The Formula for a Good ERG Mission Statement

<p class="lead">Most ERG mission statements sound the same: "to foster an inclusive community where everyone can thrive." It's safe, it's generic, and nobody — members or executives — can do anything with it. A good ERG mission statement follows a simple formula.</p>

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<h2>The 4-part formula</h2> <ol> <li><strong>Who you serve</strong> — the specific community and allies.</li> <li><strong>What you do for them</strong> — belonging, development, advocacy.</li> <li><strong>What you do for the business</strong> — talent, market, culture, risk.</li> <li><strong>How</strong> — your distinct programming approach or method.</li> </ol> <h2>Why most miss</h2> <p>They only do step 2. The result reads like a values poster, not a mission. Executives can't fund it and members can't recruit to it.</p> <h2>Test your draft</h2> <p>Read it to someone outside your ERG. If they can't tell what you do differently from any other ERG, rewrite it. See <a href="/blog/how-to-replace-your-erg-charter">how to replace your ERG charter</a> and <a href="/blog/erg-program-structure-is-the-real-work">why program structure is the real work</a>.</p> <p>Related: <a href="/blog/crafting-effective-erg-programs-3ps">the 3 P's of ERGs</a>, <a href="/blog/best-practices-for-employee-resource-groups">best practices for ERGs</a>, <a href="/blog/why-most-erg-programs-fail">why most ERG programs fail</a>, <a href="/blog/biggest-erg-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them">biggest ERG mistakes</a>, <a href="/blog/13-things-ergs-must-let-go-of-now">13 things ERGs must let go of</a>.</p>