Thank you for your interest in submitting an article to NPQ. After reviewing the guidelines below, please email your pitch to [email protected].

What We’re Looking For

NPQ’s mission is to advance conversation and practice in the work of nonprofits, philanthropy, and social movements in the United States.

Our goal is to cut through the noise as the “must read” for civil society. To that end, we focus on essential insights, practical tools, and solutions-oriented writing for nonprofit, philanthropy, and movement audiences.

We are committed to building an active democracy whose values are fully grounded in human rights, economic and social justice, racial equity, and thriving communities—a reality only made possible through a healthy, resourced, and impactful nonprofit and social movement sector.

Solutions, Solidarity, Storytelling: The NPQ Difference

We focus on solutions, uplift voices and stories, and aim to build solidarity across civil society. We look for clear, accessible writing targeted for nonprofit, philanthropic, and movement workers; emerging leaders; seasoned leaders; and activists.

We relish nuanced arguments and welcome pieces that center curiosity, offer new complexity, or challenge conventional thinking about norms or practices in our sector.

Our reporting areas of interest include:

• Nonprofit, philanthropy, movement, and civil society news and analysis
• Racial justice and power
• Climate justice and the environment
• Health, healing, and disability justice
• Economic justice, labor, and movements
• Immigration and refugees
• Gender and LGBTQIA+ justice
• Resourcing civil society (fundraising, finances, philanthropy)
• Equitable and sustainable leadership and management practices

Essential Insights, Practical Tools

We prioritize angles, pieces, and perspectives that not only report new knowledge, insights, or incidents, but also contextualize them:

• “What”: What is the hook?
• “So what”: Why does it matter?
• “Now what”: What action(s) can or should we take to advance a more just and equitable society?

Logistics

Typically, our articles range from 750 to 2,500 words. Categories include:

• We Stood Up: first-person essays from workers, builders, activists, and organizers sharing stories about their experiences building a democratic economy and a fairer world. See our We Stood Up call for pitches.
• Reported articles and analysis (750 to 1,500 words) often focusing on important happenings in nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and social justice movements.
• Long-form thought leadership articles (1,500 to 2,500 words) offering analyses or more in-depth reporting that provide new insights or angles on conversations or practices in nonprofits, philanthropy, and civil society. Some great examples of these articles are:
  • “Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis” by Maurice Mitchell
  • “A Liberatory Approach to Centering Race in Leadership” by Ericka Stallings and Iman Mills Gordon
  • “Free Press, Democracy, and the Threat of Trump’s Illiberal Regime” by Zane McNeill
  • “Beyond Wishful Thinking: How to Build Lasting Youth Political Infrastructure” by Katie Kirchner

How to Pitch Us

We welcome pieces written by seasoned writers and journalists, as well as workers in the nonprofit field with varied writing experience.

• Pitch a story, not a topic: Your pitch should be concise and have a hook. It should explain the idea for your piece, why the story is relevant and timely, and why you are suited to write the article.
• Review our site before sending us a pitch to make sure your piece is a good fit, and that we have not recently published on the subject from a similar angle.
• Mention potential sources, interviewees, subject matter expertise, or potential.

• Submit your pitch to [email protected].

We Do Not Accept

• Press releases
• Self-promotion or marketing pieces
  • You can mention your work or organization, but the focus should be on the broader field and story
• AI-generated articles (see our Editorial Policies)
• How-to guides
• Articles centered outside of the United States that do not show relevance to US-based readers, as our focus is the civil sector in the United States.

Fees and Payment

We are deeply committed to equity, sustainable media and nonprofit sectors, and fair wages. We pay every contributor to NPQ, and are actively fundraising to increase our rates sustainably and equitably.

Our current rates are $300 for articles up to 1,000 words and $500 for articles more than 1,000 words.

In 2025, we will commission and/or consider a limited number of long-form articles. Please indicate in your pitch if you are interested in partnering on long-form thought leadership, narrative, or investigative journalism.

We know that freelancers depend on prompt payment, and we strive to issue payments the week articles go live.

What to Expect After Pitching

Due to a high volume of submissions, we can’t respond to every pitch. Please write TIMELY in your pitch’s email subject line if it is time-sensitive.

Accepted articles will go through revisions with your subject editor and our managing editor, followed by copyediting and proofing.

Agreement

In submitting your material, you acknowledge that it is your original work, it is exclusive to NPQ, and it has not been previously published elsewhere, in any form.