How to Write a Newsletter for a Nonprofit Organization
A newsletter helps a company or organization keep in touch with its members regularly and efficiently. An email newsletter can reach hundreds of people easily and cost-effectively. Nonprofits use newsletters to keep members up-to-date with their work and to sell readers on their work and purpose, ultimately encouraging them to support the organization financially or in other practical ways. Writing a newsletter to communicate effectively and get results takes creativity and an awareness of audience and aim.
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Instructions
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Find out about your audience to determine your writing style. An arts newsletter aimed at wealthy, well-educated people should avoid slang, such as "cool," for example. A readership of young, creative people relates to language like "innovation" and "ideas."
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Research and find out what the aim of the newsletter should be to determine the content. Newsletters for nonprofits typically encourage members to donate money or attend events, for example.
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Write a title that reflects the specific content, rather than something routine that puts readers off. "How to Transform Your Neighborhood" draws a reader in; "Community Action Group Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 3" does not. This especially applies to e-newsletters.
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Write an introductory paragraph, thanking readers for their support and giving an idea of the content, making them want to continue reading. Show them content that benefits them. For example: "Your support means we can keep delivering high-quality resources to innovators and creative people like you. Read on to find out about our new software project and how getting involved can benefit your business."
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Write a table of contents. In an e-newsletter, make each item a hyperlink, so readers can go directly to an article that interests them.
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Write about topics that benefit both the reader and the organization. Even when charity is involved, self-interest still influences people's participation and contributions. Provide practical information that readers can put to use in their own lives.
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Select topics that readers can't find elsewhere. Inside information about the organization draws readers in. The promise of exclusive deals or benefits keeps them interested.
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Write success stories to prove to readers that the organization achieves its purpose. Stories about individuals you've helped provide a human element to the newsletter content, and readers want to find out more because they may identify with the subject.
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Use the content of your items to call readers to action, such as making a donation, becoming a member or volunteering help. For instance, when writing a human interest story about how your nonprofit helped build a home for a family, you could use the subheading "How You Can Help Families Like the Smiths," followed by simple instructions for pledging money.
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Write however many words are suited to the medium. A print newsletter may have several pages, but you should keep the length of an email newsletter to 500 words or less, as people tend to skim emails and empty their inboxes of emails that look too lengthy.
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