Nonprofit Newsletter Examples and Ideas
Supporters stay involved when they see what their help made possible. Nonprofit newsletters that work share real stories, invite people to events and give them a clear way to help. Here are three example emails and a year of ideas. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details.
Three example newsletters
Bracketed parts are placeholders. Replace them with your real details, dates and prices before sending.
1. Impact story
- Subject
- How your support helped [person or program] this month
- Preheader
- A short story from the field, shared with permission
Hi [First name], This month we want to share one story from [program]. [One or two sentences about the situation before.] [One or two sentences about what the program did.] [One sentence about what changed, in the person's own words if they agreed to share them.] None of this happens without supporters like you. Thank you. ▶ Read the full story: [URL] Stories are shared with permission, and some details are changed to protect privacy.
2. Event invitation
- Subject
- You're invited: [Event name] on [Date]
- Preheader
- Join us at [place]. Free for supporters and families
Hi [First name], We'd love to see you at [Event name]. • When: [Date], [time]–[time] • Where: [Place] • What to expect: [activity 1], [activity 2] Bring friends and family. Please register so we can plan food and seating. ▶ Register here: [URL] Can't make it? Reply and we'll keep you posted on the next one.
3. Volunteer call
- Subject
- We need [number] volunteers for [activity]
- Preheader
- A few hours on [date] make a real difference
Hi [First name], We're looking for volunteers to help with [activity] on [date]. • Time: [time]–[time] • Place: [place] • No experience needed. We'll show you everything on the day. If you can't volunteer, sharing this email with a friend helps too. ▶ Sign up to volunteer: [URL] Thank you for being part of [Organization].
12 months of ideas
| Month | Ideas |
|---|---|
| January |
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| February |
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| March |
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| April |
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| May |
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| June |
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| July |
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| August |
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| September |
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| October |
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| November |
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| December |
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Frequently asked questions
Can we share the stories of the people we serve?
Only with their permission, and change details that could identify them. Focus on what changed, not on hardship for its own sake.
How often should we ask for donations?
Not in every issue. Many organizations ask clearly a few times a year, such as Giving Tuesday and year end, and send stories and updates in between.
Do nonprofits have to follow CAN-SPAM?
CAN-SPAM applies to commercial messages, and whether a nonprofit email counts as commercial depends on its content. Either way, including your organization name, a postal address and an easy unsubscribe link is good practice.