If you work for a non-profit or advocacy organization, it is likely the time of year you work on your annual report, which will be shared with donors, members and constituents.
They’re important. Annual reports can highlight what your organization has accomplished during the year through various events and activities, how much money you raised, how the money was spent, give you the opportunity thank all of your supporters, and to appeal for additional donations. But, while they’re important, they’re usually also quite boring.
In order to stand out, and make sure your constituents can read and understand the important information, consider adding these five features to your annual report print design:
Photos
When it comes to talking about the impact your non-profit organization has made over the course of the year, you should use photos and testimonials from your supporters. Sharing their stories will go further than simply listing out past events and activities.
Charts
Financials are generally a tedious topic, but it is important to mention them in your annual report.
One obvious solution is to use a colorful chart to visualize how funds were allocated, or a graph to show a trend. Make sure you communicate key financial or other numerical information in a way which is not only engaging, but which prioritizes the most important figures and helps you tell the story you want to tell about where your organization is headed.
Infographics
Think about putting together an infographic with the organization’s summary of the past year.
This is becoming a more and more popular way to communicate important information, especially if you opt for a non-traditional annual report via email or microsite. Make it colorful and use icons, arrows, charts, and photos to bring the year alive all in one graphic.
Simplicity
Your print design should be quite simple. You don’t want to bombard people with too much text, as space is limited. Use it as a way to get the highlights of year out there, and point them in the direction of where they can learn more about your organization.
Video
Create a video about your year in review. This is an ever-growing way to engage current and prospective supporters.
The video can either be a series of slides with all of the usual reporting information and photos of events, or you can record testimonials and other engaging narration. You’re sure to catch attention with this innovative way to send out an annual report.
Whether you’re a non-profit organization looking for a website design or annual report, we’re here to help you empower and engage.
