Non-profits and Social Media

With so many non-profits, it is tough to stand out and even more difficult to secure the funds, particularly in this economy. There are ways that non-profits can effectively use social media to further their cause. It is fine line though between asking for funds and informing the public about what you do to gain support.

A couple of easy tools that a non-profit can employ to make their use of social media more targeted and effective.

1. Determine the types of messages you want to communicate. Which means figure out a few key topics that messages can fall under. Some suggested topics are, success stories, needs, impact of public policy, news and general information. If you find a few key topics that most of your information can fit into then you have a place to start. You don’t want all the information you’re sending out to sound the same or to always be an ask for funds. You want to give people a reason to listen to you.
2. Keep an list of messages organized by your predetermined topics. Using a tool such as Google docs will help your team to store communications ideas in one easy to access place. If you keep the document updated then you’ll always have something to say in your various social media forums.
3. Encourage a conversation. This means you need to participate in the social media forum you’re posting in. You can’t be all about one-way communication. You must listen and respond. Building these online relationships will strengthen the dedication your followers and friends have towards your non-profit.

There are many things you can do to build your social media presence as a non-profit, but you need to follow just a few steps to get going. By starting small and just doing a few things the staff will become more comfortable about communicating via social media. Making social media a part of your non-profit’s communications plan will be second nature in no time.

Tagged as: communications, fundraising, Google docs, grants, money, non-profit, tools