Why You Should Clearly Define Your Non-Profit’s Core Values

Every person, business and organisation on the planet has their own intrinsic driving values that inform what they do and how they do it. For example, my core values are always doing the funny thing no matter the consequences, refusing to not find something enjoyable, and, of course, outliving my enemies. 

 

 

These values influence how I approach every situation, always looking for a way to inject fun and levity, even in challenging circumstances. For instance, a few years ago, my friends and I were camping, and there was a bushfire burning relatively close to us, not so close that we didn’t go on the trip, but close enough that we had to keep a serious eye on the wind direction, in case things changed. During this trip, I prepared a "fire evacuation playlist" with everyone's song suggestions. So, if we needed to evacuate, we could soundtrack it. 

On the third day, the wind changed, and we decided to evacuate. The fire never ended up reaching our campground, but it was still the right call to make with the information we had at the time. Anyway, as we were hurriedly evacuating amidst plumes of smoke, I made sure to blast that playlist, adding a touch of humour to an otherwise pretty stressful situation.

I can’t remember all the songs on that playlist, but it included: 

• The World (Is Going Up In Flames) - Charles Bradley 
• Firestarter - The Prodigy 
• We Didn’t Start The Fire - Billy Joel 
• And many more I can’t remember. 

If that made one person smile for even a moment during a stressful situation, it was well worth it. 

As a club or association, you also need to have a clearly defined set of values that drive what you do as an organisation and how you do it. This will help keep your organisation on track and allow others to see your driving goals. So, today, let’s discuss your club or association's driving goals, how to define them, how to show them off and how you can ensure your organisation follows them. 

Why Clear Values Are Crucial for Clubs & Associations

Strong values are the backbone of any successful club or group. They give you a sense of purpose and help shape your decisions and actions. Whether standing up for a cause, promoting a field, sharing a hobby, or just enjoying something you all love, these core values should be right at the heart of everything you do.

Think of your values like a compass that helps steer your organisation. They guide you on what to do and how to do it. When your values are clear, making decisions that fit your goals is easier. Plus, when you really stand by your core values, you’ll attract members and sponsors who feel the same way. For example, if your group is about preserving outdoor rock climbing spots, you’ll likely pull in people and sponsors who care about that, too. This makes for a stronger, more connected community.

How To Clearly Define Your Organisation’s Values & Ideals

Your club or association likely already has a few key driving values. They will likely be the reasons you founded your organisation in the first place. Beyond these primary values, you probably have secondary values that influence how you achieve your main goals.

Think of Member Jungle. Our core vision is to make membership management easy, but we also have values that shape our approach. These include "stepping lightly on the planet" and "always being transparent." This means we strive to simplify membership management while using green hosting, sponsoring endangered animals, and being open and honest about every aspect of our business, including pricing and potential drawbacks.

As mentioned, you likely already have some core values. But if you need to define them further or identify secondary values, gather your committee members and key stakeholders for a brainstorming session. Ask yourselves:

• Why does our organisation exist? 
• What is our fundamental purpose?
• What principles are non-negotiable in our operations?
• What kind of impact do we want to have on our members and the wider community?
• What does our ideal future look like?

Reflecting on these questions and analysing past experiences can help you uncover the values that drive your organisation. Remember to consider your ideal future and how your values will guide you toward it. Aim to identify three to five core values. Remember that your values do not need to be complicated; they can be as simple as “a family friendly club” or “introducing the next generation to (insert hobby here)”. 

How to Integrate Your Club or Association's Values into Daily Operations

Now that you've figured out your core values, making them part of your club or association's everyday life is important. They shouldn't just be something you wrote down; everyone in your committee needs to stick to them, and they should show up in everything your organisation does.

Make your values easy to find by showcasing them on your homepage, in membership materials, and during onboarding. New members should instantly understand your organisation's mission. Don't stop there; regularly remind everyone of your values through newsletters, social media, and meetings to keep them relevant and top of mind. 

There’s nothing worse than someone who’s always going on about their values but doesn’t actually live by them. Take Batman, for example. He’s a billionaire who wants to stop crime in his city. Still, instead of helping out by donating to schools, rehabilitation programs, and social services, he adopts a bunch of orphans, turns them into child soldiers, and runs around beating up petty criminals who are just trying to feed their family. 

Don’t be like Batman. Actually, live your values. 

Just remember, values aren't set in stone, you probably won’t need to update your values often or much, but be open to tweaking them if necessary. 

It's also a good idea to regularly check your activities and processes to ensure they align with your core principles. Ask your members for their thoughts. Do they feel like the organisation is living up to its values? Their feedback can give you useful insights and highlight areas where you can improve. 

By putting your values into action this way, you'll create a lively, purpose-driven organisation that attracts and keeps members who share your passions and help contribute to your success.

How Else You Can Build Trust & Live Your Values As An Organisation

Well, that’s all we need to cover as far as implementing clear values for your club or association. 

If you want to learn more about how to build trust and belonging with your organisation, check out 5 Ways To Build A Sense Of Belonging In Your Club Or Association.