25 Nonprofit Publications that Work with Freelance Writers

Here’s our latest research — a list of nonprofit publications that accept submissions from freelance writers.

We’ve researched payment rates, pitch guidelines, and more, to help you connect with the right editor.

If you want to browse even more opportunities, be sure to check out our database of over 1,500 publishers that pay writers. It’s easily searchable, and includes thousands of listings just like the ones below.

If you’re new to freelancing, I also very much encourage you to take our course on pitching. You can get the details here.

1. Atmos is a nonprofit media organization focused on the cross-pollination of climate and culture, delivering award-winning journalism and creative storytelling through a biannual print magazine, daily digital features, original newsletters, and more. They seek compelling, thought-provoking content that explores the intersection of climate and culture. According to their editorial guidelines, the standard digital rate for writers is $.50/word. To learn more, refer to this page.

1. Nexus Media News is a nonprofit news service dedicated to climate change. They are always seeking pieces on how communities across the United States are responding to the climate crisis. They are especially interested in solutions-oriented stories centering on frontline and BIPOC communities. According to their guidelines, rates start at $500 for reported features (1,000 to 1,200 words) and short profiles. For details, refer to their pitch guide.

1. The Real News Network is an independent, nonprofit news network that is focused on providing uncompromising and fact-based journalism. They cover politics, prisons and policing, racial justice, climate crisis, and economy and inequality. According to their pitch guide, they pay $250–$400 for Short News Article / Dispatch; $400–$600 for Standard Reported Story; $600–$1,200 for In-Depth Feature; $1,200–$2,000+ for Investigative Series or Special Assignment; and $200–$350 for Op-Ed / Commentary. To learn more, refer to this page.

1. Type Investigations is a nonprofit investigative newsroom. They cover the “most urgent issues of our time, including racial and economic justice, climate and environmental health, and civil and human rights.” Their written features are generally 4,000-5,000 words and, according to their pitch guide, they typically pay $3,000-$6,000 (including travel and reporting expenses). For more information, refer to their pitch guide.

1. Economic Hardship Reporting Project (EHRP) is a nonprofit organization that produces compelling journalism about income inequality and poverty in America. They commission “news stories, narrative features, short and feature-length documentaries, nonfiction comics, illustrated works, photo essays, podcasts and radio features about economic inequality in the United States. Personal essays are welcome only if they are completed or close-to-completed. According to their pitch guide, they pay $750 to $1500 for news stories, and up to $2,500 for narrative features and investigative reports. They generally pay $1.00 to $1.25 per word. They also have grants to cover travel expenses, up to $2,000.

1. The Objective is a nonprofit newsroom that publishes articles on communities journalism in the United States has typically ignored. According to their pitch guide, they pay $0.50 per word to freelancers, though particular projects may have special rates. For more information, refer to their pitch guide.

1. Prism is an independent, nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color. They elevate “stories, ideas, and solutions from leaders, thinkers, and activists whose voices are critical to a reflective democracy.” They especially encourage pitches from BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and others from historically oppressed communities. They are seeking pitches for their news section, features stories, op-eds, explainers, and stories for their Right to Write project. According to their pitch guide, they pay 50 cents per word. To learn more, refer to this page.

1. The Appeal is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to exposing how the U.S. criminal legal system fails to keep people safe and perpetuates harm. They prioritize pitches about politics (elections, legislation, policies, and reform efforts), alternatives (critical analysis of solutions to elements of the current criminal legal system), stories reporting on, and from, the South, Midwest, or rural areas, and op-eds and personal essays written by people impacted by the criminal-legal system. According to their pitch guide, they pay $1/ commissioned word for reported and first-person pieces up to 2,000 words. Payment for longer pieces is negotiable. To learn more, refer to this page.