WaterWorks Annual Report & Fundraising Toolkit

Project Description

WaterWorks is seeking a volunteer designer to create a professionally designed annual report that serves as both an organizational report and a fundraising tool. We want this publication to tell the story of WaterWorks through compelling photography, impact statistics, and stories from the past year while inspiring current and prospective donors to invest in our mission.

The project has four primary deliverables:

1. A completed 2026 Annual Report (Priority)

* Professionally designed and print-ready
* Created in Canva so our staff can easily update and maintain it in future years
* Completed in time for professional printing prior to our Annual Meeting on October 29
* Designed using the photos, stories, statistics, and content provided by WaterWorks
* Suitable for both print and digital distribution

This is the highest priority deliverable for the project.

2. Reusable Annual Report Templates

Following completion of the 2026 report, we'd like to develop additional reusable page templates that can be used for future annual reports. These might include:

* Cover page
* Table of contents
* Program highlights
* Feature story pages
* Full-page photo spreads
* Impact statistics/"By the Numbers"
* Financial snapshot
* Donor recognition
* Call-to-action or giving page
* Other layouts the volunteer recommends

These template pages do not need to be completed before the Annual Meeting and can be finalized after the 2026 report has been delivered.

3. Annual Report Style Guide

We would appreciate a brief style guide outlining typography, spacing, page hierarchy, photo usage, graphic elements, and best practices so future reports can maintain a consistent, professional appearance.

4. Extended Color Palette

While our primary logo colors are blue and green, we'd love guidance on a complementary color palette that can be incorporated throughout the annual report and future publications. Recommendations for supporting colors, color pairings, and appropriate usage would help us create more visually engaging materials while maintaining a cohesive brand identity.

Resources We'll Provide

WaterWorks will provide:

* All written content
* Photography
* Organizational information and impact statistics
* Financial information
* Existing logos and branding assets
* Access to our Canva workspace
* Examples of annual reports we admire for inspiration

We also welcome the volunteer's expertise and creative recommendations on layout, storytelling, and data visualization. While the report will be built in Canva for long-term sustainability, our goal is a publication that feels professionally designed—not like a standard Canva template.

The completed report will be distributed at our Annual Meeting on October 29 and shared with current and prospective donors, grant funders, community partners, and other supporters to demonstrate the impact of their investment and communicate the vision for WaterWorks' future.

Over the past few years, WaterWorks has undergone a remarkable transformation. What was once known primarily for facility tours and canoe trips has grown into a community environmental learning lab with a clear identity, a growing audience, and an ambitious vision for the future. We now know who we are, what we do best, and how to communicate our mission.

The next chapter is turning that vision into reality.

To continue expanding our programs, facilities, and impact, we need to build stronger relationships with donors, grant funders, and community partners who share our vision. This annual report will become one of our most important fundraising and stewardship tools, helping us tell the story of WaterWorks in a way that inspires people to invest in our future.

Rather than simply reporting what we've accomplished, we want this publication to capture the momentum we've built and demonstrate where we're headed next. It will be shared with current and prospective donors, presented at our Annual Meeting, and used throughout the year to communicate the impact of WaterWorks and the opportunities ahead.

By volunteering for this project, you'll help create a resource that will play a direct role in the future growth of WaterWorks. Your design will help us communicate our vision, strengthen donor relationships, and ultimately support the expansion of hands-on environmental education for our community for years to come.

WaterWorks is committed to making this project as organized and collaborative as possible. We will provide all written content, impact statistics, financial information, photography, logos, and brand assets needed to complete the report. We are also assembling examples of annual reports we admire to help communicate the style, tone, and storytelling approach we're looking for.

Our Director will serve as the primary point of contact throughout the project and will be available to answer questions, provide timely feedback, and review drafts to keep the project moving forward. We understand that the completed 2026 Annual Report is the highest priority and will work with the volunteer to ensure all content and revisions are provided in time for the report to be finalized before our Annual Meeting on October 29.

The report will be created in Canva so that our staff can easily update and maintain it in future years. We specifically chose Canva because it allows our small team to continue using and updating the report long after the project is complete without requiring specialized design software. While the publication will be built in Canva, our goal is a polished, professionally designed report that serves as a model for future publications.

Beyond producing this year's report, the reusable templates, style guide, and complementary color recommendations developed through this project will become the foundation for future annual reports and donor communications. This project will have an immediate impact by helping us tell our story more effectively while creating a sustainable design system that our staff can continue using for years to come.