A simple guide with 10 ways nonprofit organizations can realize the benefits of social media.

1. The Top 10 Reasons to
Use Social Media…
Especially for Nonprofit Organizations

2. Why Social Media?
• Social media never sleeps; neither does your
mission.
• People have choices and multiple options for
donating their time and money.
• Capture hearts and minds by sharing helpful
resources and spotlighting the good works of
your organization.

3. Awareness
• Be where your audience is and where people
are most likely to look for you.
• Meet your members and future supporters in
the places they hang out online.

4. Reach
• Increase your reach by taking advantage of
the “always on, available anywhere” nature
of the Web.
• Leverage the network effect by encouraging
your followers to like and share your content
with their friends and followers.
• Invite guest contributors with their own
followings to take over your feed.

5. Community
• Help build an online community where
members can access information and
resources on their own.
• Stimulate conversation.
• Create polls, ask questions.
• Share community news and local events.

6. Engagement
• Identify supporters and influencers and be
supportive of what they are sharing.
• Be liberal with shout outs, thanks and praise.
• Connect with those who can connect you with
other “high value” connectors.
• Participate in trending topics and popular
themes.

7. Fundraising
• Make it easy to share and easy to give.
• Create hash tags for campaigns. #givingback
• Consider counters and leaderboards.
• Ask your followers to share.
• Leverage the large networks of supporters.

8. Recruiting
• Show what it’s like to be involved.
• Share stories of volunteers and board
members making a difference.
• Participate in weekly memes on Twitter.
• Tell stories.

9. Do PR in Public
• Publish news and events.
• Engage with influencers.
• Connect with high profile supporters.
• Build a list of press-release-friendly outlets
and relevant local reporters.
• Subscribe to HARO.

10. Educate
• Share resources that align with the mission.
• FAQ – Post the answers to the most frequently
asked questions.
• Teach, not preach
• Share stories of people making a difference in
different ways.

11. Celebrate
• Share case studies, success stories,
testimonials.
• Post images of good works in action as well
as before/after images.
• Celebrate local heroes in the community.

12. Automate
• Save time and money by delivering a
consistent message across multiple platforms.
• Improve search engine optimization with a
liberal dose of social media and a steady
stream of content.
• Use social like an electronic brochure to
promote your mission and your messages
24/7.

15. Resources
• 11 Nonprofits that excel at social media
• http://www.nptechforgood.com/2012/07/30/11-nonprofits-that-excel-at-
social-media/
• 5 (Really 8) Nonprofits with successful content marketing campaigns
• http://blog.capterra.com/nonprofits-successful-content-marketing-
campaigns/
• Top 50
• https://topnonprofits.com/lists/top-nonprofits-on-social-media/