Why is a mission statement important? Because it helps to set goals and publicize what an organization is working toward.
Over the past year, the JDCA has examined the operations, expenses, and research strategies of the major diabetes non-profits.
So what precisely are the mission statements of each organization? Our 2011 report reveals:
ADA – To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
DRIF – To provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now.
Joslin – To improve the lives of people with diabetes and its complications through innovative care, education, and research that will lead to prevention and cure of the disease.
JDRF – To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
While all of these statements are a little bit different, they all specifically mention finding a cure as a top priority.
So how do we judge how successful the organizations have been so far in their endeavors? They present new diabetes products, talk about treatments and reducing complications…but where are the breakthroughs when it comes to a cure?
The non-profits do a great job in terms of organizing events, motivating donors, and holding events that raise millions of dollars a year in donations. However, we have seen little progress toward a cure in the past few years and, unfortunately, a reduction in type 1 cure funding. As our reports show, more needs to be done to align current research efforts with the mission statements of the very same organizations.
– Stoyan
