Mission Statement
Builder

A guided workshop to craft a mission statement that sounds like your family — not a nonprofit brochure.

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I'm the Facilitator
Create a session and guide the family through the workshop
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I'm a Participant
Join a session with the code your facilitator shared
Epic Philanthropy Mission Statement Builder
Session:
✦ Draft
Select a template to start building...
Part 1: Brain Dump Your Ideas
Don't filter yourself. Just answer what's true. You'll shape it into a mission statement in the next step.
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THE PROBLEM
What keeps you up at night?
Think about:
What breaks your heart about the world?
What injustice or gap do you see that others might miss?
If you could wave a magic wand, what would you fix?
What problem are you tired of seeing go unsolved?
What's the thing that makes you say "someone needs to do something about this"?
What issue do you find yourself talking about at dinner parties?
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YOUR WHY
Why do you care about this?
Think about:
What's your personal connection to this issue?
What life experience shaped this passion?
Why you? Why your family?
When did you first realize this mattered to you?
What would be different in your life if this problem didn't exist?
Who in your life has been affected by this?
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YOUR FOCUS
What/who will you support?
Think about:
Who or what will you invest in?
What kind of work resonates with you?
Where do you think your money can make the biggest difference?
What approach feels most aligned with your values?
Are you drawn to direct service, policy change, or something else?
What organizations or efforts inspire you?
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THE IMPACT/CHANGE
What change do you want to see in the world?
Think about:
What does a better world look like to you?
If your giving works, what's different?
What transformation are you hoping to create?
Paint a picture: what changes?
Who benefits and how?
What does "better" look like for this issue?

When you're ready, move to the next step to build your mission statement.

Part 2: Build Your Mission Statement
Choose a template, fill in the blanks, then refine your draft.
Step 1 — Choose Your Template
Color Guide:
Who You Serve
Action Words
Impact/Change
How You Work
Where You Give
Your Why
Fund Name
Problem Focused

Lead with what's broken and what you're doing about it.

Action Focused

Lead with what you do and who you serve.

Value Focused

Lead with your personal why and what drives you.

← Select a template above to begin building

Fund / Family Name

Type your fund or family name and click Add to fill it into the template.

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✏️ Freeform Words

Type any word or phrase and click Add. Then click a blank in the template above to focus it, then click your word to insert it there.

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Step 3 — Your Why

YOUR WHY

This one comes from you — there's no word bank for it. Pull from your brain dump above or write it fresh.

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Step 4 — Word Banks

Who You Serve

Children & youthFamiliesWomen & girlsBIPOC communitiesStudentsImmigrantsVeteransPeople in recoveryLGBTQ+ communitiesFuture generationsMarginalized communitiesSeniorsRural communitiesPeople with disabilities
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Action Words

SupportsChampionsInvests inEmpowersAdvancesBuildsCreatesDrivesAdvocates forStrengthensProtectsNurturesAmplifiesCultivatesTransformsMobilizesElevatesFuelsCatalyzesUnlocksCentersUpliftsFostersPartners withEquipsPrioritizesExpands access for
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Impact/Change Words

Systemic changeEquity and accessDignity and respectCollective powerThriving communitiesGenerational impactShared prosperityVoices heard and valuedCommunity resilienceSustainable transformation
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How You Work

Trust-based partnershipsDirect supportCommunity collaborationLocal organizingAdvocacyShared fundingCapacity buildingMulti-year unrestricted fundingPolicy changeLeadership developmentGrassroots grantmakingCommunity organizing
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Where You Give

LocalRegionalNationalInternational
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✦ Your Draft Mission Statement

Your mission statement will take shape here as you fill in the template above...
0 drafts saved — build multiple versions to compare
Part 3: Compare Your Drafts
Read each one out loud. See which one sounds like you.
Problem Focused
Action Focused
Value Focused

Gut Check

Read each draft out loud. Then ask yourself:
Does it sound like us?
Does it capture why this actually matters to us?
Would we be proud to share this?
Is there anything missing that feels important?
Which one makes us want to take action?

Group's Brain Dump

Your raw ideas from Part 1 — in case you want to revisit them.
😟 The Problem
Nothing added yet.
💙 Your Why
Nothing added yet.
🎯 Your Focus
Nothing added yet.
🌱 Impact/Change
Nothing added yet.

What Comes Next

Your mission statement is a living document. Use it as a filter for every giving decision — if it doesn't connect to this, it's probably not the right fit.