The objectives are as follows:-

• Freedom of the self and service of mankind, as the ideal.

• Practice and preaching of the sanatana dharma, the eternal religion as embodied in the lives and teachings of Shri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda as the aim.

• Renunciation and Service, Harmony of religions, as the motto.

• Work and worship as the method.

• Worship; training of monastic aspirants; religious preaching, general and technical education with an ethical and spiritual background; medical service; famine and distress relief work, rural uplift and work among the toiling people of all classes; cultural activities, etc as the activities.

 Though the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission with their respective branches are distinct legal entities, they are closely related in as much as the Governing Body of the Mission is made up of the Trustees of the Math. The administrative work of the Mission is mostly carried on by the monks of Ramakrishna Math and both have their Headquarters at Belur Math, Howrah (West Bengal).Though both the organization take up charitable and philanthropic activities, the former lays emphasis on the training of the monastic members and on religious preaching while the latter is devoted mainly to welfare services of various kinds actuated by a spiritual outlook that Man is to be served not only as a fellow being, but as the greatest manifestation of the Divine. However, the name 'Ramakrishna Mission' is loosely associated by people with Math activities also. It is necessary, moreover to point out that the appropriation of the name of Shri Ramakrishna or Swami Vivekananda by an institution does not necessarily imply that it is affiliated either to The Ramakrishna Math or to the Ramakrishna Mission. The Math and the Mission own separate funds and keep separate accounts. Though the Math and the Mission receive grants from the central and state Governments and public bodies for their social and welfare activities the other activities of the Math are financed from the offering received, sales of publications etc. The Mission is supported by fees from students, public donations, etc; both the Math and the Mission funds are annually audited by qualified auditors.

Excluding the Headquarters at Belur, there were in March 2002, 147 branches in all, of which 64 were Mission centres, 26 combined Math and Mission centres and 57 Math centres. Out of 147 centres, 110 centres are located in India and 37 abroad. Moreover, there are 29 sub-centres attached to some of the centres.

Besides maintaining a number of Ashramas and temples with their programmes of worship, religious services and preaching, the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission run several schools, colleges, libraries, Student Homes. Sevashrams (hospitals) with indoor facilities, clinics, dispensaries, rural and tribal development centres, Mobile Medical Units, Invalid Homes, etc.

The Ramakrishna Movement has contributed largely to the uplift of the downtrodden. Its service especially in the field of education, running of hospitals and undertaking relief work in times of distress are quite well known. The Govt. of India conferred Gandhi Peace Award to Ramakrishna Mission because of its yeoman service to mankind.