One of my first tasks in working with a board developing its strategic plan is to discuss values as a part of mission and purpose. I firmly believe that values play an important role in providing guidance to program, management & operations, sustainability and governance decisions.
One illustration of where a nonprofit's values are put into action is the World Wildlife Fund's "Panda Fridays" when the organization closes its operations every other Friday to reduce its carbon footprint -- a core value.
Check-out the Washington Post article here.