At Amplified, we emphasize philanthropists supporting programs and causes that are meaningful to them. We believe the best philanthropic efforts and relationships stem from genuine passion for the people being served and work being done. Passion sets the foundation for how committed you will be to the program or organization in the long run. Confident giving requires authentically defining and identifying the causes you’re most emphatic about supporting.
Some people may already know exactly what causes they wish to support and the goals they’d like to support through giving of their time, effort, or resources. If this sounds like you — awesome! You’ve put quality thought into identifying the change you wish to see in the world and how you can contribute to that change. For many, however, this can be difficult to define. Not because they don’t care, but because there are so many important causes it can be challenging to narrow the scope of initiatives on which you’ll focus. Or maybe for you its because you feel called to support initiatives or populations that are outside of your personal experiences, so you’re unsure of how to get started. Or perhaps you feel passionately about certain causes but are stuck on how to actually make a difference. Regardless, it is important for each philanthropist, foundation, and donor to clearly define their areas of focus and philanthropic mission.
What is a Giving Mission Statement?
A giving mission statement clearly defines your purpose for charitable giving — your why. Think of it as a concise statement (approximately 1 - 4 sentences) describing the change you want to see in the world and how you're contributing to bringing this change to fruition. The giving mission statement should be something you can easily refer back to as a resource to keep your charitable activities aligned with your values and goals. It is essentially a word-based blueprint or guardrails to help you give with intention and without distraction.
There is so much need in the world and so many worthy causes to support. At the same time, we each have different skills, resources, passions, etc. to share. A clear mission statement equips philanthropists to be intentional about directing their efforts to aligned causes, focusing on giving “deep” instead of “wide”.
Drafting your Mission Statement
So, we know what a giving mission statement is and why it is important. Now, how do we write one?
Start by asking yourself:
where do I feel called to apply my time, resources, or expertise?
what situations pull at my heart strings the most?
which communities do I feel most passionately about supporting?
what are the greatest needs this community faces?
what inspires me?
Write down your responses and look for common threads. Are your thoughts consistently returning to school children? New mothers? Incarcerated individuals? Veterans? Or perhaps your answers have a common thread around education, healthcare, faith, or financial literacy? Whatever the case, write it down and look for themes.
Once you’ve identified the cause or population you wish to prioritize, think about the change you wish to see — and don’t limit yourself at this stage (who wants to be constrained by reality anyway?!). For example, maybe you wish every school child had free, reliable internet access; every mother receives high-quality pre- and postnatal care; or all stray dogs in your city were given safe forever homes? Whatever it is, write it down!
With these notes, you can start crafting your giving mission statement.
Here are a couple examples:
To improve equitable access to healthcare for women in developing countries, I will financially support organizations and programs providing pre- and postnatal services to mothers.
To empower high school students in Kentucky by providing access to qualified educators and essential educational resources. We will foster educational environments in which all students receive equal opportunity to thrive academically and reach their full potential regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or gender.
Remember, these are just examples to help you get started. Your brainstorm list and mission statement will be unique to you/your foundation because it should reflect your passions. You may also want to amend your mission statement over time. It is a great idea to revisit your passion areas periodically and make adjustments as needed so your giving plan is always aligned with your philanthropic goals.
Need help crafting your giving mission statement? Let Amplified help! We’d love to chat with you about your goals, passions, and purpose for giving.
Contact us here to set up a free consultation.