Nonprofit Brochure Basics

1) Write for a specific audience. Forget the generic brochure. Write your brochures (and yes, you may need several different ones) for a specific group of people, answering questions they are likely to have about your issues or organization.

2) Emphasize benefits over features. Don't just describe your programs; explain why and how your programs can help your audience or benefit them in other ways.

3) Include a call to action. Tell the person reading your brochure what to do next. How do they donate? How do they volunteer?

Brochure Design Tips

Don't cram the text into the panels of your brochure. Use a reasonable size font (not less than 10 points) and include lots of white space.

Use lots of headings and subheadings. People skim brochures and your headings will determine whether they actually read the text.

Include photographs or graphics. Tell your story visually. One or two really nice photos can make a world of difference in a brochure, especially on the cover. It's best to use fewer, larger, high-quality photos than lots of small images that are hard to see.