SOCIAL IMPACT DESIGN STUDIO

Design that embodies your mission so deeply, it builds belief instantly

We design annual reports and everyday storytelling tools for nonprofits and foundations improving access, opportunity, and community well-being—helping them communicate clearly, build trust faster, and stay visible long after launch.

start your annual report

Explore Signature One-Pagers

Collage of slides showing Bexa Equity Alliance's commitment to prioritizing black women's health with statistics, solution highlights, and a photo of two smiling women in colorful blazers.

Two-page spread describing The Regenerative Leadership Project, highlighting 46 participants, 14 in Fall 2023 cohort, and 7 countries represented, with text explaining the training based on Indigenous wisdom, feminism, and anti-oppression.

Smartphone displaying a webpage titled 'Five in Five: Our Strategic Goals' with a smiling woman in academic regalia and colored sections listing five strategic goals.

Two postcards featuring diverse students walking with text saying 'Back to school' and 'Back to college' from Making Waves Foundation and Academy.

Open brochure showing global engagement programs with a map of locations in Europe and Australia, student testimonials, group photos, and statistics of 128 engaged students, 13 partners, and $140,000 in scholarships.

A purple flyer titled 'Signs of a Healthy Partner' listing characteristics such as sharing decision-making, accepting you, good communication, and respecting boundaries, with a smiling couple on the right side.

Open annual report showing a woman standing on rocks in a flowing river surrounded by greenery.

Collage of Orange County Community Foundation presentation slides featuring mission statement, about OCCF, how it works, community photos, and philanthropic diagram.

Open laptop on wooden desk displaying Tides website page titled 'Tides by The Numbers' with statistics and photos of diverse people.

We’re Acton Circle, the go-to social impact design firm

(and yes, we’re completely obsessed with annual reports,
especially the kind that live online, move, and get reused all year)

Since 2019, we’ve partnered with 60+ nonprofits and foundations improving education, health, and community well-being, designing communications that help supporters understand the work and feel compelled to support it.

That's BELIEF by Design™—where every visual choice builds trust, deepens connection, and makes donors feel your mission in their bones.

start here

Different teams need different starting points

Whether it's annual report crunch time or you're ready for visuals that do more than look polished, let's figure out what makes supporters invest.

I’m preparing for a major annual report

→ Annual Report Design Intensive

I need materials ready to share

→ Signature One-Pagers

I'm building in-house and want structure

→ DIY Templates + Planner

I have a draft and need expert refinement

→ Belief-Building Design Block

annual report design intensive

From annual report to a living story donors return to

Your annual report is often the first impression funders, partners, and stakeholders get.

We design digital-first annual reports—often interactive and web-based—so your impact stays visible, shareable, and relevant long after launch.

You walk away with:
‍
→ A report built on our BELIEF by Design™ framework
→ Visual hierarchy that makes work easy to understand
→ Assets designed for repurposing
→ A system your team can build on next year

explore the Annual Report Intensive →

“A beautiful job bringing our foundation's report to life.”

Kris L., CEO, Chiron Community Giving Foundation

Open report showing pages discussing social determinants of mental health with a photo of urban buildings and text highlighting uninsured residents and rates of poor mental health.

signature one-pagers

Signature tools for everyday moments

Ready-to-use materials your team can rely on across fundraising, outreach, and participant support, built to reuse instead of recreate.

We turn messy information into supporter-ready, participant-ready one-pagers for:

→ funder meetings
→ participant resources
→ program snapshots
→ board communication
→ outreach + partnerships

Belief-building. Mission-embodied. Reusable.

get your signature one-pagers

templates & tools

Not every organization needs full custom design

If you're creating your report in-house, our DIY tools give you the foundation already built.

→ Annual Report Planner
→ The Belief-Building Annual Report Playbook
→ DIY Template Kits
→ Free Thank You Templates

Built from the same system we use with 1:1 clients.

explore diy tools

belief-building design block

Already building something in-house? Let’s tighten it up.

If your fundraising assets or supporter materials are mid-flight and you’re staring at the draft thinking, “It’s close… but not quite,” that’s exactly what a Belief-Building Design Block is for.

These are focused working sessions where we step directly into your file and refine the piece in real time—not a critique, not a meeting, actual progress.

Perfect for one-pagers, decks, and fundraising pieces that just need an expert hand to pull everything together.
‍
You leave with something that feels ready to send.

check out design blocks

Belief-building starts here

Belief-Building Report Playbook

This guide breaks down what makes an annual report resonate. From planning your story and structuring the right sections to designing for real-world use, you’ll see what builds donor confidencers most—plus examples from nonprofits like yours who’ve done it right.

get the guide

THE ACTON CIRCLE DIFFERENCE

Why community-centered organizations choose us as their social change design agency

Because we only design for social change organizations.

We know speak nonprofit and design. We get the realities of mission-driven communication: multiple stakeholders, high expectations, and the responsibility of building public trust.

Because our process is refreshingly straightforward.

Our process keeps you informed at every stage with clear timelines, proactive communication, and built-in review points. You'll always know what's next, why it matters, and how it connects to your goals.

Because we believe in depth over surface.

We're not here to make things look "clean and professional"—we're here to make donors feel your mission. Our process helps you shape and repurpose content strategically, turning your complex work into cohesive, belief-building visuals.

Because we've eliminated the pricing BS.

No hourly rates. No surprise invoices. Just fixed pricing that's clear from day one—built for nonprofit budgets and designed to eliminate scope creep before it starts. You'll know exactly what you're investing and what you're getting. Period.

Here’s what happens when your visuals start reflecting the depth of your work

(Straight from our clients)

WHO WE SERVE

As a social impact design studio, here’s who we work with best

If you’re helping people and communities thrive, your story deserves to be seen, felt, and understood. Let’s design it that way.

If your organization is expanding access, improving well-being, or strengthening communities, we’d love to connect.

get started

view our work

about acton circle

Your go-to design partner for nonprofits and foundations strengthening communities

We work with organizations strengthening access, opportunity, and community well-being to translate complex missions into visuals donors can feel in their bones.

learn more about us

on the blog

Is your annual report true to you—and the story your donors need to feel?

Make your annual report work harder for you, not the other way around. We’ll guide you through what to say, how to design it, and how to keep it simple.

Impact Report vs Annual Report for Non-Profits

Confused about impact reports vs annual reports? Learn how nonprofits should use each, when to separate them, and how to avoid overcrowded, forgettable reports.

What Is a Nonprofit Annual Report & What to Include

Learn what a nonprofit annual report is, what to include, and how to combine annual and impact reporting into one clear, trust-building story for donors.

How to Write an Annual Report Without Oversimplifying Your Work

Learn how to write an annual report that builds trust without oversimplifying complex community work. Context matters more than clean stories.

Acton Circle is a design studio specializing in digital-first annual reports and impact storytelling. We help nonprofits and foundations strengthening communities turn complex work into donor-ready materials that build belief, drive engagement, and work year-round.

Subscribe to The Bold Print

Every week, Olivia shares what she's learning from 12+ years designing + hundreds upon hundreds of nonprofit projects—the behind-the-scenes stuff that actually helps you show donors you mean what you say and create visuals that feel unmistakably you.

If you're figuring out how to tell your story better (or wondering if we'd be a good fit to work together), this is where the good stuff lives.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Design that embodies your mission so deeply, it builds belief instantly

We’re Acton Circle, the go-to social impact design firm

(and yes, we’re completely obsessed with annual reports,
especially the kind that live online, move, and get reused all year)

Different teams need different starting points

Signature tools for everyday moments

Not every organization needs full custom design

Already building something in-house? Let’s tighten it up.

Belief-Building Report Playbook

Why community-centered organizations choose us as their social change design agency

Because we only design for social change organizations.

Because our process is refreshingly straightforward.

Because we believe in depth over surface.

Because we've eliminated the pricing BS.

Here’s what happens when your visuals start reflecting the depth of your work

As a social impact design studio, here’s who we work with best

Community Strength & Voice

Health & Well-Being

Education & Access

Philanthropy & Funding Partners

Your go-to design partner for nonprofits and foundations strengthening communities

Is your annual report true to you—and the story your donors need to feel?

Impact Report vs Annual Report for Non-Profits

What Is a Nonprofit Annual Report & What to Include

How to Write an Annual Report Without Oversimplifying Your Work

Design that embodies your mission so deeply, it builds belief instantly

We’re Acton Circle, the go-to social impact design firm

(and yes, we’re completely obsessed with annual reports,especially the kind that live online, move, and get reused all year)

Different teams need different starting points

Signature tools for everyday moments

Not every organization needs full custom design

Already building something in-house? Let’s tighten it up.

Belief-Building Report Playbook

Why community-centered organizations choose us as their social change design agency

Because we only design for social change organizations.

Because our process is refreshingly straightforward.

Because we believe in depth over surface.

Because we've eliminated the pricing BS.

Here’s what happens when your visuals start reflecting the depth of your work

As a social impact design studio, here’s who we work with best

Community Strength & Voice

Health & Well-Being

Education & Access

Philanthropy & Funding Partners

Is your annual report true to you—and the story your donors need to feel?

Impact Report vs Annual Report for Non-Profits

What Is a Nonprofit Annual Report & What to Include

How to Write an Annual Report Without Oversimplifying Your Work

(and yes, we’re completely obsessed with annual reports,
especially the kind that live online, move, and get reused all year)