Your annual report is your chance to showcase your mission in action. But what makes one report grab attention while others collect dust? Let's look at the best examples and help you create something incredible.
A great annual report does more than just share numbers—it tells the story of your mission in action. It shows donors the real impact of their support and inspires them to dream bigger with you.
Ready to create a report that moves people? We'll show you our favorite examples and break down what makes them work. You'll learn what to include, how to structure your story, and ways to make your impact impossible to miss.
Let's make your next annual report your best one yet.
What is a nonprofit annual report?
Every annual report tells your organization's story, just in different ways. At its core, it's how you share your growth, wins, and impact with donors and supporters.
Think of it as packaging your year's work in a way that gets people excited. Your report connects with donors, volunteers, and community members – anyone invested in your mission. While you'll include those required financials, this is your chance to say thanks and show supporters the change they helped create.
Reports used to mean printed booklets landing in mailboxes. Now you can bring your story to life through interactive websites, engaging videos, or dynamic PDFs. The format changes, but the goal stays the same: showing your impact in a way that moves people.
Benefits of Creating a Nonprofit Report
Your annual report is more than a year-end wrap-up—it's your chance to build trust and drive real action. When you show donors exactly how their support creates meaningful change, you create the kind of transparency that turns one-time givers into long-term partners. Your report proves you're managing resources wisely and making real, tangible impact.
A great report is your nonprofit's best storyteller. By sharing authentic wins and clear data, you boost credibility in a way that makes your work impossible to ignore. This makes it easier to inspire bigger giving, attract new partners, and secure grants that fuel your mission.
Remember: When your report shines, your impact shines too. Let's make sure your incredible work gets the spotlight it deserves.
What to Include in a Nonprofit Annual Report
The best nonprofit annual report examples stand out not only for their design, but also for the information they share. Here are some of the most important features to include in your next annual report:
- A mission statement: Make sure your mission statement is front and center in your annual report to remind readers what your organization does.
- Major achievements: The annual report is not a place to be humble. Shout your accomplishments from the digital rooftops and recap major events, initiatives, goals and targets. Get specific and share data that showcases where you excelled.
- A clear financial statement: Showcasing how you raised and used donor funds is an important part of any nonprofit annual report. Share the numbers in an engaging way with context provided by stories, examples and great visuals.
- Donor contributions: Remember, your annual report is a key tool in generating more donations for your organization. So make sure to highlight how you used donor funds successfully over the past year and the impact those funds made.
- Branded visuals: The way your annual report looks is just as important as the information shared within it. Whether you’re creating your report in-house or outsourcing it to an annual report graphic designer, be sure to create a report that aligns visually with your brand.
8 Nonprofit Annual Report Examples to Inspire Your Project
Ready to start building your annual report? Explore the following nonprofit annual report examples—all designed by the Acton Circle team—to inspire your big project.
Tides | Interactive Annual Report Microsite Example
Tides Foundation brings together changemakers, nonprofits, and donors to tackle society's biggest challenges. Their 2022 report breaks the mold with an interactive website that speaks to partners and potential team members alike.
The microsite weaves bold design with audio elements, letting readers dive into their impact story naturally. Clean lines and modern visuals reflect their forward-thinking mission.
Learn more about the Tides annual report here.
Planet Women| Magazine-style Annual Report
Planet Women empowers women in conservation globally. Their 2022-2023 report works double duty—inspiring donors today while building a foundation for future partnerships.
Natural elements blend with bold imagery and human-centered typography to tell their story. Large photos put faces to their mission, showcasing the women leading change in conservation.
Learn more about Planet Women's nonprofit annual report here.
Making Waves Education Foundation | Blue Annual Report Example
Making Waves Education Foundation opens doors for underserved students through college support, coaching, and financial literacy. Their 2022-2023 report puts students center stage, blending personal stories with clear data about their success.
The design echoes their wave logo throughout, from text box shapes to background patterns. Large text and color-coded sections make scanning easy, while branded icons and infographics break down complex information into digestible pieces.
View the Making Waves Annual Impact Report here.
Making Waves Academy | Bright Blue Annual Report Example
Making Waves Academy offers holistic education to 5th-12th graders in Richmond, CA. Their 2021-2022 impact report captures the school's energy while complementing their foundation's design style.
Dynamic blue waves sweep across pages, punctuated by bright orange accents. Instead of posed photos, the report shows real students engaged in learning. Clean layouts with breathing room let each page work both in sequence and standalone, while visual storytelling keeps readers moving through their story of impact.
View the Making Waves Annual Impact Report here.
10,000 Degrees | Nonprofit Annual Report Microsite
10,000 Degrees breaks down education barriers through mentoring, college prep, and scholarships. They turned their 2022 annual report into an interactive microsite that lets supporters explore impact their own way.
Student success stories drive the narrative, while bold colors and hand-drawn elements create a youthful energy that matches their mission. Smart features like direct donation links and easy-to-share success metrics make taking action simple.
They thought beyond digital, too—their PDF version keeps the same vibrant design, and a QR code connects print readers straight to giving options.
Wu Yee Children’s Services | Red and White Nonprofit Annual Report Example
Wu Yee Children’s Services helps San Francisco families thrive through meals, childcare, and early learning scholarships. Their annual report stands out with a striking red, white, and black design that puts their mission front and center.
Smart design choices make every element work harder: red overlays unify diverse photos while bold red pages highlight key financials and impact data. Clean custom icons and illustrations in their signature colors tell their story through simple, powerful visuals.
Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) | Annual Report Infographic Example
Partners in Development Foundation helps Hawaiian families build stronger, healthier communities. Their annual report takes an infographic approach, using bright greens and yellows paired with leaf patterns that honor their Hawaiian roots.
While they skip traditional elements like financial statements and leadership letters (which could be shared separately), their vibrant illustrations and family-focused graphics make their impact story easy to grasp. The design feels authentic to their mission and their community.
More Than Bootstraps | Purple Annual Report Infographic Example
More Than Bootstraps helps first-generation college students break barriers through near-peer mentoring, financial support, and family resources. Their annual report brings data to life through a striking purple infographic filled with bold numbers and student illustrations.
They start by tackling the problem head-on: higher education inequality. This sets up why their work matters before diving into their impact. Clean graphics show exactly how many students they've helped, while student stories and quotes make the numbers personal.
How to Design an Annual Report
Inspired by the great examples you've seen? Let's put those ideas into action. Here's how to craft a report that captures attention and inspires support:
Know Your Audience
Your report isn't just a recap—it's a tool to inspire support. Think about what matters to your donors and community members, then tell your story in a way that connects.
Keep It Fresh
Share your latest wins and newest data. While your brand stays consistent, each year's report should feel current and exciting.
Lead with Stories
People connect with people. Share real stories about the lives you've changed. That's what keeps donors engaged and excited about your mission.
Make It Visual
Great design matters. Use professional photos, clean graphics, and consistent branding that aligns with your other materials. Everything should feel like it belongs together, from your website to your report.
Get Help If You Need It
Unless you have a stellar designer on your team, consider bringing in experts or using a professional designed template. A professional touch helps your impact story shine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
You do incredible work. Here's how to make sure your annual report shows it.
- Burying the good stuff. Share your wins clearly and proudly. Skip the vague numbers and jargon. Your donors want to see real impact through clean data visuals and authentic stories.
- Forgetting it's for humans. Dense paragraphs and tiny text make eyes glaze over. Let your design breathe with bold headlines, clean layouts, and authentic photos that capture real moments.
- Making it a one-way conversation. Your wins are their wins too. Show donors how they helped make change happen. Include specific stories and clear ways to stay involved.
- Drowning in details. Lead with your biggest impact. Break complex info into bite-sized pieces. Make your key messages impossible to miss.
- Letting it gather dust. Use your report to spark ongoing connections. Share highlights on social media, feature stories in newsletters, and build momentum for what's next.
Nonprofit Annual Report FAQs
How long should an annual report for nonprofits be?
Most annual reports average between 15-30 pages, but some may be as many as 200 pages. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to annual report length. Instead, the length of your annual report will depend on the size of your organization and the amount of information you need to share.
But keep in mind that real humans are reading your report. If you want them to take in and understand your accomplishments and mission, it’s a good idea to make your report as concise as possible.
Should my organization upload our nonprofit annual report online?
Yes, absolutely! Print reports had their moment. Now, digital formats let you reach more people and track real engagement. Whether you go for an interactive microsite or a simple PDF, having your report online means anyone can access your story anytime. Keep offering print copies if you need them—just add a digital version so you can share your impact wider and smarter.
When should I publish my annual report?
Because a nonprofit annual report is really a fundraising and/or marketing tool, there’s no specific date when one must be published.
Many nonprofit organizations publish their annual reports around the same time as they file the required Form 990 with the IRS, since they have their financial information organized and on-hand. Others, however, may time their annual report to coincide with a major fundraising event or other marketing initiative.
How do I measure the Success of my Nonprofit Annual Report?
Measuring the success of your nonprofit's annual report is essential for understanding its impact and improving future reports. Here are some ways to evaluate its effectiveness:
- Digital impact: Watch how people engage with your report online. Track downloads, page views, and time spent reading. These numbers tell you if your story is grabbing attention.
- Social energy: Listen to the buzz. Shares, comments, and saves show which parts of your report resonate. High engagement means your message hits home.
- Donor response: Keep an eye on giving patterns after your report launches. New donations, increased monthly giving, or upgraded support levels show your impact story moves people to action.
- Real feedback: Ask your community what stuck with them. Their insights about memorable stories, surprising stats, or confusing sections help you level up next year's report.
Book Your Nonprofit Annual Report Design
Ready to create your best-ever annual report?
We help you turn spreadsheets, Google docs, and stats into a report that grabs attention and inspires action. Our nonprofit design experts know how to showcase your mission in a way that moves donors to give and partners to commit.
Let's create something that makes your impact impossible to ignore. Get in touch today.
