The document outlines the essentials of nonprofit blogging, highlighting its benefits such as real-time commentary, marketing, outreach, and community-building, while also discussing potential challenges like dependency on internet access and the necessity of staff time. It provides practical tips for managing a blog, including utilizing interns, becoming an authority, and engaging with other social media platforms. Additionally, it poses critical questions for organizations to consider when starting a blog, such as goals, staffing, and content ideas.

1. Born to Blog: An Introduction to Nonprofit Blogging | Archana Sridhar
CanadaHelps MyCharityConnects | June 8, 2009
BLOGGING BASICS
Benefits of Blogging
• Substance: Real‐time commentary on relevant issues.
• Marketing: Reinforce your brands and claim expertise.
• Outreach: Forum to recognize and cultivate volunteers, donors, and journalists.
• Fundraising: Talk about appeals, campaigns, donors, and drive traffic.
• Community­building: Provide on‐line resources and community‐building.
Pros Cons
• Instant Publication • Dependent on Internet Access
• Feedback and Comments • No Authority or Control
• Searchable • Too Much Information
• Automatically Archives • Takes Staff Time
• Links
Principles for nonprofit blogging Practical tips
• Manage expectations • Use interns
• Become an authority • Keep it simple
• Build networks • Write informally and often
• Entertain while being informative • Expand into other social media
• RSS feeds
NONPROFIT BLOGS AND RESOURCES
Blogs
South Asian Philanthropy Project www.southasianphilanthropy.org
Interplast interplast.blogs.com
Kiva Chronicles kivanews.blogspot.com
MaRS blog.marsdd.com
Ontario Nonprofit Network www.ontariononprofitnetwork.ca/blogs
PhilanTopic pndblog.typepad.com
Give & Take (Chronicle of Philanthropy) www.philanthropy.com/giveandtake
Resources
Blogger www.blogger.com/start
Wordpress www.wordpress.org
Typepad www.typepad.com
CanadaHelps (MyCharityConnects) www.mycharityconnects.org
Nonprofit Blog Exchange nonprofitblogexchange.blogspot.com
NetSquared www.netsquared.org
Lucy Bernholz (Philanthropy 2173) philanthropy.blogspot.com
Beth Kantor (Beth’s Blog) beth.typepad.com
Marnie Webb (ext337) www.ext337.org

2. Born to Blog: An Introduction to Nonprofit Blogging | Archana Sridhar
CanadaHelps MyCharityConnects | June 8, 2009
MAKING A PERSONAL BLOGGING PLAN
What is my organization’s goal in starting a blog? (fundraising, media, outreach, program
building, etc.)
Who would write on the blog? Who would maintain the blog? What kind of staffing
resources do we have for this? (staff, volunteers, interns, group or solo authors, etc.)
What are some topics we would cover? What are some ideas for content? (news, events,
commentary, etc.)
What other blogs in my field would serve as examples and/or links?
Whose buy‐in do I need to get for this to happen? (director of communications, CEO, board
members, etc.)