An Annual Report is a document drafted by NGOs to disseminate the results of all the activities designed and developed in the past twelve months. This report is important for three main reasons:
- The reports gives the opportunity to share with your donors and the wider audience the achievements of your NGO
- The writing of the report enables the NGO members to critically engage with what has been done in order to set new goals and to develop new strategies for the future by drawing on past experience
- The report summarises what the NGO has been doing thus it becomes a way to archive your activities and to create a database, which could be accessed by old and new members of the NGO and contributing to the writing of the history of the NGO
A part from the archival character of this report, it is also important to consider that you can proactively engage with the writing of it as a way to further your fundraising activities. In fact, this report will give you the possibility to highlight major achievements of your NGO thus increasing its potential to secure more funding. In fact, once your report is done you can disseminate its contents through your website and public profiles to give visibility to your organisation.
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In order to draft a successful report you should consider that:
- An excellent report is consistent, clear, and easy to read. Accordingly, you should start by creating a template that you will use to expand on each of the activities implemented. It is important to highlight: name of donors, the amount of money received, title of the project, rationale and main goals, methodology, activities implemented with their timeframe, and outputs. Disregarding the number of activities implemented, the final document shall not exceed a maximum of 10 pages. Remember that your goal is to produce a report that is easy to read thus brevity and clarity are here the key to success.
- Once the report is drafted and approved by all the members of the NGO, send it to your donors. They will appreciate your efforts in developing and strengthening your working relationship with them and also it will give them the opportunity to assess other activities implemented by your NGO, which might have been sponsored by other donors.
- Publish the report in the NGO website and all the other public profiles your NGO might have (including social network). Remember that all those who will visit your profiles will access this information to get to know your organisation. By reading about your achievements and strategies implemented by the organisation you will enable other members of the civil society to review your activities and, as such, you could attract new attention on your projects. Also, by disseminating your results you will make yourself known and be sure that new organisations will contact you to draft new project proposals together in the future thus expanding your fundraising potentials.
Overall, while drafting your annual report, remember that this is a longer version of a business card that you will send to potential donors in order to prove your abilities in developing successful project and attract funding.
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Thank you for this information. Many NGOs are not taking time to produce Annual reports but I see it as a very important marketing tool. A report that highlights major achievements and activities for the year and distributed to stakeholders can really help to promote the NGO.
CAROL SENA APAWU-BRI SAYS ;
I would like to say a big thank you for the opportunity to gain access to valuable information for
managing our NGO. I would appreciate it if i can get a template for writing an annual report.
kindly help MYRO,( METROPOLITAN YOUTH REHABILITATION ORGANIZATION ) get affiliated to an international NGO. We are based in Ghana.
Thanks.
I need help to establish a NGO in our locality which is so pathetic and deteriorate condition. The people are very backward both educationally and financially. They can’t access of medical facilities, school, road, sanitation, electricity and so on. Villagers use to live with one meal in a day. They don’t have rights to access facilities which push them to poverty. The state government is entirely responsible for the suffering of the villagers. Please contact me if any grants or support is available. My contact Address:
Rev.Bodhisopto Chakma
(Pursuing MA in Buddhist Studies)
Email:[email protected]
Village-Dharmapur-iii, P.o + P.S- Miao, Dist.Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh (India).
pin code-792122
Thank you.
Hi every one…..Well, the steps of drafting a report are more vital than the advantages of drafting a report for that it’s a mandate for each organization to come up with a report during the end of the financial year. Thanks.
I salute you for the good resources you indeed give us just on free of charge. my question is how can we best organize the annual report from page 1 to the last page?
Thanks for your time
Please mention sub content points to be include under each point
its very useful for ngos
thanks
JANAHITHA RAICHUR-KARNATAKA-INDIA
Could plz give sample of the Annual report?? Thank you very much for your kind help!!
I expected the technical steps of drafting a report not what it is used for and its advantages.
Really it’s very helpfull to learn each day more about it! Thank you!
My carrier is to serve the community, my vission is to see that better quantity and quality health services is provided in Tanzania through health education and implementing health projects especially in the grassroot areas whereby provision of medical services is very poor in the field of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, HBV & HCV and other serious infections, can you link me with other interested medical professionals to conduct researches and provision of medical services and medical facilities?
Thanks so much , this is a very useful document.
Our team at INEDUCAF wants to say we appreciate the work and your organisation should keep up; In Africa especially NGOs have very limited ressources since our finance laws do not motivate people to donate because there is little or no tax exonerations. These materials are very important in assisting us do our work
On behalf of our organisation called Katonda Mulungi Projects (KATMUL), I want to extend our sincere gratitudes for the opportunity to to access the valuable information about fundraising and management of our NGOs form you . Please thank you so much and continue doing so.
I must thank you for this guide. It has made the work so easy. Thanks Thanks Thanks,,,,
This is a good road map for an effective Annual Report. I would appreaciate further thiss guidance if you simplify by getting a template for writing an annual report.
Thanks for the guidance given in writing reports to donors.
Hi,
Our NGO United Nations Youth of Congogreatly appreciate your effort and relief work.With the support of UEthrough the project of enhancing the reconcicliation of people affected by violence we wrote a guide for peace education culture,the prevention, and the transformation of conflicts.This work will be for great value in this crucial time.We have also the large space to develop other activities. Thanks to be in touch with us.
i really do appreciate this guide and am optimistic that it will help our organization to stand stronger as it share her annual report to its partner.
Good Morning,
In the Netherlands a new law on publication of annual reports in minimal outline will come in force soon. (Geefwet) This has enormous implications towards smaller NGOs and also new regulations will exist from Jan 1, 2014 on the status for ANBI.
Undersigned is Chairman of Emda Network Organisation based in Luxembourg and Netherlands, and also member of the Board of Partin, the Dutch Platform for the smaller NGOs (Private Initiative PI)
Hi Piet, do you have a website? We would like to know more about your organization. -Thanks.
Is this going to affect NGOs worldwide?
Hi piet, how has the Dutch Platform reacted to ensure the new law does not oppress the small NGOs? Iwould like to get in touch with you , how can i get your contact?.
Thanks so much for publishing this guide, its an excellent work.
I would like thank you for the opportunity interact and gain access to valuable information for managing our NGO. I would appreciate it if i can get a template for writing an annual report.