for professional development, according to Katherine Moffat, Interim Director of Communications at Toronto’s Second Harvest, the largest food rescue program in Canada. In Katherine’s view, the sector offers significant learning opportunities since professionals are often called upon to stretch their skills and ‘get things done’ with fewer resources and within a more team-oriented culture.

Nicole Paterson is an award-winning marketer who doesn’t let a lack of resources get in the way of achieving her goals. Nicole has worked as the Manager of Marketing Communications at the Burlington Public Library since early 2009 before which her marketing roles in the non-profit sector included Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services, the Town of Oakville and the YWCA Hamilton.