Creating an annual report can be a huge hassle. The project often requires months of organization, time, and money. For most nonprofits, with limited budgets and resources, the task can often feel like a burden.
When nonprofits create their annual reports, they often don’t realize how much marketing potential they have. Sure, your annual report can be uploaded to your website. But, only uploading it won’t guarantee that stakeholders will see it. And, without an audience, the annual report can feel like a total waste of time and energy. So, how can nonprofits make the most out of their annual report?
1. Use your annual report for social media content
Social media is often the last thing that nonprofits want to think about. With events and fundraisers on the horizon, social media can fall by the wayside, collecting dust. While having an active social media presence isn’t always a necessity—depending on your organization’s audience and business structure—it’s usually important to have some kind of digital presence. A digital presence helps potential donors, volunteers, and stakeholders locate and keep tabs on your organization.
By using applications like Yearly, nonprofits can design an annual report that can be recycled into pithy social media captions and images. Extract a volunteer highlight section and use it as an Instagram post. Save and reuse your financial pie chart to post on LinkedIn. Turn a pull quote from a beneficiary into a Facebook ad. The possibilities are endless!
2. Use your annual report for blog content
Like social media, blog content can often fly under the radar. With so much going on, it’s hard to dedicate time to updating your content. Because Yearly can house a year’s worth of accomplishments, it’s the perfect tool for blog content.
Consider expanding on each section of the annual report and writing about them in separate blogs. Explain, in further detail, the impact your donors had this year. Or, write about the top five volunteers of the year. The annual report allows you to have the perfect foundation for future content. Get creative!
3. Use your annual report for fundraising
It’s easy to get into a fundraising rut. Often nonprofits wonder how they can mix up their messaging so their donors aren’t bored or feel out of touch. Your annual report—packed with new statistics, highlights and more—is the perfect opportunity to freshen up your fundraising. Appeal to donors by showing them how much they’ve helped you accomplish in the past year, and what’s to come. By using this well-designed package, donors will feel connected and reinvigorated in their giving.
4. Use your annual report for program books
Whether your nonprofit hosts galas or local grassroots fundraisers, the annual report is also a perfect tool for creating your next event program materials. Because Yearly’s tools are incredibly functional, it’s easy to use some of the same content from your annual report in your next program book. Download your digital report as a pdf and turn it into your next pamphlet!
5. Use your annual report for newsletters
Newsletters are an helpful touchpoint for donors. They can make them feel connected and part of the organization. But, much like blog content and social media, coming up with ideas for any given newsletter can be overwhelming. Use your annual report in a weekly highlight or monthly update!