In a rapidly changing world, it’s important that as an institute the Urban Land Institute (ULI) keep pace with the members and communities it serves and conveys that purpose in a way that makes it meaningful and relevant.

That’s the message conveyed by ULI Global Chairman Owen Thomas as the research and education organization drafted a new mission statement. It reads: Shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

“Our new mission statement is supported by three commitments that expand on our objectives and explain how we deliver on our mission,” Owen said in a message to ULI members.

These mission commitments are:

• Connect active, passionate, diverse members through the foremost global network of interdisciplinary professionals.
• Inspire best practices for equitable and sustainable land use through content, education, convening, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Lead in solving community and real estate challenges through applied collective global experience and philanthropic engagement

“The mission statement and commitments capture our forward-looking nature, our global footprint, and our commitment to delivering real-world impact in our communities,” Owen said. “The commitments emphasize ULI’s role in bringing together all sections of the real estate industry and the key part our members play in delivering change through knowledge sharing and applying collective experience. In keeping with our strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we explicitly reference the need for diversity in our membership and our belief that communities can only truly thrive if they are equitable.”

The new mission statement and commitments will be rolled out in the weeks and months ahead. Owen said it’s ULI’s hope by this year’s spring meeting, all members will be consistently using the new articulation of the mission and spreading the word about ULI and its impact.

“Mission statements are often obligatory paragraphs that sound lofty but say little. The new ULI mission statement is clear, concise, straightforward and actionable,” said Heidi Kimball, Chair, ULI Arizona District Council, and Senior Vice President, Sunbelt Holdings, Inc. “It perfectly describes what ULI is, does and means to its members and the community. It’s just the right amount of aspirational.”

Following feedback from its members, ULI’s Global Board of Directors agreed it was the right time to review its mission statement to ensure that it achieved everything it wanted it to and did justice to the work of the organization.

“It’s important to say that we are not changing our mission. The same ethos of providing leadership in responsible land use and creating and sustaining thriving communities that inspired you to join ULI remains at our heart. Instead, we are articulating our mission differently to better capture the breadth, spirit, and purpose of ULI through a more memorable, more inspiring, and more relevant statement,” Owen said.

“Through the passion and dedication of its members, ULI makes positive, transformative impacts in our communities every day, and the new mission statement and commitments tell that story in a compelling and meaningful way that resonates globally and locally,” said Deb Sydenham, FAICP, Executive Director, ULI Arizona District Council.