Could your organization’s annual report raise money?
They’re not required by law, but annual reports give your organization a legitimacy that an IRS Form 990 can’t quite touch. They let the world know you’re serious. In fact, during my days as a program associate for a major grantmaking foundation, an organization’s annual report was a required document from prospective grantseekers. And, while we would accept a 990, organizations without an annual report were rarely funded.
Simply put, your annual report fills a void that a 990 can’t. If done well, they show your supporters and community leaders the impact you’ve had. They can play a critical role in seeking corporate and foundation funding, as well as your overall communications strategy.
And, if you follow our system of turning your organization’s annual report into a gratitude report, you’ll produce the kind of report that not only stewards donors beautifully, but raises revenue as well.
But how can you develop your own gratitude report when your time and resources are limited?
In Your Nonprofit Annual (Gratitude) Report | Basics & More™, over the course of four weeks, you’ll learn how to create an annual report on time and on budget — one that always keeps your donor front and center.
Syllabus
Week One (Sept. 4): Moving Beyond the IRS Form 990: Why Your Nonprofit Needs an Annual Report
- Why your nonprofit needs an annual report
- What documentation you need to have in hand before you begin
- Roles and who will play them: From your ED to your staff to your volunteers, know who will be responsible for creating content, writing, compiling information and more
- How to get what you need when you need it
Week Two (Sept. 10): Beyond a letter, some pictures, your financials, and your donor list.
Writing a donor-centered annual report
- It’s not about us: Keeping the donor at the center
- Themes that work/choosing a theme
- Why stories work better than statistics
- Key interview questions
- Knowing what to keep…and what to cut
- Telling your story through financials OR Making financials work for you
- The deadly Letter from the ED or board chair — and what to do about it
Week Three (Sept. 17): Traditional vs Non-traditional: The Design Process
- The “Gratitude Report:” is it right for your organization?
- Photography, design
- Outsourcing design vs insource
Week Four (Sept. 24): Print or online?
- E-production options and the role of video
- Getting high-quality printing for a reasonable price
- The last check that can save your job (OR …can save a world of embarrassment)
- How to capitalize on your annual report investment
Register Now!
Registration for Your Nonprofit Annual Gratitude Report | Basics & More™ is only $77!
Your Guides
This series is led by Pamela Grow and Jan Gallagher, PhD.
Pamela Grow
Pamela has raised hundreds of millions through her consultancy, her Basics & More online trainings, and the Simple Development Systems coaching program. Pam’s over-riding goal is to provide exceptional donor-centered fundraising training to small nonprofit organizations — at prices they can afford.
A pioneer in creating online trainings for nonprofit professionals, Pamela created the first online nonprofit storytelling class in 2010, as well as the first online nonprofit stewardship training. Partnering with Chris Davenport of the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference, she created the landmark program, 100 Donors in 90 Days, and The Donor Retention Project. In 2016, Pam developed the curriculum, branding, and launch for the Veritus Group’s Major Gift Academy, the seminal online training for nonprofit major gift officers. In 2010 Pamela was named one of the 50 Most Influential Fundraisers by the influential Civil Society magazine, and in 2016 she was named one of the Top 25 Fundraising Experts by the Michael Chatman Giving Show.Her blog, PamelaGrow.com was named one of 25 Must-Read Nonprofit IT Blogs 2016, and she recently came in at #2 on the Top 75 Fundraising Websites And Blogs For Fundraisers.
Jan Gallagher, PhD
Jan Gallagher, PhD. Jan is a communications strategist, writer and editor, working primarily with nonprofits and small businesses. She develops newsletters, websites, and annual reports that donors actually want to read. She specializes in making the complex simple — on time and within budget.