The solution to dysfunctional annual report nightmares

Nonprofit annual reports are often a nightmarish project that costs a lot, creates conflict in the organization, and accomplishes little.

I don't have any inside information on how it went this year at the Pride Foundation, but I bet it went better than the typical nonprofit annual report debacle.

Because they instead did a "Gratitude Report."

What's the difference between an Annual Report and a Gratitude Report?

Not a whole lot. It's pretty much the same information. But the Gratitude Report gives it all a subtle but important twist: It's about donors, not the organization.

Imagine doing everything that way. Suppose you always figured out how it's about the donor. That would change the way you do almost everything. Instead of struggling to express the not-quite-aligned needs of several internal stakeholder groups, it's aimed just at donors. One (very important) audience.

Try it. I'm pretty sure it'll work well for you.

Thanks to @katyaN4G for the tip.

Comments

[Guy Arceneaux]

This post comes at a time when we are planning our Annual Report and looking at it very differently. We have made a concious decision to present the content in as accessible a manner as possible and to avoid the "talking to ourselves" trap. Thanks for this.

Guy Arceneaux
Director of Graphic Servies
Catholic Relief Services

[Zan McColloch-Lussier]

Hi Jeff,
Thank you so much for your kind words about our Gratitude Report! We are honored.

You are right that we had a great time creating the report and sharing it. Pride Foundation is an incredible community of donors, nonprofits and scholars and the report really gives us a chance to see all together how we are creating change.

Thanks again for the shout out! I look forward to reading more on your blog.

Best,
Zan McColloch-Lussier
Director of Communications
Pride Foundation