annual report deep dive
Ready for a fresh approach to your annual report?
Submit last year's finished report to improve your next one, or your current draft to execute it in a fresh, stronger way. We'll review it and share exactly how you can build donor trust and get more out of your report.
You're in one of two places right now...
You finished last year's report and checked it off your list, but something still bothers you. Donor retention stayed the same. The response was quiet. You feel it could have made a bigger difference. You don't want to repeat the same approach.
Or maybe you have a draft in progress. It's okay, but it still doesn't feel right. You want it to truly stand out, not just look updated, but feel different from everything else in your field. And you want feedback while there's still time to make changes.
No matter which situation you're in, the challenge is the same: you're too close to the work.
After looking at it for so long, it's tough to see your report the way a donor would at first glance. Is the story clear? Does the design look trustworthy before anyone even reads it? Does the report make donors feel like heroes, or does it just give them an update?
If you don't get outside feedback, you'll likely start the next report the same way you began this one.
The Annual Report Deep Dive
the process
How the Deep Dive works
01
Purchase + complete a short intake form
A few questions about your audience, your goals, and what you're already sensing isn't connecting. This shapes the whole review.
02
Submit your report or draft
PDF link or file upload, last year's finished report or your current work-in-progress. Either works.
03
Olivia gets to work
You get your time back while I go deep and review your report.
04
Receive your review
Loom video walkthrough, BELIEF by Design™ Scorecard, and priority action list, in your inbox within 3 business days.
If you’d like help support as you implement our suggestions, you can book an optional call with Olivia.
After the Deep Dive
You’ll open your inbox and know exactly what to do (not just general storytelling advice, but specific steps).
You’ll have a ranked list, a scored framework, and a recorded walkthrough you can share with your boss, your development team, or anyone else who needs to be on the same page.
No more wondering if the changes you’re making are the right ones.
Book Your Annual Report Deep Dive
When you’re this close to the work, you can’t see what supporters are experiencing. Let us spot the gaps and give you a new way to look at your annual report.
Hi! I’m Olivia Wheeler, Creative Director & Founder of Acton Circle.
For 12+ years, I’ve partnered with nonprofits to design reports that help people not only understand the work but also believe in it.
I’ve seen strong organizations undersell their life-changing impact simply because no one stepped back to assess the story as a whole.
The Annual Report Deep Dive gives you that strategic lens before you commit to anything bigger.
Have questions about the Annual Report Deep Dive? We’ve got answers.
Do we need a draft or a recent report?
Either works. Submit last year's finished report if you want to know what to do differently next time. Submit a current draft if you want feedback while you still have time to make changes. The intake form will ask which you're submitting so the review is scoped correctly.
Is there a live session?
No, the Deep Dive is fully async. You submit your report, fill out the intake form, and receive your Loom video walkthrough, Scorecard, and action list in your inbox within 3 business days.
If you'd like to talk through your findings, you can add a 45-minute strategy call at checkout.
What should we send ahead of time?
After purchase you'll fill out a short intake form: a few questions about your audience, your goals, and what you're already sensing isn't connecting.
Then submit your report or draft as a PDF link or file upload. That's it. No prep calls, no background docs needed.
What happens after the Deep Dive?
You'll receive your Loom video walkthrough, BELIEF by Design™ Scorecard, and priority action list within 3 business days. If you added the strategy call at checkout, we'll schedule it after your findings are delivered.
From there, you can either implement the changes themselves, use one of our template kits to execute, or move into a Design Intensive for a full redesign.
If you move forward with a Design Intensive, your Deep Dive investment applies as a credit toward the project.
How much time should we expect to commit?
About 15-20 minutes up front to fill out the intake form and submit your report. After that, the work is on us. Plan to spend around an hour reviewing your findings when they land in your inbox (watching the video, going through your Scorecard, and reading your action list). If you added the strategy call, that's another 45 minutes.
