Annual Reports and Financial Reports

Reporting is an essential factor for all types of businesses. Chambers will need to prepare Annual and Financial reports. Reporting formats can be done in any variety of ways. Dashboard reports are one style that Boards request as they provide at-a-glance statistics and monthly snapshots.

Annual Reports

Chambers use Annual Reports to show their progress to members, community leaders, and prospective members. Annual reports provide a comprehensive record of the previous year showing how the chamber was productive and effective. They are excellent overall marketing pieces, recruitment and retention takeaways, and featured deliverables to key stakeholders.

Award-Winning Chamber Examples

Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's (S.C.) 2017 Quarterly Report Series: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 - 2018 ACE Grand Award
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce's (Colo.) Northern Colorado Prospers (NCP) Quarterly Report - 2018 ACE Grand Award
Community Development Foundation's (Miss.) Annual Meeting Program and Annual Report 2016 - 2017 ACE Grand Award
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's (Mich.) 2016 Annual Report - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce's (Texas) 2016 Annual Report - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce's (Ga.) 2015-16 Annual Report - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce's 2016 Year in Review - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's (Va.) 2016 Annual Report - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
One Acadiana's (La.) 2016 Annual Report & Business Directory - 2017 ACE Award of Excellence
McLean County Chamber of Commerce's (Ill.) 2014 Annual Report - 2016 ACE Grand Award
Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's (Tenn.) 2015 Annual Report - 2016 ACE Award of Excellence
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's (Tenn.) 2015 Annual Report - 2016 ACE Award of Excellence
Baton Rouge Area Chamber's (La.) Annual Report 2013 - 2015 ACE Grand Award
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce's (N.C.) 2015 Calendar and 2014 Annual Report - 2015 ACE Grand Award
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's (Texas) “A Natural Resource for Business” 2013-14 Annual Report - 2015 ACE Award of Excellence
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's (Mich.) 2013 Annual Report - 2015 ACE Award of Excellence
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce's (Ark.) 2014 Annual Report - 2015 ACE Award of Excellence
St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce's (Ind.) 2014 Annual Summary and 2015 Priorities - 2015 ACE Award of Excellence
View all ACE Award-Winning Annual Reports

Annual Report Samples

Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead West Fargo (N.D.) 2016-17 Annual Report - Highlights the Chamber's accomplishments for 2016-17 and includes a "by the numbers" infographic.
Greater Houston Partnership's 2016 Annual Report - This annual report revisits the Greater Houston Partnership's accomplishments in 2016, including showcasing Houston on the global stage, moving into a new receiving and convening space at Partnership Tower, working to assist in the development of a pension reform plan, and advancing priorities in education and skills training.
Longview Chamber of Commerce's (Texas) 2014 Annual Report - Describes the chamber's most recent success in the areas of healthy business growth, talent attraction and retention, and enhanced community development efforts.
Prince William Chamber of Commerce's (Va.) 2015-16 Annual Report - The Prince William Chamber's annual report highlights accomplishments in membership, committees and councils, government affairs, events and member services, community, and marketing and communications. The report includes a "your chamber by the numbers" page based on infographics.
Vail Valley Partnership's (Colo.) 2016 Annual Report - Vail Valley Partnership's annual report for 2016 spotlights the various ways the Chamber works to achieve its mission of leading collaboration for community success and enhancing the economic vitality of the Vail Valley.
View all Annual Reports in ACCE's Samples Library

Annual Report Videos

Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association's (Colo.) 2016 Annual Report Video - Highlights the chamber's many accomplishments for 2016 in a video format.
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce's (Ala.) 2014 Annual Report Video - Highlights the significant accomplishments of the chamber during 2013 based on the organization's four key initiatives - jobs, advocacy, value and excellence.
View all Annual Report Videos in ACCE's Samples Library

Articles and Guides

About Annual Reports - Ask HERO: HELP EXPERTISE RESOURCES ONLINE - by Sarah Melby, Chamber Executive magazine (Spring 2017)
Knowledge Base: Nonprofit Annual Reports - GrantSpace
Nonprofit Annual Reports - National Council of Nonprofits
The Secret to a High Impact Annual Report - Blue Avocado

Financial Reports

Use: Financial reports are given to chamber boards as an efficient way for them to measure progress and stability in the chamber operations.

The Basics of Not-for- Profit Accounting and Financial Statements - by Ed McMillan, Chamber Executive magazine (March/April 2006)
View all Financial Report examples in ACCE's Samples Library
View more Financial Management examples in ACCE's Samples Library

Dashboard Reporting

Definition: A dashboard is a visual interface that provides at-a-glance views into key measures relevant to a particular objective or business process. Dashboards have three main attributes:

Dashboards are typically graphical in nature, providing visualizations that help focus attention on key trends, comparisons, and exceptions.
Dashboards often display only data that are relevant to the goal of the dashboard.
Because dashboards are designed with a specific purpose or goal, they inherently contain predefined conclusions that relieve the end user from performing his own analysis.

Source: For Dummies: Defining Excel Dashboards and Reports

Create Dashboard Reports

Learn How to Create Effective Chamber Dashboard Reports from this ACCE University Webinar recording (April 2017).

Dashboard Report Samples from Chambers:

Ask HERO: HELP EXPERTISE RESOURCES ONLINE About Dashboard Reports - by Sarah Melby and Holly South, Chamber Executive magazine (Winter 2017)
State Chamber Association Dashboard Report: View AWB Dashboard Report - FY 2014 1st Quarter - from the Association of Washington Business
Measuring Your Success - Download the Presentation handout from ACCE's 2016 Convention session that covered dashboard reports and key Operations Survey metrics (Presented by Jodie A. Perry, IOM, President, Richland Area Chamber of Commerce (Ohio); Joe Unterreiner, President, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitor Bureau (Mont.); Marianne Virgili, President & CEO, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association (Colo.); Matt McCormick, President, Columbia Chamber of Commerce (Mo.).
View all Dashboard Report examples in ACCE's Samples Library
Visit the Chamberpedia page on Benchmarking Operations for more chamber metrics and information on the Chamber Operations Survey via Dynamic Chamber Benchmarking.

External Resources on Dashboards:

Dashboard Reporting - article by BoardSource
Dashboards for Nonprofits - resource from National Council of Nonprofits
Models and Components of a Great Nonprofit Dashboard - article from Nonprofit Quarterly (2017)
A Nonprofit Dashboard and Signal Light for Boards - article by Jeanne Bell & Jan Masaoka from Blue Avocado
The Nonprofit Dashboard: Using Metrics to Drive Mission Success, Second Edition (PDF) - by BoardSource, for purchase. Summary: Like the instrument panel on the dashboard of a car, a dashboard report presents a quick, comprehensive overview of an organization's status and overall direction, giving more meaning to the information the board receives. This book, for board members and senior staff, presents many different styles of dashboards and offers detailed illustrations to help organizations get started with their own dashboard reports.