Use visuals to make topline achievements clear, showcase where revenue is coming from, how you dispersed revenue to impact programs and what your goals are going forward. If you have several donors who wish to remain anonymous, you can list “Anonymous” once as the first entry in the list or you can include a brief statement at the beginning or end of the list thanking all the donors who wish to remain anonymous… Here’s an example of a well-designed nonprofit annual report. Headache gone. The best way to draw readers in while communicating impact is by using visuals. (something CauseEngine previously addressed with it’s “Donor Thank You Checklist and Toolkit”). Who’s your Audience? Annual Report Basics: Written Annual Reports Donors … This often occurs in annual reports, where we list the names of the highest contributors first and then move down to the lowest. A nonprofit mission statement needs to encapsulate: Here’s an example of a nonprofit annual report that sets the foundation by clearly stating the mission statement on the front page. You can include financial statements such as: Here’s an example of a nonprofit annual report that presents the financial summary in a tabular format, letting readers view key data. What donors and other stakeholders want to know is the impact your nonprofit is having. This Annual Report IS YOUR STORY so tell it and use this tool to make your appeals easier than the year before. Speaking of recipes, grab those lunch leftovers and let’s dive in! Make them the center of your story that all impacts resonate from. Let’s take a critical look at it. Annual reports are intended to give donors and other interested parties information about the organization’s activities and financial performance. It’s best to strike while the iron is hot — use this opportunity to encourage action and attract support. Make the most of it by implementing these six best practices, enabling you to create a donor-centric annual report that captivates attention, gets read and leaves people impressed. Don’t worry about downloading a 20+ page document, we don’t like to read that much either. Remember: the visuals you choose need to be functional and pleasing to the eye. This also entices donors to give AGAIN, which is what your primary goal should be! If you’re thanking by name — corporation, foundation or individuals — PLEASE ensure you’re fact-checking and name-checking. Talk TO them, not AT them. It breathes life into your annual report while inspiring existing donors to continue their support and encouraging potential donors to get involved. Both your Donors & Board Members want to know their money is being put to good use and towards your IMPACT. Include real-life stories of people your nonprofit has impacted and let your donors see your work in action. Connect it all to the donors. Here are some visual elements you can use to convey impact in annual reports for nonprofits: The idea behind using visual communication is to simplify information and make it easier to digest while keeping readers engaged. Are Spelling Errors Killing Your Profits? While rely… Ask your colleagues and boss … You... Don’t Talk About Activities, Show … Here are some action items you can leave readers with: Take a look at the last page of American Kidney Fund’s 2017 annual report that lists the various ways people can get involved and show their support. … A nonprofit annual report is not meant to be a list … We can’t stress this enough. Rather than using expensive printed pages in the annual report some nonprofits photocopy the full list and insert it into the report that way. When you segment your donors… Don’t just frame it in terms of the nonprofit’s achievements. Keep notes on these details. In addition to this, you can also add a crisp summary of the work your nonprofit is doing or illustrate your strategy through a strategy map, demonstrating how it’s advancing the mission. Your nonprofit’s annual campaign is one of your most important fundraising resources. The Donor Relations Guru website was created to provide fundraising and nonprofit professionals with free samples, resources, and tips for creating a better donor experience and improving their … Set a clear objective, and then start your strategic thinking from the point of view of the donor. They feature stories of the children they’ve impacted, along with their pictures and quotes. This makes it seem more authentic and real. Notice how the fonts, colors and illustrations are consistent across all the pages and reflect a singular theme. Best Practices for Compiling a Nonprofit Annual Report March 6, 2019 By Delfarib Fanaie Most nonprofit organizations release annual reports with the purposes of providing insight into the … To wrap it up — Annual Reports don’t have to be daunting, but they do need to be thorough, well-designed, and must tell your best story. Make it personalized with clear narrative explaining who you are, what you stand for and the impact you create on a daily basis. 5. But if you’re including your financial statements as is, it may overwhelm the reader. Include a or summary to interpret any metrics and visuals. 4. They’ve also color-coded the sub-headings which breaks down the information and makes it easier for people to interpret the data. At … You’re building trust with your audience and connecting on a human-level with them. Let’s take a look at how you can create an effective annual report along with some annual report templates that are sure to inspire existing donors and attract new ones. Financials — explain them, don’t beat them to death. 3. If you have questions about HOW to communicate shortcomings as an investment opportunity, give us a shout! An annual report is a comprehensive report on an organization’s activities throughout the preceding calendar or fiscal year. Sometimes this can be a difficult task — talking about where your efforts fell short — but this is your opportunity to give donors and stakeholders a peak behind the curtain of real-life nonprofit operations. Instead, consider using data visualization such as charts, graphs, tables, maps and infographics to present the same financial information in a more engaging way. So first the $10,000+ donors, then the $5,000 to $9,999 donors, then the $1,000 to $4,999; and so on, ending usually with $1 to $99 donors. We offer all of these things to all … Annual reports … Are you having trouble telling your best story or graphically laying out visuals. 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