My Take on the Best Annual Report Software for Nonprofits

As a design partner + founder who spends a lot of time designing and creative directing reports for nonprofits and foundations, I know firsthand that the tool you choose matters. The right annual report software can save you weeks of back-and-forth, make updates painless, and help your team put its best foot forward with donors.

I’ve seen organizations struggle when they try to force a text-heavy report into Word (or even crazier, PowerPoint), or when they dive into InDesign without the skills or support to use it well. And I’ve also seen how the right choice (paired with the right process) can make an annual report not just a requirement but a powerful storytelling tool.

Canva as Annual Report Software: Why Small Teams Love It

When we work with smaller nonprofit teams—especially those without in-house designers—we often recommend Canva. It’s intuitive, collaborative, and doesn’t require a design degree or extensive training.

Here’s what we notice when clients use Canva:

• They feel empowered because they can actually update things themselves.
• With built-in brand settings, your colors, fonts, and logos carry through automatically—making it easy to keep every page of your report on brand.
• Nonprofits that qualify for Canva’s free premium plan get access to tons of design elements.

(If you’re starting DIY, Canva is the most forgiving. But it can also look “templated” fast if you don’t customize wisely—something we often help teams avoid. That’s actually why we created our Annual Report Template Kits; so nonprofits get a polished, professional base they can edit without it ever looking cookie-cutter.)

InDesign as Annual Report Software: Why We Use It for Complex or Custom Reports

When nonprofits hire us for a design intensive, InDesign is usually our go-to. It’s the industry standard for reports, and after years of designing in it, I can tell you—it’s worth the learning curve (or the investment in someone who knows it).

Why we lean on InDesign in my studio:

• It handles long-form layouts beautifully.
• We can easily keep typography and branding consistent across dozens of pages.
• The export options give flexibility—print, interactive PDFs, and web-ready files.

The caveat? If your team doesn’t have a designer, InDesign can feel like a brick wall. That’s why many nonprofits partner with someone like Acton Circle for the heavy lift, and then we’ll also set them up with Canva-based repurposed assets for quick campaign graphics.

Squarespace or Webflow for Annual Report Websites: When Digital Makes the Difference

More and more, nonprofits are moving beyond the PDF. Instead of sending supporters a static document, they’re creating annual report landing pages in Squarespace or full microsites in Webflow.

Here’s why we love this approach:

• Accessibility: Donors don’t have to download a file; they can be immersed in an impact story right from their phone or laptop.
• Engagement: Interactive layouts, video, and animations make your report feel alive.
• Longevity: Unlike a PDF that gets tucked away after release, a website can stay live all year and be updated with fresh stories or results.

Squarespace works well for simple, beautiful landing pages that showcase highlights. Webflow gives you more creative freedom (and is what we use for custom microsites) if you want a dynamic, branded experience.

At the end of the day, a well-designed digital report feels modern, accessible, and shareable, exactly how your story deserves to be told.

How We Help Teams Choose Their Annual Report Software

When we guide nonprofits through this decision, we always encourage them to:

1. Be honest about skills. If your staff is most comfortable in Canva, don’t overcomplicate it.
2. Think about distribution. Are you printing 4,000 copies for donors or just emailing a PDF? That matters.
3. Balance design with accessibility. InDesign is beautiful, but Canva keeps reports editable long after we wrap a project.
4. Remember the bigger picture. Software is just the tool, the strategy and storytelling are what make a report resonate.

FAQs We Hear All the Time About Annual Report Software

What’s the easiest software to use for annual reports?‍

‍Canva. It’s simple, collaborative, and even has nonprofit perks.

Is Canva really good enough for nonprofits?

‍Absolutely! It’s a great starting point. Many of our clients use it alongside professional design. And for teams that want to DIY without looking “DIY,” we created Annual Report Template Kits, professionally designed layouts built in Canva that give you a polished foundation while still being easy to edit.

What about third-party annual report platforms?

You may have seen report-specific tools, and they can be appealing at first glance. But here are the trade-offs I’ve noticed:

• ‍Another tool to learn: For small teams, adding one more platform to manage can feel overwhelming.‍
• Platform lock-in: Your report lives inside their system, with ongoing subscription fees and limited options to repurpose content elsewhere.‍
• Limited brand flexibility: You can adjust fonts and colors, but you can’t fully reimagine the design the way you can in Canva, InDesign, or a custom microsite.

Do I need to hire a designer?

‍If your annual report is a key donor touchpoint, yes. Design quality impacts how your work is perceived.

There’s No One Right Way

The best annual report software is the one that fits your team’s skills, budget, and goals. For some of our clients, that’s Canva. For others, it’s InDesign with professional support.

Our job and passion is helping nonprofits bridge the gap between “good enough” and “this makes donors take notice.” Because at the end of the day, your report should be more than a PDF; it should be the story that keeps your mission top of mind all year.

👉 If you’re ready to make that happen, check out our Annual Report Design Services. And if you’re leaning DIY, take a peek at our template shop.