Social Impact Design Studio | Annual Reports for Nonprofits

The donors, funders, and partners you need to grow are already investing. Just not in you. Yet.

The organizations leading your sector aren‘t more deserving than you. They simply present themselves well. And that visibility is what funds the next community served, the next program launched, the next life changed.
‍
You’ve worked hard for years to build strong programs, earn trust, and make a significant difference. The only thing standing between you and the support you need is a lack of materials that show the real depth of your work.

Not the version that felt like checking a box rather than making it useful and purposeful. The real thing.

We fix that with annual reports that highlight your real impact, attract new funders and partners, and give your team a storytelling system you can use all year.

It’s time for your annual report to truly reflect the organization you’ve worked so hard to build.

We’re Acton Circle, your go-to social impact design firm

Nonprofits expanding access to education, healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity for underserved communities trust us.

Since 2019, we’ve worked with 60+ nonprofits and foundations. We design annual reports and fundraising materials that help your supporters get it, care about it, and stick around.

That’s what BELIEF by Design™ looks like in action.

Annual Report Design Intensive

We take what your org stands for and build something supporters feel before they even hit page two. The kind of report that makes funders lean in, leadership stand taller, and fundraising way less painful all year. And one you really can't wait to hand someone at your next event.

explore the Intensive

“The visualized data and narrative were enhanced...”

A beautiful job bringing our foundation's report to life. The visualized data and narrative were enhanced by the very professional graphic design services provided by Acton Circle.

Kris L., CEO, Chiron Community Foundation

Open book showing a report page with text on mental health disparities and an urban street photo with overlay text about uninsured residents and poor mental health.

Open booklet showing sections on scholarships, long-term vision, mentorship, mental health workshops, and a testimonial from Maria with her photo.

Annual Report Template Kits

Your team can do this; they just need a real system, not a blank canvas. Being a team of one with a lot on your plate is exactly who these were built for.

These kits give you the same foundation we use with 1:1 clients. So deadline season feels less like survival mode and more like, yeah, we got this.

Check out diy tools

“I'm a team of one, so it turned a potential chore into a seamless process.”

As a communications professional with a lot on my plate, this template kit was clutch for my workflow. Starting can sometimes be the biggest hurdle for me, but this kit was exactly what I needed to get my creative juices flowing. I'm a team of one, so it turned a potential chore into a seamless process.

Mercedes T., Communications, Child Care Resource Nonprofit

THE ACTON CIRCLE DIFFERENCE

Why nonprofits choose us as their social change design agency

Abstract icon with four dark brown petal shapes radiating from an olive center circle

Because we only design for social change organizations.

We speak nonprofit and design. We get the board expectations, the stakeholders you’re trying to impress, and the pressure to build trust. We get that you’re trying to reach four different audiences with one document (yes, four—we’ve had that exact conversation more than once).

Abstract icon with a dark brown ascending staircase shape and an olive circle above it

Because you‘ll never wonder what's happening next.

Clear timelines. Proactive updates. Built-in reviews. You always know what’s coming, why it matters, and how it ties to your goals.

We know you’re covering for two people and running point on three other things. You shouldn’t have to chase us, either.

Abstract icon with two dark brown leaves and an olive circle above, resembling a growing sprout

Because we believe in depth over surface.

We’re not here to make things just look clean and professional. We’re here so supporters really feel your mission. Every font, image, and layout means something. Yes, it’s that deep.

The content that’s 90% there... we know how to find the missing 10% and make the whole thing click.

Abstract icon with a dark brown rounded rectangle containing a white ring and olive dot at center

Because you should know exactly what you‘re paying before you say yes.

No surprise invoices. Fixed pricing, clear deliverables, zero scope creep. You know what you‘re investing in and what you’re getting. Period.

It’s the first thing most people want to know. So we just tell you upfront once we understand your needs.

WHO WE SERVE

As a social impact design studio, here’s who we work with best

You help open doors to education, jobs, housing, and healthcare for people who need it most. Your story should be seen, heard, and understood.

Housing & Family Stability

You’re removing the barriers that make everything else harder—stable housing, family support, crisis services.

We help funders understand why this foundation work is non-negotiable, and what changes for families when it’s done right.

Health & Well-Being

You’re changing how people care for themselves and each other, and addressing the conditions that make health inequitable in the first place.

We turn complex data and outcomes into stories that feel human, so supporters understand not just what you do but why it matters.

Education & Access

You’re opening doors and making learning possible for students who didn’t have a clear path in.

We design materials that are clear, inclusive, and easy to share, so your message reaches the people who need it and the funders who can multiply it.

Flat lay of the Chiron Community Giving Foundation report with teal cover, open spreads showing maps and data charts

Workforce & Economic Mobility

You’re helping people build skills, access careers, and participate fully in the economy.

We tell the story of that transformation: where someone started, what changed, where they’re headed, in a way that makes funders feel invested in the outcome.

Read to start your project?

Your donors are judging. Let’s give ’em something good.

get started

about acton circle

Behind every report is someone who genuinely cares whether it works

Olivia started Acton Circle because too many nonprofits were doing great work and getting missed. The materials just weren’t telling the real story. She built Acton Circle to fix that. For good.

Her grandparents lived on Acton Circle in Berkeley, CA. That’s where the name comes from. The font comes from her grandfather’s handwriting. This was never about just design—it’s legacy deep.

MEET YOUR DESIGN PARTNER

on the blog

Is your annual report a strong foundation for your story to grow?

We show you what to say, how to design it, and how to turn it into materials that support your work all year.

Annual Report Design

Annual Report Layout: Tips for a Report Donors Will Read

Donors skim in 8 seconds. These annual report layout tips help small nonprofit teams design a report that earns attention and builds donor belief.

Read article

Annual Report Design

Annual Report Design Services: What to Expect

Thinking about hiring out your annual report? Here's a look at what our annual report design services involve, the process, and the questions every nonprofit asks before saying yes.

Read article

Branding & Marketing

How to Run a Successful Nonprofit: 7 Practical Tips

Most nonprofits do good work. So why do some thrive while others struggle to stay funded? Here are 7 tips for running a successful nonprofit organization.

Read article

Design that honors your community and expands your circle of supporters

The donors, funders, and partners you need to grow are already investing. Just not in you. Yet.

We’re Acton Circle, your go-to social impact design firm

Annual Report Template Kits

The Annual Report Checkpoint

Why nonprofits choose us as their social change design agency

Because we only design for social change organizations.

Because you‘ll never wonder what's happening next.

Because we believe in depth over surface.

Because you should know exactly what you‘re paying before you say yes.

From the orgs we’ve partnered with

As a social impact design studio, here’s who we work with best

Housing & Family Stability

Health & Well-Being

Education & Access

Workforce & Economic Mobility

Behind every report is someone who genuinely cares whether it works

Is your annual report a strong foundation for your story to grow?