After 6 years of operation, Maker Nexus had built something incredible: a 28,000 sq ft nonprofit maker space in Silicon Valley with every tool a maker could dream of, amazing staff, and a thriving community of 300+ members.
But they had a problem that every mature organization faces.
The symptoms were clear:
The real challenge: They were stuck in the "we do this" trap—describing their facilities and services rather than telling the story of transformation they enable.
We designed and deployed a comprehensive survey to their community. 65 survey responses uncovered the hidden story their members were already telling.
Insight #1: It Wasn't About the Tools
While competitors focused on equipment lists, Maker Nexus members valued the culture of collaborative support.
"We are much more community-focused instead of business focused. People are just more chill and genuinely interested in other members' success."
Insight #2: The "Agency Through Making" Revolution
Their members weren't just accessing equipment—they were discovering what they were capable of. Over and over, respondents talked about the transformation from "I wish I could" to "I just did."
"I was working solo at home stumbling through ideas and getting disillusioned by watching YouTube with no means of making them. Then at MN I've been able to truly practice and find out what my personal limitations are."
Insight #3: The Future-Readiness Opportunity
While other maker spaces positioned themselves around entrepreneurship or traditional crafts, Maker Nexus had an opportunity to own essential life skills for an uncertain world—repair, creation, and self-reliance.
Phase 1: Reality Check
We presented the survey findings that revealed what their community actually valued most. The board realized they'd been selling tool access when their members were buying transformation. We also surveyed the board members to see how they describe the nonprofit, what they feel are their strengths, and what their vision for the future looks like.
Phase 2: Voice Discovery
We tested different mission statement voices against examples from other organizations. The board gravitated toward the "transformation voice," speaking directly to potential members about their journey rather than describing organizational capabilities.
Phase 3: Design Thinking
We crafted three draft mission statements that had unique focuses:
Using virtual whiteboard collaboration, we facilitated a "many hats" exercise where board members evaluated each option from multiple perspectives. After a tied initial vote and deep discussion, they chose the wild card, the most forward-thinking, ambitious positioning.
Phase 4: Refinement
We incorporated final feedback to balance boldness with accessibility, ensuring the mission welcomed makers of all experience levels while maintaining that future-focused edge.
"Build the skills our changing world demands while discovering the deep satisfaction of creation alongside a vibrant community of Bay Area makers. With access to professional tools, expert staff, and collaborative support, makers of all experience levels transform from those who buy solutions to those who create, build, repair, and innovate them—whether crafting art, fixing everyday problems, or bringing any vision to life. Together, we develop the hands-on confidence to make whatever our lives require."
What Makes This Mission Statement Work:
Future-Focused Opening: positions them as essential infrastructure for an uncertain future, not just a recreational facility.
Personal Transformation Story: tells the journey every member experiences—from consumer to creator.
Inclusive Community Positioning: welcomes everyone.
Comprehensive Capability Spectrum: covers the full range of making without limiting to business or hobby use.
Empowerment Conclusion: captures the agency and self-reliance that members described as life-changing.
The new mission statement doesn't just describe what Maker Nexus offers—it invites people into the transformation they'll experience and positions the organization as essential preparation for whatever the future brings.
"I got the chills, inspiration, and smile I wanted. Fat Cap tapped into the range of abilities and the range of possibilities for Maker Nexus in a clear, succinct way."
The critical question every organization should ask: Are you describing what you do, or are you inviting people into the transformation you enable?
When you truly understand what transformation you enable in people's lives, the right words become obvious. The key isn't better copywriting—it's deeper listening to the story your community is already telling about you.
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