Your Nonprofit Annual Report | The Basics & More!

Your nonprofit annual report: is it really necessary?

They’re not required by law, but annual reports give your organization a legitimacy that an IRS Form 990 can’t quite touch. They let the world know you’re serious. In fact, during my days with a grantmaking foundation, an organization’s annual report was a required document of prospective grantseekers. And, while we would accept a 990, those organizations without an annual report were rarely funded.

Simply put, your annual report fills a void that a 990 can’t. If done well, they show your supporters and community leaders the impact you’ve had. They can play a critical role in seeking corporate and foundation funding, as well as your overall communications strategy.

But how can you develop your agency’s annual report when your time and resources are limited?

In Your Nonprofit Annual Report | The Basics & More you’ll learn how to create an annual report on time and on budget — one that always keeps your donor front and center.

“Breaking down the process into segments takes away the ‘overwhelm factor’ of a workshop or a webinar and guides you incrementally into achieving what you thought was impossible! You provided valuable insight into all angles of how to write a meaningful piece to insight reaction from donors. Great work!”

Class Participant, Direct Mail Fundraising | The Basics & More!

The Class Modules: Your Nonprofit Annual Report | The Basics & More!

Here are the weekly course modules you’ll be receiving in this four-week eCourse:

Week One:            Module One:  Moving Beyond the IRS Form 990:  Why Your Nonprofit Needs an Annual Report

• Why your nonprofit needs an annual report
• What documentation you need to have in hand before you begin
• Roles and who will play them:  From your ED to your staff to your volunteers, know who will be responsible for creating content, writing, compiling information and more
• How to get what you need when you need it

Week Two:            Module Two:  Beyond a letter, some pictures, your financials, and your donor list.  Writing a donor-centered annual report

• It’s not about us: Keeping the donor at the  center
• Themes that work/choosing a theme
• Why stories work better than statistics
• Key interview questions
• Knowing what to keep…and what to cut
• Making financials work for you
• The deadly Letter from the ED or board chair –and what to do about it 

Week Three:              Module Three:  Traditional vs Non-traditional:  The Design Process

 

• The “Gratitude Report:” is it right for your organization?
• Photography, design
• Outsourcing design vs insource

Week Four:            Module Four:  Print or online?

• E-production options and the role of video
• Getting high-quality printing for a reasonable price
• The last check that can save a world of embarrassment
• How to capitalize on your annual report investment

“I loved being able to control my time better, so that I could keep up with the materials as they came.”

What is an eCourse?

The Basics & More eCourses are affordable fundraising trainings delivered over the course of three to six weeks. Rather than being overwhelmed with too much material delivered in a conference setting, workshop or webinar, the Basics & More courses have been created to guide you, step-by-step toward achieving your goals, while working at your own pace. These are multi-media work-at-your-own-pace trainings, delivered via email and often including recorded webinars from the top trainers in the business, as well as podcasts, worksheets, guides, a discussion group and bonuses. In instances where it makes a difference, you’re encouraged to enroll your entire team — volunteers, staff, board — to maximize your results.

Note:  Yearly Basics & More Ticket buyers and Simple Development System members are automatically included in every Basics & More course. 

We have really loved being a part of your program and learned a ton!! Please know you are a big part of our development team here at the Intervale Center, and we not just achieved but exceeded our community fundraising goals by $24,000 in 2013 thanks for great advice and support from Simple Development Systems!!

Mandy Fischer, Development Manager, Intervale Center

Your Trainers

Your Nonprofit Communications Calendar | The Basics & More is being presented by Pamela Grow and Jan Gallagher, PhD.

Pamela is the founder of Simple Development Systems | The Membership Program, and has spent the past 15 years helping nonprofit organizations create donor-centered development departments.  She is the author of Simple Development Systems: Successful Fundraising for the One-Person Shop, and was named one of America’s Top 40 Most Effective Fundraising Consultants.

Jan Gallagher is a communications consultant / web content manager / writer / editor for nonprofit organizations.

“I found the substance as well as the form of presentation very compelling.  I intend to recommend it to some of my clients who desperately need annual fund enhancement.  Also, I will use it with my graduate students at Brandeis University where I teach fundraising management—and have for the past 22 years.”

David A. Mersky, Mersky, Jaffe & Associates (Monthly Giving | The Basics & More!)

Direct Access to the Trainers

During this four-week course, each participant will have direct access to both Pamela and Jan both via email and the Private Facebook Group created for this course.   Send in your questions about what you are learning and how it applies to your own non-profit and we’ll respond with customized advice and counsel.

We just registered for the eCourse – Your Fundraising Plan & Case for Support. Thank you for sharing this amazing opportunity at so reasonable a cost for tiny nonprofits like ours.

Heidi Jones

Our Guarantee to You

If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with the content of this course, you can stop taking it at any time and receive a full, 100%, no questions asked refund.  That’s our guarantee to you.

I had great success with the last course I took with you. My first EOY appeal campaign (sent mid December, a 4 page letter and lots of “yous”:) came in 38% higher than the previous year so far! And envelopes are still coming in. Very exciting.

Margo Reveil, Cook Inletkeeper

Your Investment in Your Nonprofit Annual Report | The Basics & More!

A full-day in-person seminar on non-profit prospecting can cost anywhere from $250-$500 (not including travel expenses), and yet not offer anywhere near the amount or quality of materials that are included with this course…

The total investment for this course, including the sample materials and templates, written guides, and podcast is just $67.