A nonprofit press release is an official written statement your organization sends to journalists to announce newsworthy work, a fundraiser, a program launch, a milestone, or a community partnership. Unlike a corporate release built around revenue, yours leads with mission and human impact. And journalists actively want to cover it.
In this guide, we have covered everything you need: a ready to use template, a fully annotated example, and exactly where to send it on a nonprofit budget.
Do Nonprofits Need Press Releases?
Yes, and nonprofits are often better positioned to earn coverage than for profit companies.
Journalists at local papers, public radio stations, and cause focused outlets look for stories with a human angle. A food bank that served its millionth meal, a literacy program that expanded to new schools, a fundraiser that exceeded its goal, these are exactly the stories editors want to run. A well written press release is how you hand them that story.
Press releases also build credibility. When your announcement appears in a news outlet, donors, grant committees, and board members take notice. Unlike a paid social post, earned media coverage signals legitimacy you can't manufacture.
The press release cost concern is real. The good news: you don't need an expensive PR firm. With the right template and a targeted press list, this is fully in-house work.
Expert Opinions: "Nonprofits have a natural advantage, most companies spend years trying to manufacture a story people actually care about. A press release isn't a formality for your organization, it's how you make sure that story reaches the people who can help you tell it further."
— EasyPRwire Editorial Team
Nonprofit Press Release Template
Copy and customize this template for any announcement, event, campaign, milestone, or partnership.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [Name, Title] [Organization Name] [Phone Number] [Email Address] [Website URL]
[HEADLINE: State the news + impact in one line — under 100 characters]
[SUBHEADLINE: Optional — add context or a supporting detail]
[CITY, STATE] — [DATE] — [Organization Name], a [mission description] nonprofit organization, today announced [core news in one clear sentence]. [Add one sentence on why this matters or who it benefits.]
[Second paragraph: Expand on the announcement. Include a key impact stat, number of people served, funds raised, or program detail. Keep it factual and concrete.]
[Third paragraph: Include a quote from your executive director, program lead, or a beneficiary. Format: "Quote here," said [Name], [Title], [Organization]. "Second sentence of quote if needed."]
[Fourth paragraph: Provide supporting context. How long has your organization been operating? What's the broader problem you're solving? Mention your 501(c)(3) status here if relevant to donor or grant audiences.]
[Fifth paragraph: Call to action. What should readers do next — donate, attend an event, volunteer, visit a website?]
About [Organization Name] [Organization Name] is a [city/state]-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to [mission statement]. Since [founding year], the organization has [brief impact summary]. For more information, visit [website].
Quick tips: Keep it to 400–600 words. Use third person throughout. Lead with your most important information — many journalists won't read past paragraph two. Always include at least one specific number (people served, dollars raised, years of operation).
Nonprofit Press Release Example
Reviewing real world samples for press release formatting can help you visualize how to frame your own organization's announcement. Here's a complete example with inline notes so you can see exactly what's working and why.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maria Chen, Communications Director River Valley Food Bank (555) 123-4561 mchen@rivervalleyfoodbank.org www.rivervalleyfoodbank.org
River Valley Food Bank Serves 500,000 Meals in 2025, Launches Emergency Winter Fund
[HEADLINE: Leads with a concrete milestone and pairs it with forward-looking news — two angles for journalists.]
SPRINGFIELD, IL — January 14, 2026 — River Valley Food Bank, a nonprofit serving food-insecure families across Central Illinois, today surpassed 500,000 meals distributed in 2025 — a 34% increase over the prior year — and launched an emergency winter fund to sustain operations through March.
[OPENING: All five Ws in two lines. Specific number, specific growth rate, specific timeline.]
The milestone reflects growing regional demand. According to River Valley's 2025 intake data, 62% of new clients were families with children under 12, and 28% were seniors living alone. The emergency winter fund has a goal of $75,000 to cover procurement costs from January through March — historically the highest-demand, lowest-donation months.
[BODY: Breaks the headline number into human detail. "Families with children" and "seniors living alone" are the specifics that drive media interest.]
"We didn't expect demand to grow this sharply, but we adapted," said James Okafor, Executive Director of River Valley Food Bank. "This winter fund is about making sure no family faces a gap in service when the weather gets colder and donations get slowest."
[QUOTE: Direct and specific. Explains why. Avoid generic statements like "we're proud" — journalists cut those.]
River Valley Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2009. Over 16 years, it has distributed more than 2.1 million meals across seven counties, operating entirely through community donations and USDA food grants.
[501(c)(3) NOTE: Including your tax-exempt status confirms donor legitimacy — essential if grant-makers or major donors will see this.]
Donations to the winter fund are tax-deductible at www.rivervalleyfoodbank.org/winter-fund. Volunteers are also welcome at the Springfield distribution center every Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
[CTA: Three ways to act — donate, give food, volunteer. Always include a URL and specific logistics.]
About River Valley Food Bank River Valley Food Bank is a Springfield, IL-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to eliminating food insecurity across Central Illinois. Since 2009, the organization has served over 2.1 million meals to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit www.rivervalleyfoodbank.org.
What Makes a Nonprofit Press Release Different?
A nonprofit press release follows the same format as any standard release, but the emphasis is completely different. Get these five things right and journalists will actually use it:
Lead with mission, not revenue. Corporate releases open with earnings or product news. Yours opens with impact: people served, communities reached, problems solved. Journalists covering nonprofits want the human story first.
Use impact numbers, not financial ones. "We had a strong year" gets skipped. "We distributed 12,000 more meals than last year" gets published. Meals, students tutored, families housed, trees planted, these are your metrics.
Quote the people you serve, not just your leadership. A first person account from a program beneficiary (with their permission) is far more compelling to an editor than a statement from your executive director. Use both when you can.
Include your 501(c)(3) status. When your release reaches donors or grant making bodies, your 501(c)(3) designation confirms tax deductibility and adds institutional credibility. It belongs in the boilerplate.
Write community first, not promotional. Drop words like "groundbreaking" and "revolutionary." Write clearly, directly, and factually, as if you're explaining the work to a neighbor, not pitching to an investor.
Where to Send a Nonprofit Press Release?
Distribution strategy matters as much as writing quality. A targeted approach on a lean budget consistently outperforms a generic mass blast. If you want to distribute non profit press release announcements effectively, here is where to focus:
Local and regional media (start here): Local newspapers, TV stations, and public radio outlets actively look for community stories. Build a press list of 10–20 local contacts and pitch directly, a personalized email to a specific reporter almost always beats mass distribution.
For the first time, local outlets made up the majority of nonprofit news membership in 2024, rising to 51%, and 75% of local newsrooms cover a broad range of community topics, compared to just 29% of non local outlets. (INN 2025 Index)
Cause specific publications. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NonProfit Times, and sector outlets covering education, environment, or health reach audiences already aligned with your mission and more likely to run the story.
Affordable wire services. For broader digital distribution, EasyPRwire offers budget friendly tiers with solid syndication. EIN Presswire distributes to Google News and AP News for under $100 per release. PRWeb starts around $110 and covers news search engines and social syndication.
Community channels. Local business journals, neighborhood newsletters, and community Facebook groups drive real engagement, especially for events and campaigns.
Get Your Nonprofit Press Release Distributed Starting at Just $89
EasyPRwire makes press release distribution simple and affordable for nonprofits of every size. Reach local media, news search engines, and online outlets, without the budget of a corporate PR team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nonprofit press release?
A nonprofit press release is an official announcement sent to media outlets to share newsworthy updates, a fundraiser, program launch, milestone, or partnership. It follows standard press release format but leads with mission impact and community benefit rather than commercial results.
How do you write a press release for a nonprofit organization?
Use this structure: headline with impact, opening paragraph covering who/what/when/where/why, one key stat, a quote from leadership or a beneficiary, your 501(c)(3) status, a call to action, and a short boilerplate. Keep it to 400–600 words, write in third person, and lead with your strongest number.
Do nonprofits need a press release for fundraisers?
Yes. Send it 7–14 days before an event, or on launch day for a donation campaign. Include your fundraising goal, what the funds support, and how to give. Local media coverage, even for small fundraisers, drives donations and builds long-term donor relationships.
What is the best press release distribution service for nonprofits?
EasyPRwire is the best press release distribution service for nonprofits, it offers affordable plans built for organizations with limited budgets, reliable syndication, and none of the enterprise-level costs of larger platforms.
