2018 PRIZES
$75,000 in funds available to ministries
Counsel & Capital is pleased to offer three cash prizes to the church or ministry that produces the best Annual Report.
→ Best Overall Annual Report $50,000
→ Best Letter from the CEO $12,500
→ Most Effective Focus $12,500
Why Are Annual Reports so Important?
An Annual Report helps you and your organization connect on a personal level with your audience and donors. It helps bridge the gap between donors who have the money and organizations that need the money. A transparent and meaningful annual report will dramatically increase your effectiveness and kingdom impact.
What Are The Criteria to Enter This Contest?
The cash prize will be awarded to the qualified submitter deemed by Counsel & Capital to have the most effective annual report based upon Elements of an Effective Annual Report and Rated per those Elements. These Elements must be included for applicants to be considered.
Last Year’s $50,000 Prize Winning Organization
Hope’s Promise is a Christian nonprofit child placement agency. Its mission is transforming lives through the Christian ministry of adoption and orphan care.
Seed Company won $12,500 for the Best Letter
– View their Annual Report
Logosdor won $12,500 for the Most Effective Focus
– View their Annual Report
Annual Report Writing Tips
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- A standard introduction with your most important message, the one you want your reader to remember.
- A report on the prior year including an update on ministry activity, report on goals, successes, failures etc. and goals for the year ahead.
- Educate your readers about the industry within your ministry operates.
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A clear ministry focus is essential to capture donors interests. Describe what happens and where in each of the “business units” or operating silos. (There should be no more than three of these business units or operating silos.) This is also the place for highlights from the last year.
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This should include a balance sheet, statement of your revenue and expenses, as well as a pie chart of expenditures. Expenditures should be divided into administrative, fundraising, and programs.
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Key management and board members including name, years serving the ministry, title/profession, education, other board experiences, and state of residency.
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Relevant graphs denoting progress on measurements important to leadership.
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Transitions are a crucial part of the Annual Report. These include the Table of Contents, page headers, graphics or other methods to assist the readers that they are moving from one section of the Annual Report to another.
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- Vision statement
- Mission statement
- Ministry history
- Case studies
- Donation requests
- A ‘thank you’ to the provider of funds who enabled the production and distribution of the annual report.
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Get Advice and Guidance
We’re not selling anything at Counsel & Capital — we’re giving back.
Counsel & Capital offers free advice and guidance to ministries. We can offer general advice, or help you improve your Annual Report, by walking you through the essential elements.
For Donors
Donors of Counsel & Capital receive the opportunity to invest in a ministry who’s vision is grounded in Scripture. We help bridge the gap between donors and ministries through effective and productive Annual Reports. These annual reports must include the Elements of an Effective Annual Report, and are rated based on these elements. We make sure your money is given to ministries that deserve your investment. If you would like to invest please contact Counsel & Capital.
The Prize Amounts are:
Best Annual Report $50,000
Best Letter from the CEO (A section of the Annual Report) $12,500
Most Effective Focus (A section of the Annual Report) $12,500
Three Prizes
Total Prize Money $75,000
Best Annual Report $50,000
Best Letter from the CEO (A section of the Annual Report) $12,500
Most Effective Focus (A section of the Annual Report) $12,500
Benefits
- Three ministries will be rewarded by C&C – other ministries will likely be rewarded by their own donors.
- A financial incentive for ministries to improve focus.
- A financial incentive for ministries to write a meaningful, relevant, transparent annual letter.
- More bridges built between joyful, fulfilled donors and more focused and effective ministries.
- Progress toward improving and transforming Christian ministry communication.
- Good “return on investment” for those who donate to the prize pool.
- Independent Selection Committee including CEOs of ECFA and Christian Leadership Alliance.
Enter Your Organization
Enter Your Organization
To apply, please submit your ministry information and (when completed) submit a PDF of your Annual Report for the fiscal year ending between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018 along with your Statement of Faith (you can use the link below to upload your report at any time).
If you are among the top 20 applicants, we will ask you to send 10 hard copies of your annual report (if available … if not, we will distribute PDF copies to our panel of judges).
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2018
Winners Announced By: November 21, 2018
Counsel & Capital
2 N. Cascade Ave., Suite 590
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
If you have any questions, email Jeannie at jeannie@counselandcapital.org.