Annual Report Season Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
Authored by | Simply the Basics team
With annual tax forms due, many hygiene banks and organizations feel pressure to also produce a polished, printed annual report. While transparency and storytelling matter, it’s worth remembering that you are not required to spend endless hours - or hundreds of dollars (or more!) - creating a massive report to do this well.
Here are a few ways to share your impact clearly and thoughtfully without overextending your time or budget.
Practical, permission-giving tips
1. Skip the paper & link a PDF
Printing and mailing annual reports can quickly add up. A simple, well-designed PDF linked on your website (and shared with donors) is more than sufficient and often more accessible. If you’d still like to send something in the mail, perhaps opt for a condensed 1-2 pager of your annual report where folks can then link to your full online report through a QR code.
2. Repurpose what you already have
Your impact stories already exist in grant reports, social posts, newsletters, and internal updates. An annual report is often about collecting these stories, not creating from scratch.
3. You don’t need a brand-new template every year
Once upon a time, I felt like I needed a brand new flashy template each year for an online annual report but actually, consistency builds trust. Using the same format year to year saves time and helps readers know where to look for key information.
4. Focus on clarity, not length
A few strong data points, clear financial categories, and 2–3 meaningful stories can be more effective than a long, dense report that frankly, no one finishes.
5. Remember what’s required — and what isn’t
While tax filings are required, a glossy annual report is not. Your time and resources are valuable, especially during busy reporting seasons.
6. Are we dropping financials?
Many organizations aren’t adding a complete BTS of their financials in their annual reports this year and it’s because the information is already out there and can be easily found by donors whether it’s on a Candid Profile, or easily shared through a 990. If you’d still like to add financials, focus on what truly matters or what the cost was to make your organization, and each program, run this year.
Your work matters, whether your annual report is 3 pages or 30. The goal isn’t perfection but transparency, learning, and shared progress. Do what’s sustainable for your team, and know that clarity and care go a long way!
Want to share a big success or challenge from the past year? We invite members to submit a short blog post in the portal so others can learn from and celebrate alongside you. You’re also always welcome to send wins or questions directly to us. We love highlighting your work and sourcing trainings and resources based on real needs.