Comments on: How Every Nonprofit Can Make Their Annual Report Work Harder http://spurspectives.com/how-every-nonprofit-can-make-their-annual-report-work-harder/ Thoughts on the intersection of social media and 1:1 marketing Thu, 17 May 2012 13:48:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: David Svet http://spurspectives.com/how-every-nonprofit-can-make-their-annual-report-work-harder/#comment-5544 David Svet Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:01:15 +0000 http://spurspectives.com/?p=138#comment-5544 More often than not, I see organizations that don't understand the difference between can't afford and won't afford. Most of the organizations that tell me they can't afford to produce something that's respectable are actually saying they would rather put the money toward their cause — a classic over extension of growth that I covered in this post: http://spurspectives.com/profit-vs-growth-why-so-many-community-benefit-organizations-struggle/ I agree, a slickly produced piece can cover up a multitude of sins, and that's wrong. But I've also seen a lot of very compelling pieces done on a shoestring. The trick is choosing to do it. More often than not, I see organizations that don’t understand the difference between can’t afford and won’t afford. Most of the organizations that tell me they can’t afford to produce something that’s respectable are actually saying they would rather put the money toward their cause — a classic over extension of growth that I covered in this post: http://spurspectives.com/profit-vs-growth-why-so-many-community-benefit-organizations-struggle/

I agree, a slickly produced piece can cover up a multitude of sins, and that’s wrong. But I’ve also seen a lot of very compelling pieces done on a shoestring. The trick is choosing to do it.

]]> By: Luise Barnikel http://spurspectives.com/how-every-nonprofit-can-make-their-annual-report-work-harder/#comment-5543 Luise Barnikel Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:25:06 +0000 http://spurspectives.com/?p=138#comment-5543 Dave - A quick note about report design (I know, this diverges a bit from your point): It's interesting how a well-designed and printed report automatically garners higher credibility and expectations for the organization that produces it. What about the small nonprofits that can't afford a graphic designer, or even send the report out in hard copy form? Just a thought about how we still judge books by their cover - whether or not the content is relevant or does the job it should for donors and other constituents. Agreed. Luise Dave -

A quick note about report design (I know, this diverges a bit from your point): It’s interesting how a well-designed and printed report automatically garners higher credibility and expectations for the organization that produces it. What about the small nonprofits that can’t afford a graphic designer, or even send the report out in hard copy form? Just a thought about how we still judge books by their cover - whether or not the content is relevant or does the job it should for donors and other constituents. Agreed.

Luise

]]> By: Jamie Favreau http://spurspectives.com/how-every-nonprofit-can-make-their-annual-report-work-harder/#comment-5514 Jamie Favreau Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:22:26 +0000 http://spurspectives.com/?p=138#comment-5514 Great point and I think the donor would be much happier to know where their money went. Great point and I think the donor would be much happier to know where their money went.

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