We are a nonprofit higher education institution currently seeking to improve the readability and accessibility of our monthly board financial report narratives to better serve our trustees, many of whom do not have a strong financial background. If you have practical suggestions or can provide links to websites with examples, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your support!

In our current financial communications, we have noticed that traditional reports often focus on data presentation and accounting terminology, which may make it difficult for non-financial professionals to quickly grasp key information. To this end, we are exploring how to transform financial narratives into more intuitive, decision-oriented language while maintaining accuracy and completeness of information.

We are particularly interested in improvements in the following areas:

  • Using plain language to explain financial metrics, avoiding over-reliance on technical jargon.
  • Introducing visual elements (such as charts, trend lines) to aid explanation, but ensuring that visuals complement the narrative text.
  • Highlighting financial performance related to strategic goals rather than merely listing income and expense details.
  • Providing an "Executive Summary" section that presents core conclusions first, followed by detailed analysis.

If you have success stories, templates, or recommended resources, please share them via email or comments. We are especially interested in learning how to balance professionalism and accessibility, and how to present information in layers for audiences with varying levels of financial literacy.

Thank you for your time and wisdom. Your suggestions will directly help us improve governance transparency and decision-making efficiency.