Free nonprofit newsletter template
A nonprofit newsletter should show supporters what their help did before it asks for more. Use the same parts each time: thank you first, what your support did in real numbers, one story about one person, what's next, and a single clear ask. Download the free template below (Word and Google Docs) or copy the example text for each section.
Last reviewed October 22, 2026
Get the template
Word file (.docx), about 40 KB. Opens in Google Docs, Microsoft Word and Pages. Free, no email needed.
Update masthead, thank you, impact numbers, a photo spot, one story, what's next with dates and a goal side by side, and one ask. In Google Docs, choose File, Open, Upload.
The nonprofit newsletter, section by section
Subject line
Your gifts filled 1,240 food boxes this fall
Thank you first
Start with what supporters made possible, not with what you need.
Hi friends, thank you. Here's what your support did in the last three months.
What your support did
- 1,240 food boxes packed and delivered to families in the county
- 86 new volunteers trained, many of them high school students
- 900 pounds of produce from our community garden
One story
One person, one change. Use a first name only, with permission.
"I didn't know where dinner was coming from. Now I don't have to wonder." Maria, a mom of three, started picking up a box every Saturday in August. Last month she signed up to volunteer.
What's next
Coming up
- Nov 22: Volunteer packing day
- Dec 2: GivingTuesday
- Dec 13: Holiday delivery
Our goal this winter
- Deliver 2,000 boxes between now and February, our busiest season.
One clear ask
A gift of $35 feeds a family of four for a week. Give at [link].
Sign-off
With thanks,
[Name], [Title]
Tips for nonprofit newsletters
- Thank before you ask. Supporters who hear what their gift did are the ones who give again.
- Real numbers, round less. "1,240 boxes" reads as true; "over a thousand" reads as a guess.
- One story, with permission. First name only, and ask before you use anyone's photo or words.
- One ask per issue. Give, volunteer or share, not all three.
Planning the year-end season? See nonprofit newsletter ideas and email newsletter software for small nonprofits.
Or skip the doc
Small nonprofits run on a few staff and a lot of volunteers. MailWild turns your numbers and one story into a donor update like the Impact Update look below.
With MailWild you tell it your news in a few lines, add your photos or a YouTube link, and it writes the whole newsletter in seconds. You don't start from the doc. Drafts come back in Clean, a plain modern look in your brand color, and one click shows the same draft in Impact Update, the look below, or any other look. Your words and photos stay put. You can also pick a look first and have MailWild fill it in.
- Edit anything in a simple block editor: photos, buttons, two-column rows and color bands. It looks right on phones automatically.
- Send from your own address at your own domain, signed so inboxes can verify it. Schedule it for later or send a free test to yourself first.
- Unsubscribes are handled. A one-click unsubscribe link and your mailing address are added to every email, and bounced addresses are removed.
- See who opened. Each newsletter shows delivered, opens, clicks and unsubscribes.
- Bring your list. Import a spreadsheet (CSV or Excel) or paste a list of emails. Duplicates and bad addresses are set aside for you.
The templates come with the software. Setting up is free: import your list, write, connect your domain and send yourself tests. You pay when you send to your list, priced by list size, with a 14-day money-back guarantee on the first payment. There is no free plan. See pricing.
Questions
What should be in a nonprofit newsletter?
Thank supporters first, show what their help did with real numbers, tell one story about one person, share what's next, and end with a single clear ask.
How often should a nonprofit send a newsletter?
Monthly or quarterly for most small nonprofits, with extra emails around year-end giving and big events.
Can I share the people we serve in a newsletter?
Only with their permission. Use first names, ask before using photos or quotes, and leave out anything that could identify someone who didn't agree.
Is this nonprofit newsletter template free?
Yes. It's a free Word file that also opens in Google Docs (File, Open, Upload). No signup needed.