# Impact Report > Creates annual impact reports with metric visualization, beneficiary stories, and donor recognition sections. - Skill: `reaperinvest/impact-report` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/impact-report` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/impact-report/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Data & Analytics - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/impact-report --- # Impact Report ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Create an annual or quarterly impact report for a nonprofit or social enterprise - Present program outcomes with metrics, stories, and financial transparency - Build a donor-facing report that demonstrates how contributions were used - Design a compelling impact narrative that supports future fundraising **DO NOT** use this skill for financial audits, grant reports, or internal performance reviews. This is for stakeholder-facing impact reports that tell the story of your organization's work. --- ## Core Principle AN IMPACT REPORT IS A THANK-YOU LETTER DISGUISED AS DATA — ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SHOW DONORS AND SUPPORTERS THAT THEIR INVESTMENT PRODUCED REAL, MEASURABLE CHANGE IN REAL PEOPLE'S LIVES. --- ## Phase 1: Brief ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Reporting period** | "What time period does this cover?" | Previous fiscal year | | **Key metrics** | "What are your top 5-10 impact numbers?" | No default — must be provided | | **Beneficiary stories** | "Can you share 2-3 stories of people your organization helped?" | No default — must be provided | | **Financial summary** | "Revenue, expenses, and program allocation breakdown?" | No default — must be provided | | **Audience** | "Who will read this? (donors, board, public, all)" | Donors and general public | | **Format** | "Digital PDF, web page, or printed booklet?" | Digital PDF | **GATE: Confirm the brief and receive all data before proceeding.** --- ## Phase 2: Structure ### Report Architecture ``` 1. Letter from Leadership (1 page) 2. Year at a Glance — headline metrics in visual format (1 page) 3. Mission Reminder (half page) 4. Program Highlights — each program with metrics and story (2-4 pages) 5. Beneficiary Spotlight — 2-3 detailed stories (1-2 pages) 6. Financial Transparency — revenue, expenses, pie chart (1 page) 7. Donor Recognition — thank-you list by giving level (1 page) 8. Looking Ahead — next year's goals (half page) 9. How to Help — donate, volunteer, share (half page) ``` Target length: 8-12 pages for annual, 4-6 for quarterly. ### Metric Selection Choose metrics that tell a story: ``` ## Impact Metrics (select 5-8) - People served: [Number] - Programs delivered: [Number] - Geographic reach: [Communities, states, countries] - Success rate: [% achieving outcome] - Volunteer hours: [Number] - Funds raised: [Amount] - Cost per outcome: [$X per person served] - Year-over-year growth: [% change] ``` **GATE: Present the structure and metric selection for approval.** --- ## Phase 3: Write ### Section-by-Section Guide **Leadership Letter** - Personal tone, first person - One specific moment from the year that embodies the mission - Thank donors and supporters by name or category - Preview what is ahead - Keep to one page **Year at a Glance** - 4-6 large numbers with labels - Visual layout (think infographic, not spreadsheet) - Each number tells part of the story **Program Highlights** For each program: ``` ## [Program Name] **Goal:** [What this program set out to accomplish] **Results:** [Key metrics] **Story:** [One beneficiary's experience in 100-150 words] **Quote:** "[Direct quote from a beneficiary or staff member]" ``` **Financial Transparency** ``` ## Financial Summary **Total Revenue:** $[X] - Individual donations: $[X] ([%]) - Grants: $[X] ([%]) - Events: $[X] ([%]) - Other: $[X] ([%]) **Total Expenses:** $[X] - Programs: $[X] ([%]) ← this should be 75%+ - Administration: $[X] ([%]) - Fundraising: $[X] ([%]) ``` **Donor Recognition** - List donors by tier (name only, no amounts unless requested) - Include a "Thank you to our anonymous donors" line - Get permission before listing names --- ## Phase 4: Polish ### 1. Design Notes ``` ## Visual Design Guidelines - Use the organization's brand colors and fonts - Large, bold numbers for key metrics - High-quality photos of real beneficiaries (with permission) - White space — do not overcrowd pages - Consistent layout across program sections - Pull quotes in large font for scanability ``` ### 2. Quality Checklist ``` - [ ] Leadership letter is personal and under one page - [ ] All metrics are accurate and source-verified - [ ] Beneficiary stories have permission to be shared - [ ] Financial data matches audited statements - [ ] Donor names are spelled correctly - [ ] CTA for continued support is clear - [ ] Report is under 12 pages - [ ] PDF is under 10MB for easy sharing ``` ### 3. Distribution Plan ``` ## Share the Report - Email to all donors with personalized subject line - Post on website with downloadable PDF - Share key metrics as social media graphics - Present highlights at board meeting - Include in grant applications as supporting documentation - Send printed copies to major donors ($1,000+) ``` --- ## Example 1: Youth Education Nonprofit ``` Year at a Glance: - 500 students served - 12 programs across 4 schools - 92% graduation rate (vs. 76% district average) - 200 volunteer tutors - $350,000 raised Beneficiary story: "When Jaylen joined our after-school program in September, he was reading two grade levels behind..." ``` ## Example 2: Community Health Organization ``` Year at a Glance: - 3,200 patients served - 15,000 clinic visits - $2.1M in free healthcare provided - 45 volunteer medical professionals - 3 new community partnerships Financial: 82% of funds went directly to programs ``` --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Data dump without narrative** — rows of numbers bore readers. Every metric needs context and a human story. - **No financial transparency** — donors who cannot see where money goes stop giving. Show the breakdown. - **Stock photos instead of real people** — authenticity matters. Use real photos with permission. - **Burying the impact** — lead with outcomes, not organizational history. Donors want to see results. - **No forward-looking section** — an impact report that only looks backward misses the chance to inspire future giving. - **Overly long reports** — if it is over 15 pages, no one reads it. Edit ruthlessly. --- ## Recovery - **Limited data available:** Focus on 3-5 strong metrics and supplement with qualitative stories. Recommend implementing better data collection for next year. - **No beneficiary stories:** Interview 2-3 program participants. Even a short phone call produces a usable story. - **Financial data is not finalized:** Use preliminary figures with a note that audited numbers will be available on a specific date. - **Organization is in its first year:** Frame as "founding year" report. Focus on milestones achieved, infrastructure built, and vision for year two.