Based in Cambridge, MA, Just A Start builds homes, careers and futures by providing individuals affordable housing, career training and comprehensive support services. Busy doing incredible things for the community, the organization needed a focused, outside perspective on how to do something brand new — ask for donations via their annual impact report. With a strong network of donors, Just A Start had never used this report as an appeal; they simply shared information.

With a new facility on the horizon, and their monetary goal in sight, it seemed like a good time to have an ask. Could this impact report help them realize it? Heck yes it can!

A vibrant and engaging impact report was born. It was also groundbreaking, because it introduced a completely different format, and for the first time ever, it asked for support — with a detachable, mailable portion with two ways to give. Donors could support the organization, the new Rindge Commons development — or both!

The report was visually dense with a variety of images and elements on purpose; we wanted recipients to feel how much was being accomplished! How did we get there? Clarity came through discussion; I provided options for how this could be done — we considered a variety of formats and printing options — and we worked together to make it happen.