The difference you’re making is often qualitative, not simply in the numbers. Invest in great photography of your teams in action so it’s obvious on the faces of your beneficiaries just what a difference you’re making.

Finally, think about how you will share your report. Instead of just launching it to a specific distribution list and uploading it to your website, consider how to keep it alive throughout the year. For example, you can use social and digital platforms to give it further reach – upload the report on sites like Slideshare and Scribd and share excerpts (like infographics) all year round on your social channels.

The core objective of your impact report is to confirm how you’re fulfilling your purpose, so start with that. Spell out your purpose, avoid any sector jargon, and put it through the ‘mum test’: could someone outside of your community (like your mum!) understand it if they read it for the first time?

To bring figures to life and put them in context, free them of the charts and tables and make sense of them in a storytelling infographic.

SPELL IT OUT

AN IMAGE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS

The impact you’re making is personal. Use quotes from staff, donors, and beneficiaries to bring out the stories behind your year.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Choose your headlines and key quotes carefully so that even those who only read the top line get a strong sense of how your year has been.

MAKE HEADLINE NEWS

KEEP IT VISUAL

There’s often a lot to communicate, so make sure you make it possible for readers who are short on time to easily cut to the highlights, executive summary, and key facts.

SHORT AND SWEET

Don’t forget to end with what the year to come will look like, setting out your goals and ambitions.

BE FORWARD THINKING

AN IMPACT REPORT ISN’T JUST FOR CHRISTMAS…