Springtime Musings: Annual Reports and Fundraising Tips
Let’s talk springtime vibes. One of my favorite signs of spring, both personally and professionally (aside from the joy of seeing rhubarb's gnarly knobs popping up), is the emergence of annual report conversations!
Annual reports—they're like the unsung heroes of nonprofit storytelling, don't you think? I'm absolutely smitten with them. They're a fantastic and scalable way to showcase your organization's love and appreciation for its entire community. Done right, they're not just reports; they're engagement and fundraising tools, too.
Now, if your fiscal year wraps up on 3/30 or 6/30, chances are you're in the midst of annual report season too. Do you share my love for annual reports? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I've got five quick tips to share with you today that'll spruce up this year's report, no matter the size of your budget.
Celebrate Every Donor: When it comes to listing donors in your report, ditch the giving levels. Let's honor every single supporter alphabetically by last name. After all, every gift matters, and we want to show gratitude to our donors as a unified community.
Shine the Spotlight: Highlight the heart and soul of your organization—your communities, volunteers, staff, and donors. Use quotes, stories, and photos to bring their impact to life. Don't have a story-gathering process? It's never too late to start!
Back to Front: Flip the script and put the finances and Executive Director's letter at the back of the report. While important, most readers are eager to dive into the stories and impact first.
Make Giving Easy: Don't forget to include a donation option! Whether it's a remittance envelope in the physical report or a donation button in the digital version, make it effortless for readers to support your cause.
Repurpose with Purpose: Don't let your annual report gather dust.! Repurpose its content for blogs, social media posts, solicitation letters, impact reports, website updates, and more. Time is precious—let's make the most of it!