This week, Forbes published an article, “Real Resolutions For Real Nonprofits: Ideas To Inspire A Successful Year.” In this article, they touched on a few key points to guide nonprofits regarding gaining support and social media, linking the two together.
First, nonprofits need to make SMART goals. Success isn’t born overnight, but measuring goals will keep you as a nonprofit on the path toward success. Success looks different for every nonprofit, as well.
Secondly, Forbes says that nonprofits should increase their virtual and in-person outreach. Depending on your mission, outreach will look different. The same goes for the size of your nonprofit. Small nonprofits have fewer volunteers and donors, making in-person events easier as they tend to be locally based. Virtual events make sense if you want to gain attention on a larger scale and have volunteers and donors spread across the country or internationally.
You, as a nonprofit, should build a social media presence. What demographic are you looking to reach? If you want to earn an older audience, Facebook will make sense as the primary social media platform. Instagram and TikTok are the way to go if you wish to gain a younger audience. It doesn’t matter how much you post as long as it is consistent. Consistently making one to two social media posts a week may seem like little, but it’s a great starting place and can build a platform if done over an extended period.
Don’t expect to gain a following immediately. Social media is also free, which makes it an excellent resource for small nonprofits looking to reach volunteers and donors.
Social media provides an opportunity to thank and acknowledge specific donors and volunteers. A simple photo or video can go a long way. In addition, you can have a volunteer or donor of the month or week. This also makes people want to get involved as they can see how invested you are in your volunteers and donors. It’s personal and also provides a branding opportunity.
Lastly, remember your mission. Social media posts should stay true to your mission. People can sense you straying from your mission if you get caught trying to gain a large platform. People want authenticity and transparency. Social media is a valuable tool, but it can cause controversies and issues for your nonprofit in the blink of an eye.
All in all, outreach and social media go hand-in-hand. A careful plan goes a long way with measurable goals.
