DAR State of the Society Report

The Work

The Daughters of the American Revolution is one of the largest and oldest patriotic organizations in the United States, with more than 186,000 members across the country. Each year, the National Society publishes its State of the Society Report to communicate the breadth of its work to members, leadership, and partners. In 2020, that story included welcoming their one-millionth member — a milestone more than a century in the making. Sutter Group's work on the State of the Society Report required translating the activities of more than a dozen departments into a clear, cohesive publication. Membership statistics, genealogical research milestones, museum programming numbers, scholarship awards, financial performance, and development goals all had to be presented with equal clarity and with a visual language consistent with DAR's brand of heritage, authority, and pride. The 2020 report is organized around six mission pillars: honoring history, preserving collections, executing national business, displaying membership pride, sharing the organization's historic home, and ensuring financial strength. Each section is built around its own data story, from membership application trends to investment value growth to scholarship distribution. The design system balances the weight of the organization's institutional identity — navy, red, and white — with a clean, contemporary editorial structure. Infographics, charts, and large statistics work alongside photography, allowing complex program data to be absorbed quickly while retaining the gravitas expected from a national organization of this scale. The report was produced during a year shaped by the pandemic, which added both challenge and significance to the DAR's story: events cancelled, staff retained, and an organization that continued its mission without interruption.