report deep dive

Take the first step toward a stronger annual report

If you’re responsible for how your organization is seen, your annual report matters.

You’ve put a lot of time into it before. But it’s hard to know: Is it building confidence or doubt? Showing your real impact? Inspiring giving or just getting skimmed?

The Annual Report Deep Dive makes sure it’s building belief and trust, not confusion.

book your deep dive

Now booking Q1 projects. Availability is limited.

Most nonprofits produce an annual report because they’re supposed to.

Very few step back and ask whether it’s actually doing its job. Without an experienced visual storytelling lens or even fresh eyes on the work, it’s easy to:

→ Miss structural gaps
→ Invest in changes that don’t address the real issue
→ Tweak design when the strategy needs clarity

You end up with something that feels “fine.” But fine doesn’t build trust.

Book Your deep dive

the process

How the Deep Dive works

This is the first step in every annual report project we take on.

Before your deep dive, we start with a 30-minute context call. You’ll share your current report, your goals, your audience, and anything that feels unclear or underperforming.

Then, we step away and conduct a structured review using our BELIEF by Design™ framework. This is an independent evaluation of how your report is performing (in its format, its design, and the way donors experience it.)

Within a couple of days, we meet again for a focused 60-minute walkthrough. We'll present the findings, explain where belief and trust is building (and where it’s leaking), and answer your questions in real time.

Afterward, you receive a recap deck outlining your Action Plan.

What you’ll walk away with:

An understanding of your report’s strengths

The few shifts that will create the biggest impact

Confidence in your next move by yourself or with Acton Circle

What happens after the Annual Deep Dive

You’ll leave with clear takeaways and a priority action list.
From there, you choose how to apply them:

option 1

Implement Internally

Refine your report in-house using the priorities from our session.

option 2

Strengthen with the Annual Report Template Kit

Apply your takeaways inside a ready-to-use layout designed for DIY teams.

Browse the Template Kits →

option 3

Move into a Full Annual Report Design Intensive

Partner with Acton Circle to execute the strategy and redesign your report.

Explore the Annual Report Design Intensive →

Investment

$1,500

A focused, two-part, 90-min strategy experience designed to give you clarity and confidence before you invest further.

It takes more than an email, social media post, or website tab to cut through the noise.

Your stories matter. Your impact is real. But your audience is juggling endless priorities. Take a look at what your message is competing with throughout their day:

8:45 AM

They’re scanning emails on their phone during the morning rush—juggling kids, roommates, pets, or just trying to get out the door—mentally noting “important updates” they’ll definitely read later.

10:15 AM

Three browser windows, 27 tabs, two virtual meetings, and a coffee later—they're trying to find that interview link you sent last week.

12:30 PM

Lunch is a scrolling session through updates, between bites of something that might be a sandwich. Your latest impact story competes with Instagram and urgent Slack messages.

3:45 PM

They're presenting to the board in 15 minutes, trying to remember where they saw those compelling statistics about your wins.

5:20 PM

On the commute home—whether by train, car, or just the 10 steps from their desk to the couch—they finally have a moment to focus. But your content is scattered across platforms, buried in emails, and lost in bookmarks they’ll never open.

Your amazing content, research, and updates shouldn’t disappear into the busyness. Stand out with an interactive microsite.

Have questions about the Annual Report Deep Dive? We’ve got answers.

Do we need a draft or recent report?

Yes. The Deep Dive is most valuable when we can review a completed or in-progress annual or impact report.

Do we need to attend both sessions live?

Yes. The Deep Dive is collaborative and designed to create clarity through conversation.

What should we send ahead of time?

Your report (PDF), your goals, your audience, and any specific concerns.

What happens after the Deep Dive?

You’ll receive a recap deck summarizing what’s working, where belief may be leaking, and the key shifts that will strengthen your report. It includes a prioritized action plan so you know exactly what to focus on first.

From there, you can refine internally, use a Template Kit, or move forward with a full Annual Report Design Intensive.

How much time should we expect to commit?

Plan for a 30-minute context call, a 60-minute review walkthrough, and a few minutes to gather materials beforehand. The full process is typically completed within one week.

Why do you start with the Deep Dive?

We start every annual report project with the Deep Dive.

Before we design or recommend a larger investment, we review the whole report to understand what’s working and what needs strengthening.

It helps us make smart decisions instead of just designing for the first time or redesigning on instinct.

From there, some teams implement internally. Others continue into a full Design Intensive. Either way, it’s the right place to begin.