End strong: one page can make all the difference.

Your donors gave. Do they know what happened next?

Before June 30, here's the move that could change everything. Most principals don't see it coming. The school year winds down, the to-do list gets longer, and somewhere between the final assembly and the summer facilities schedule, the most powerful fundraising opportunity of the year quietly slips away. Don't let that happen to you. Before you close the books on this school year, there is one move left on the table: a Spring Impact Report. One page. Your story. A final invitation to give. It sounds simple, because it is. And it works.

Your donors are waiting to hear from you

Every family, alumnus, and friend who gave this year did so because they believe in your school's mission. But belief without reinforcement fades. If donors never see what their generosity actually made possible, the scholarships awarded, the classrooms upgraded, the students whose lives were shaped by faith and community, that connection weakens. The Spring Impact Report closes that loop. It says: here's what you helped build.

It also does something equally important: it gives you a natural, graceful moment to ask one more time. If your Annual Appeal hasn't hit its goal, this isn't just a report; it's your path to the finish line.

Six things every great impact report has

The best one-pagers share a formula. Lead with the numbers that matter: total dollars raised, families who participated, students supported, and displayed large and clean so they land at a glance.

Credibility lives in specificity. Then answer the question every donor silently asks: 

What did you do with my money? Name the tuition assistance awarded. Name the technology purchased. Name the faith formation program that reached 200 students. Connect every dollar to a mission moment.

From there, celebrate the community. A fun run, an auction, a school festival. These aren't just fundraising events; they're proof that your school shows up together. Donors want to be part of something, not just write a check into the void. Show them the crowd. Then let one person speak.

A single sentence from a student, a parent, or a teacher can do more than a paragraph of statistics.

Real voices carry real weight. Pair it with a photo that captures joy, students learning, families gathered, a moment of faith in action, and you've created something people will actually read and remember.

Finally, close with gratitude and a clear ask. Thank everyone who gave. Then, plainly and warmly, invite those who haven't to join them before June 30: no pressure, no gimmicks, just an honest call to finish strong together.

The format is the message

Resist the urge to expand it. The one-page constraint isn't a limitation; it's the point: clean layout, bold numbers, minimal copy, one or two strong images. If a first-time reader can understand your school's year in under a minute, you've done your job. Anything longer and you've lost them.

Before you leave for the summer

Your Spring/Summer Impact Report is more than a stewardship tool. It's a declaration of what your school stands for! It tells your story, how you're forming young people, strengthening families, and advancing the mission of the Church through the generosity of an entire community.

That story deserves to be told. And this moment, right now, is your best chance to tell it. One page. Before June 30. Tell your story, show your impact, invite one last gift. You might be surprised at how far a single page can travel. Numbers inform. Stories inspire. The best impact reports do both and do it in under a minute.

Need some help with your Annual Report, don't hesitate to reach out to Marthamaria.Elliott@archbalt.org or call (410)547-5323.