---
name: impact-report
description: "Creates annual impact reports with metric visualization, beneficiary stories, and donor recognition sections."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# 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.
