5 Ways to Self-Edit Your Nonprofit Impact or Annual Report

You might find yourself asking: are there any typos? Do the images convey our mission accurately? Do we have enough CTAs throughout?

Don’t worry, in this blog post, we’ll teach you why self-editing is important, and how you can do it.

Why is self-editing your impact or annual report important?

Though this answer seems like a no-brainer, it’s important to understand why it’s important to self-edit.

Self-editing your nonprofit impact or annual report saves you time and money. When you self-edit, you avoid combing over mistakes when they crop up, or when supporters point them out. And, self-editing saves you money. Instead of hiring an outside editor, learn how to refine your content on your own.

Self-editing can make you money (donations). Self-editing an impact or annual report isn’t just about editing the words. It’s about taking a look at the visual and interactive elements, too. When your CTAs and images effectively connect with readers, you’ll garner more funds—right from your report.

Self-editing helps to make sure that your report is error-free. And that it represents your mission as best as possible.

The self-editing checklist

While there are lots of ways to go about self-editing, we recommend the following methods.

Print it out

Once you’ve created your custom digital report online, it’s time to print it. Printing your annual or impact report will help you look at it with fresh eyes. In doing so, you’ll catch errors more easily.

Read it from diff perspectives

Instead of rereading your report from your own perspective, try adopting the perspective of a different stakeholder. Consider how your donors might read and interpret your report. What about volunteers or board members?

Click all links

The best annual and impact reports include clickable links. These links bring readers to donation pages, further reading, and more. Go through your report and check to make sure all the links are working.

Cross-check style guide

Every nonprofit should have a style guide. When self-editing, compare your report to your style guide. Did you use the right colors and fonts throughout? How about your tone of voice?

Test it out on your phone

It’s no surprise to anyone that most people use their phones for everything. That’s why your digital report should be mobile-friendly. Check out your report on your device—are the CTAs visible? Is the text easy to read?

Review your storytelling tactics

Comb through your report and see if there’s anywhere that you might be able to swap text for something visual. Can you replace a string of metrics with an infographic? What about enhancing an impact story with a photo?

Consider your CTAs

The best annual and impact reports have many calls to action. Take a look at your finished product and consider your CTAS. Are they creative and eye catching enough? Are they strategically placed?

Take a look at examples.

Lastly, take a look at some successful examples. consider how your report compares. Does yours include as many, if not more visual elements? Does yours include more interactive links?

Want to learn how to edit your annual or impact report with ease? Access your account with Yearly or start your free trial to make your first report.