Whether you’re starting a small support group or a structured co-op, one of the most critical steps in forming your homeschool group is finding your unique mission. Think of it as the solid bedrock your group is built on.

Why This Matters

Though it may not seem like a small group of homeschoolers needs to create a formalized purpose statement, there are several benefits. Whether you are serving 3 families or 300, it is vital to have a clear vision for what you are trying to achieve and why you exist for (at least) four reasons:

1. It creates unity.

When you and the other people leading your group are all on the same page about the purpose of your group, it reduces friction and keeps you all on course.

2. It guides decision-making.

Are you thinking about moving your group's meetings from Tuesdays to Thursdays this year? Are you wondering if you should do a special event in the spring? As simple as it sounds, run those decisions past your group's purpose: are they helping you meet your purpose or not? Sometimes this can help to clarify your decisions!

3. It motivates you through the hard times.

Conflict, discouragement, and overwhelm are all inevitable when you run a homeschool group. Having a firm understanding of your group's purpose can refresh and encourage you when the hard times hit.

4. It helps families understand why they should join your group.

As Simon Sinek writes in his book Start With Why, “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” You want to draw other families who believe in your purpose just as much as you do!

So, let’s dive into your why—how do you determine what the purpose behind your group is? And how can you communicate your why to the families in your group so that it will flourish?

Solidifying Your Group’s Mission

Here are some practical steps to determining your purpose. You can call it your group's "mission", "purpose", or your "why", whichever resonates most with you.

  • Make sure your purpose is an expression of the heart rather than the head. People will not be attracted to your group simply because of the services you offer, but because of the purpose you stand for.
  • Have a clear understanding of your group’s direction, your target families, and the needs you want to meet.
  • Write it down! Your purpose shouldn’t just be an abstract idea—take the time to compose it and create a formal statement of purpose.

These steps could result in a purpose statement like this: “To make it easier for every family in our county to homeschool . . .” or “To provide support and resources for low-income homeschool families in our city.” Depending on the purpose of your group, you could branch out to something like: “To make sure the right to homeschool exists for our grandkids.” Get creative!

As you begin communicating with interested families and work towards growing your group, make sure your potential constituents—whether members, visitors to your website, or attenders of your events—can easily see what your vision is. Think of your vision statement as your “brand”: you want anyone who thinks of your organization to have that vision etched in their mind.

In the process of creating your group's policies, we recommend creating a formal Statement of Purpose, which some groups have members sign that they agree to the statement of purpose, while others just use it as a guiding principle for their board. Get more info about statements of purpose here. 

Summing It Up

In the end, your purpose statement reveals your vision for the future of your group. It is an overarching summary of what you hope to accomplish and who you want to help, and it will inform how your group will be perceived.

Keep reading to determine how to use your vision and purpose to plan out the practical details of your group!