With the possible exception of making certain that your donors know the maximum amount of their contributions goes to the actual mission (and not to administrative overhead or other things), probably not!

Simply, liken this issue to the stock market and public investment in companies and corporations. The stockholder wants to know: (a) if the investment will make a difference in the company’s ability to be profitable (and, perhaps, even make a positive difference in the world); and, (b) will the investment produce a return (dividend). The promises are made in the prospectus or product offering, and the outcomes are documented/reported in the annual report. If the promises made are not kept, the investor inevitably goes elsewhere!

I agree with Kathy that budget resources for the collateral communications devices needed to report to donors must be maintained. On the other hand, however, it is fairly easy to use routine communication with donors (i.e., acknowledgment letters, follow-up appeals, etc.) to report to them on performance promises made and kept. Every communication opportunity should be so used.