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10 Mistakes
Nonprofits Make in
Annual Reports
Excerpt from the e-book

How to Create a Nonprofit Annual Report
by Kivi Leroux Miller

Mistakes
1.

Focusing on
activities instead of
accomplishments.

Mistakes
Donors need

Not
Just
Donors want to know:
• What were the results of what you did?
• Why did you spend your time and money
the way you did?
• What difference did it make?
2.

Discussing
administrative
minutiae.

Mistakes
“Yay! We finally have WiFi!”

“And?”
Inspire donors with accomplishments
related to your mission.

Leave administrative items for
your board report.
3.

Emphasizing
fundraising
accomplishments.

Mistakes
What’s more exciting?

or
Don’t put fundraising efforts on
the same level as mission-related
accomplishments.
Donors expect you to raise money, but they
want to hear about how you helped
the world with it rather than how you
raised it.
4.

Printing dense
blocks of text with
no photos.

Mistakes
e libraries or even books become obsolete? One look at the Public Library a
wer is clear: libraries have never been more important. The numbers speak
mselves. In the last fiscal year, 1 million visitors came through the Library’s d
her 3 million visited our website. Meanwhile, circulation and program atten
ng records. Public high school students are borrowing books, and scholars a
or research here. Job seekers continue to rely on our comprehensive resour
ary Center and other locations. And our public computers were used for .6 m
s in FY 2012, a 160% increase from five years ago. Together these facts und
essential the Library is to so many. The report is succinct: “No other institu
any different people in so many different ways.” However, even as use soar
ary continues to face severe fiscal challenges. Over the past five years, City f
Library has been steadily reduced, forcing us to find ways to continue servin
ons amid declining resources, and making private support even more crucia
mitted to vastly expanding free programs and educational initiatives in
branches. In FY 2012, we increased the number of free events at NYPL to m
55,000, while we expanded the number of computer classes to nearly 7,70
ore than 350% increase over the year before. Welong; Didn’t Read 1,8
Too also offered more than
L classes to help recent immigrants learn English. But we aim to do more. Ev
after school, 3,000 kids come to our branches. We should be providing the
Show what you’ve done
with pictures
5.

Leaving captions off
your photos.

Mistakes
People will
read this…

Joe. Is he learning a new
trade or robbing us blind with
repairs we don’t need?

…before they
read this

Joe, like many others we serve, came to
the center in 2012 after losing his job at
the local textile factory. With support
from donors like you we were able to
secure a position for him where he
learned to be an automotive mechanic.
He got a position at a garage earlier this
year and is giving back to the center so
others can have the same chance he did.
Make Your Captions Count
If people read nothing but the captions in
your annual report, they should still get
a sense for the good work you
did last year.
6.

Leaving people out
of the story.

Mistakes
Your annual report
is not just a
checklist of the
things you have
accomplished.
Humanize your statistics with personal
profiles.

Highlight how your work helped a specific
individual. Share a volunteer’s story of how
he or she made a positive difference.
7.

Printing financial
statements with no
explanation.

Mistakes
“Whaaaaat?”

Many of your donors won’t know
how to read a financial statement or
won’t take the time to read it.
Explain in Plain English:
• Where does your money come from and how
do you spend it?
• What are your main fundraising strategies?

• Did you implement any cost-savings
measures this year?
8.

Printing page after
page of donor lists.

Mistakes
If half of your annual
report is donor lists, you
should cut the lists back
to make more room for
text and photos.
Strike a balance between discussing
your accomplishments and recognizing
donors.

Or, even better, get rid of the donor lists
altogether and thank your donors in
more meaningful ways.
9.

Misspelling donor
names.

Mistakes
“Jackie, Jacque…eh, what’s the
difference?”

While you would never be this brazen, it won’t
matter to the donor if her name is misspelled.
If you are uncertain about a donor’s name,
don’t guess. Check with the donor.
Use the full legal names of
government agencies and foundations
that gave you grants.
(Or, like I said before, get rid of the donor lists altogether and
thank your donors in more meaningful ways.)
10.

Not telling donors
how they can help.

Mistakes
“Hello? Is anyone there?
Little help, please.”

Never leave a potential supporter hanging,
wondering how they can help you after you’ve
inspired them with your annual report.
Be clear about the best ways to help:
• How can they support you with their money?
• How can they support you with their time?
• Do you offer planned giving options?
• Can they donate with a credit card?
Buy the full e-book, How to Create a
Nonprofit Annual Report
npmg.us/ar-ebook

OR
Get the e-book with the All-Access
Pass along with all of our live webinars
and other exclusive Pass Holder
resources. npmg.us/pass
For more resources on annual reports, visit:
nonprofitmarketingguide.com/annualreports

For examples of nonprofit annual reports and
to add your report, visit our wiki:
nonprofitannualreports.wikispaces.com

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10 Mistakes Nonprofits Make in Annual Reports

  • 1. 10 Mistakes Nonprofits Make in Annual Reports Excerpt from the e-book How to Create a Nonprofit Annual Report by Kivi Leroux Miller Mistakes
  • 2. 1. Focusing on activities instead of accomplishments. Mistakes
  • 4. Donors want to know: • What were the results of what you did? • Why did you spend your time and money the way you did? • What difference did it make?
  • 6. “Yay! We finally have WiFi!” “And?”
  • 7. Inspire donors with accomplishments related to your mission. Leave administrative items for your board report.
  • 10. Don’t put fundraising efforts on the same level as mission-related accomplishments. Donors expect you to raise money, but they want to hear about how you helped the world with it rather than how you raised it.
  • 11. 4. Printing dense blocks of text with no photos. Mistakes
  • 12. e libraries or even books become obsolete? One look at the Public Library a wer is clear: libraries have never been more important. The numbers speak mselves. In the last fiscal year, 1 million visitors came through the Library’s d her 3 million visited our website. Meanwhile, circulation and program atten ng records. Public high school students are borrowing books, and scholars a or research here. Job seekers continue to rely on our comprehensive resour ary Center and other locations. And our public computers were used for .6 m s in FY 2012, a 160% increase from five years ago. Together these facts und essential the Library is to so many. The report is succinct: “No other institu any different people in so many different ways.” However, even as use soar ary continues to face severe fiscal challenges. Over the past five years, City f Library has been steadily reduced, forcing us to find ways to continue servin ons amid declining resources, and making private support even more crucia mitted to vastly expanding free programs and educational initiatives in branches. In FY 2012, we increased the number of free events at NYPL to m 55,000, while we expanded the number of computer classes to nearly 7,70 ore than 350% increase over the year before. Welong; Didn’t Read 1,8 Too also offered more than L classes to help recent immigrants learn English. But we aim to do more. Ev after school, 3,000 kids come to our branches. We should be providing the
  • 13. Show what you’ve done with pictures
  • 14. 5. Leaving captions off your photos. Mistakes
  • 15. People will read this… Joe. Is he learning a new trade or robbing us blind with repairs we don’t need? …before they read this Joe, like many others we serve, came to the center in 2012 after losing his job at the local textile factory. With support from donors like you we were able to secure a position for him where he learned to be an automotive mechanic. He got a position at a garage earlier this year and is giving back to the center so others can have the same chance he did.
  • 16. Make Your Captions Count If people read nothing but the captions in your annual report, they should still get a sense for the good work you did last year.
  • 17. 6. Leaving people out of the story. Mistakes
  • 18. Your annual report is not just a checklist of the things you have accomplished.
  • 19. Humanize your statistics with personal profiles. Highlight how your work helped a specific individual. Share a volunteer’s story of how he or she made a positive difference.
  • 20. 7. Printing financial statements with no explanation. Mistakes
  • 21. “Whaaaaat?” Many of your donors won’t know how to read a financial statement or won’t take the time to read it.
  • 22. Explain in Plain English: • Where does your money come from and how do you spend it? • What are your main fundraising strategies? • Did you implement any cost-savings measures this year?
  • 23. 8. Printing page after page of donor lists. Mistakes
  • 24. If half of your annual report is donor lists, you should cut the lists back to make more room for text and photos.
  • 25. Strike a balance between discussing your accomplishments and recognizing donors. Or, even better, get rid of the donor lists altogether and thank your donors in more meaningful ways.
  • 27. “Jackie, Jacque…eh, what’s the difference?” While you would never be this brazen, it won’t matter to the donor if her name is misspelled.
  • 28. If you are uncertain about a donor’s name, don’t guess. Check with the donor. Use the full legal names of government agencies and foundations that gave you grants. (Or, like I said before, get rid of the donor lists altogether and thank your donors in more meaningful ways.)
  • 29. 10. Not telling donors how they can help. Mistakes
  • 30. “Hello? Is anyone there? Little help, please.” Never leave a potential supporter hanging, wondering how they can help you after you’ve inspired them with your annual report.
  • 31. Be clear about the best ways to help: • How can they support you with their money? • How can they support you with their time? • Do you offer planned giving options? • Can they donate with a credit card?
  • 32. Buy the full e-book, How to Create a Nonprofit Annual Report npmg.us/ar-ebook OR Get the e-book with the All-Access Pass along with all of our live webinars and other exclusive Pass Holder resources. npmg.us/pass
  • 33. For more resources on annual reports, visit: nonprofitmarketingguide.com/annualreports For examples of nonprofit annual reports and to add your report, visit our wiki: nonprofitannualreports.wikispaces.com