This Awesome Annual Report Is Full of Great Ideas

It’s not often that I come across a nonprofit annual report that breaks the mold. 

That’s why I was really excited when I came across this gem from Fight Colorectal Cancer.

In 20 colorful pages, this nonprofit unleashes itself from some of the standard annual report tropes and actively works to focus its storytelling on its supporters.

Its donors and volunteers clearly stand as the heroes in this story.

As a result, its report is as much a call to action as it is a recounting of financial results and outcomes.

Here are a few things that make it stand out:

The President’s Letter

Most opening letters in annual reports read as boilerplate.

Not this one.

Fight Colorectal Cancer President Anjee Davis’ opening note uses clear language to shine the spotlight on its supporters.

“Our donors and supporters are the heartbeat of our organization,” Davis writes in boldface type. “We depend on your resilience, empathy, and support.”

Later, she sets up what to expect in the rest of the report:

“Here is how we’ve taken every dollar you gave and applied it to patient support, advocacy, and research,” she writes.

If I was a donor to this group, I’d surely want to read on.

Mission Takes Center Stage

The report puts its mission statement at the front of the book – along with a statement about the people it serves.

Real Voices and Faces

Throughout the report, you meet real patients, caregivers, and researchers who are supported by the organization’s work. It helps put a face on its activities and adds color to what would otherwise be a dry reporting of accomplishments

Creative Boilerplate

Instead of devoting pages of space to list board members, staff, volunteers, and sponsors, the organization sprinkles QR codes throughout the report that gives readers the chance to visit pages online that provide additional information.

The Takeaway

Most annual reports make executives and board members the heroes of the story.

Fight Colorectal Cancer flips this on its head and instead puts its supporters in the spotlight.

And it goes a step farther by presenting it in an engaging, audience-friendly format.

What’s the best annual report you’ve seen lately? Send it our way and we’ll consider featuring it in an upcoming webinar that we’re putting together on annual reports.