management

Defining what you are about: vision and mission

Although most organisations will have some sort of governing document, the wording and language used in constitutions, memoranda of association and similar documents are frequently insufficient, too broad or unsuitable for wider use. Developing a short, clear vision statement and/or mission statement that summarises the long-term change that you want to make, is therefore very useful. When doing so, it is vital that all relevant people are involved. 

An annual report is an underused publicity vehicle. If it is produced at all, frequently it is dull, providing only the minimum reporting and financial information required by the Companies Registration Office (if your organisation is a company). For organisations that are not companies, reports on finances and progress, as would normally appear in an annual report, are often only produced for donors at intervals specified by various funding programmes.

Annual reports can have multiple purposes:

The media has an important role to play in the life of community and voluntary organisations. It can enhance organisations’ profiles, enabling them to raise awareness of their activities, to reach out to potential new supporters and to influence policy debate. It also needs to be considered as an important part of crisis management in the unlikely event of the organisation receiving unfavourable publicity.

Reasons for planning

Planning is vital, yet people find all sorts of reasons for not doing it! If there are new demands on organisations (for example, pressure on resources, awareness of unmet needs, political or legislative changes) many try to respond immediately.

 Use the following questions to figure out your organisation's current level of risk: