Tackling Your Annual Report with Creativity and Grace - June 2022
So you may be wondering “Does my organization REALLY need an annual report?”. The answer is, YES you do! Creating an annual report is an important part of running a non profit organization. It creates accountability, transparency and acts as an archive between the organization, its stakeholders and supporters.
Today, annual reports don’t have to be 50 page PDFs, they can be short, compelling and creative. We will share some fun samples later on. But, for now, let’s jump into the annual report process.
Have a plan…and an outline! To get started, having an annual report task calendar makes things a lot easier. You can make sure key dates and tasks are marked on team member calendars. This might sound crazy, but starting 6 months before the deadline is a good idea. It will allow time to complete the following steps, and minimize stress and last minute rushing. A report outline ensures that all the sections are organized and that nothing is missing.
Get team members on board. You are not alone. Get people involved. Ask project coordinators to draft summaries and submit impact by numbers. Ask the Executive Director to write an opening message…and so on.
Gather the data and testimonials. You will need the outcomes and stories to demonstrate your organization’s impact.
Start writing: keep it short and sweet. There is no need for a long text to share the success of your organization. Make sure the text is simple, accessible, yet engaging.
Make it beautiful and compelling: branding should fit the colors of the org logo, use compelling photos and infographics to share your impact.
Your annual report should include the following sections. Feel free to add or modify to fit your organization’s needs.
Your organization’s vision mission statement. Feature this mission statement at the very beginning of the document. This will provide context for those who may not be as familiar with your organization and serve as a reminder to those who are
A letter from the ED or the Board Chair (or both) highlighting the successes and challenges
Nonprofit financial information The financial section of a nonprofit annual report should clearly explain where revenues come from and how they are spent. It’s also helpful to include pie charts, bar graphs, or other visuals that help readers see the big picture and understand the numbers.
Projects and accomplishments from the year. This is your time to explain your nonprofit’s accomplishments. Impact and outcomes should be the highlight of any report, you can share testimonials and impact stories to do this.
Appreciation for your contributors. This is a great opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate your nonprofit’s major donors, funders and supporters. You can also thank key people like volunteers and board members.
Inspiring Non Profit Annual Reports
We want to share a few of our favorite non profit annual reports, they are a great source of inspiration:
