Social media – it’s a part of our everyday lives; but for nonprofits, it’s an essential tool for communicating their mission. And with June 30th being National Social Media Day, there is no better time than now to dive deeper into the importance of social media for nonprofits. It’s an important part of the formula to attain much-needed funds for their work. Here’s the good news – it can be fun and educational, too!
As anyone who has served with a nonprofit knows, raising funds is competitive and very challenging. Awareness is the first step in fostering a belief in the mission and creating a passion for it with others. This is where you can leverage social media platforms. As a bonus, awareness can fall in front of the eyes of younger people, who are essential to the mission’s future.
Here are some ideas for greater awareness and bigger returns:
1. Educate your viewers consistently
2. Showcase success stories
3. Create campaigns for fundraisers
4. Explain how fundraising dollars work (X dollars feeds X amount of people, etc.)
5. Develop and market a monthly giving program
6. Interview those who have benefited from the nonprofit’s mission
7. Reach out to communities who can benefit from the nonprofit
8. Highlight “wish lists” and remind viewers the need is there all year, not just at the holidays/end of year
9. Create specific funds to which donors can designate their dollars
10. Remember to create a campaign around Giving Tuesday
As for the social media players, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter (X), Snapchat are the well-known platforms. To make the most of scheduling regular posts, there are a variety of options both within and externally to allow you to plan a social media calendar and schedule in advance. Take advantage of those for a smooth running and consistent schedule.
Don’t forget about your online reputation. Check Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau, etc. to look at reviews of your organization and address any issues promptly and professionally.
The combination of education, responsible fundraising, and demonstrating how donors and volunteers make a difference in the organization is key to keeping the heartbeat and passion alive in the mission.
A little creativity can go a long way in making social media an integral part of supporting the mission today and into the future. When combined with in-person events, networking, strong email campaigns, and a user-friendly website that allows for easy donations, you’ll have a variety of ways that others can interact with and support the organization.
For a deeper dive, the NP Source has a great article that dives into social media giving statistics. You can learn more here: https://shorturl.at/rQ3mE
Nonprofit social media is an opportunity to highlight what is good in this world – and the world certainly needs more of that!