Staff and Board Lists and Your Nonprofit Annual Report: Who to Include and How
In previous blog posts, we’ve discussed why including staff and board lists is important. In this blog, we’ll tackle who you should include and how—with some great examples.
What we’ll cover:
- Who to include in your staff and board lists
- How to include them
- 3 great examples of staff and board lists in a nonprofit annual report
Who to include in your staff and board lists
Often, annual reports straddle two different years. For example, they might represent 2021 but actually get published in the spring of 2022. So, often, nonprofits aren’t sure whom to include—all board members? All staff? All volunteers?
Board members. If your fiscal year and your board year don’t match, you might be wondering whom to include in your board member list. While there’s not one guiding rule, we recommend listing them all, with the years they served. Either split them up into two different categories (with the years) or put an asterisk next to the names of past members.
But, regardless of which ones you include be sure to differentiate between different categories. Identify non-voting, honorary, or advisory board members. That way, readers have a holistic understanding of the makeup of your leadership team.
Staff members. Depending on how much space you have available in your annual report, it’s wise to list all the staff you can. Start with the executive leadership, and work your way down to less senior positions. Include names, titles, and headshots if you can!
How to include these lists in your nonprofit annual report
If you’re using a software solution like Yearly, incorporating staff and board lists is easy (for a video tutorial, click here!).
1. Gather headshots. For a real professional look, organize a photo shoot with your staff and board members. Consistency across each photo will make your annual report look and feel more authoritative
2. Write small bios. This isn’t a rule. But, including small bios for each person (if you have the time and space in your annual report), allows readers to know your stakeholders better, and feel more connected
3. Double check your spelling. Staff and board lists are often the most onerous task in an annual report. Why? Because it’s crucial to spell everyone’s name and title correctly. Nothing is worse than a board member seeing their name misspelled. Make sure to double-check your work!
4. Share. If you’re using digital software to create your annual report, sharing is a breeze. Once you’ve inputted your lists, post the report to your social media channels and email newsletters. If you’re posting on social media, be sure to tag all your staff and major stakeholders in the post. This is one of the best ways to encourage organic re-posting and sharing.
3 examples of annual reports with great staff and board lists
Why we love this example:
- The header provides context: instead of just listing names, this report actually identifies the role of the board
- It’s easy to read: readers can easily scan this section of the annual report
- It provides necessary titles: this kind of transparency allows readers to feel connected and confident
Why we love this example:
- Professional headshots: each of the headshots included is consistent with one another which shows authority and professionalism
- Clean and concise: readers can easily find points of contact and note the most essential leadership
- Includes necessary credentials: because this annual report is from a healthcare organization, the inclusion of degrees is essential
Why we love this example:
- Interactivity: with clickable “contact” links readers can connect with staff members right from this annual report
- Creativity: each headshot showcases something about each person’s personality and responsibilities
- Friendly and inviting: the use of bright colors keeps the reading experience refreshing and exciting