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MISSION STATEMENT
Developing a mission statement and then
advancing that mission through programs are fundamental board
responsibilities.
A mission statement defines the purpose of an organization. It should be a concise and clear statement. Its length may vary from one sentence to a short paragraph. Its content should be easily repeatable and known to all board members and NPC
staff. Some nonprofits print the mission statement on their letterhead and
business cards, and keep it posted in the board meeting room and the nonprofit
office for ready reference.
In developing the mission statement, individuals tasked with setting the mission
should consider what the organization does, whom it serves, and how the
organization achieves its mission. The mission statement serves as a guide to
set priorities, to plan for the organization, and to help the board and staff
make decisions.
A clear mission statement is a useful tool that the board and staff can use to evaluate new or ongoing initiatives and programs. In order to reach approval, all activities must first pass the mission test:
Is the proposed activity or program consistent with the mission of the
organization?
For example, when deciding whether to provide funding for an educational activity held at a local university or in conjunction with a community health fair, the board might ask, “Is this consistent with our mission statement?” If the mission states that the purpose of the organization is to support VA-approved research and education at the VAMC, then the answer is likely to be “no,” unless education of VAMC
patients or staff can be documented during the events.
In developing an NPC mission statement, focus on how the nonprofit supports VA
research, education and training. For example:
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The NPCs provide a flexible funding mechanism for private and public grants to support VA-approved research as well as education and training activities at affiliated VAMCs.
- NPC funded research projects bring additional resources to VA in a
time of increasingly constrained federal funding.
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The NPCs bring additional resources to VA that ultimately benefit veterans'
medical care. Nurses and doctors hired to administer research projects also
provide care for veterans during the course of studies.
- Computers, copiers, and medical equipment are
among the many purchases made by corporations to support research projects,
but which also enhance care for veterans.
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Corporation funded research increases veterans' access to the latest drugs and
technology. By participating in development of new treatments, veterans are
offered new treatments in a closely supervised setting.
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The NPCs help to attract high caliber physicians to careers in VA. The
additional funds made available through grants and donations to the
corporations greatly increase opportunities for VA researchers to secure
research funding
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Corporations are able to provide seed funding for young investigators or
bridge funding for active investigators to ensure continuation and growth of
the research program.
Atlanta Research & Education Foundation Established on July 14, 1989, the
Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation that
was created to advance the research and educational activities of the staff at
the Atlanta Department of Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center.
Veterans Medical Research Foundation of San Diego The Veterans Medical
Research Foundation of San Diego supports the VA San Diego Healthcare System in
its research mission. The purpose is to promote biomedical and health services
research by VA staff through comprehensive research resource management.
Seattle Institute for Biomedical and
Clinical Research. The Mission of the Seattle Institute for Biomedical
and Clinical Research is to facilitate research conducted at the VA Puget Sound
Health Care System, Seattle and American Lake Divisions. The research supported
includes programs in biomedicine, mental health, prosthetics and rehabilitation,
and health care services.
Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute The purpose of BBRI is to further medical science by promoting research and related educational activities at WLA VAMC and the VA Outpatient Clinic in Los Angeles. Funding comes from a variety of sources: corporations, federal agencies such as National Institute of Health, private organizations and foundations and individual contributions. Because BBRI
is a 501(c)(3) IRS designation, contributions are tax-deductible to the extent
provided by law.
At least every three years, and more often if there is a sense that the mission statement no longer serves the best interests of the organization, the board and NPC staff members should review the organization’s activities as well as its long term goals. Then the mission statement should be evaluated and adjusted if needed to reflect new programs or objectives. For example, after Congress expanded the NPCs’ purpose to include both research and education, NPCs that decided to support both activities should have modified their mission statements to reflect their expanded scope of interest. Once the final wording of a revised mission statement is agreed upon, the full board should vote to formally approve the statement.
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