After a surge in giving in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, charitable giving began to drop slightly in 2021. And then in early 2022, economic uncertainty and inflation caused challenges.

After all was said and done, online giving and email giving in 2022 both declined an average of 4% since 2021, according to the 2022 M+R Benchmarks Study. And for many nonprofits, the landscape hasn’t changed much in 2023.

But if there’s any silver lining to this, it’s that these changes are forcing us to work harder and smarter to engage and inspire donors.

And as we turn our attention to the 2023 end-of-year (EOY) fundraising season, we have another chance to balance the tried and true best practices with some novel and new approaches to better inspire your supporters and donors once more.

1. Review your donor data.

Before you map out your EOY strategy, take a look at your email program data, making note of any specific tactics, messaging, or creative–and any downward trends in engagement–in your highest-performing appeals from your last EOY campaign.

What donor insights can you gain from your last year’s EOY data? Did you employ a different tactic or signer in your best-performing message? Did you notice a drop in click-through rate or a higher-than-normal unsubscribe rate? If so, what can these metrics tell you about what to repeat or adjust for this year’s campaign?

2. Segment your audiences and personalize your email content.

Email segmentation and personalization are hugely beneficial for targeting donors and crafting tailored messages during the most critical time of year. Here are a few things you should consider for your EOY campaign:

• Reference their status as a donor, or the amount of their last gift (or last year’s EOY gift).
• Segment among your donors and supporters to further tailor the message they receive:
  • Customize a few appeals for your monthly donors to thank them for the impact of their sustained support and ask them for a one-time special gift.
  • Recapture lapsed donors with a series of messages that reference the date and amount of their last gift while emphasizing the ongoing need for support.
  • You can also target potential donors with customized content that asks them to make their first gift today.

The options are seemingly endless–and your fundraising software’s data can help you see which segments of your audience might be the ripest for engaging with personalized content.

3. Make your strongest case for giving.

The data on 2022 EOY giving suggests that donors might have been less inspired to give–which makes an authentic, well-crafted case for giving more important than ever.

What motivates your donors to give–and how can you weave that into your messaging? Consider, for example, the specific challenge or problem your nonprofit is working to solve:

• How can you clearly and concisely convey why it’s so urgent to meet your fundraising goal?
• Who or what will suffer if you don’t meet your fundraising goal?
• What can your organization achieve if you do?

Once you’ve drilled down on those details, weave them into your messaging, framing donors’ gifts as the impact they have on executing your programs and serving your beneficiaries.

4. Use every channel at your disposal. 

Multichannel fundraising lets you stay top of mind among your donors and supporters, meeting them where they are–and driving conversions and retention.

Investing in digital ads, in particular, as another channel in your digital program has a measurable impact on fundraising results, particularly during the end of the year. If your nonprofit doesn’t already have a dedicated ads budget, now is the time to make the pitch.

Regardless of the channels you’ll be using, make sure that your donor journey is consistent and seamless across all of them. Your website (including the homepage, lightbox, and donation page) should reflect the theme, messaging, imagery, and match deadlines–and those elements should all be mirrored in all of your channels.

You can also use different digital channels to target specific segments of your donors. From following up on a direct mail drop with a fundraising email or targeting lapsed donors in your EOY campaign’s digital ads, providing donors with another “touchpoint” will help drive giving when it matters most.

5. Be flexible and adapt as needed. 

You might be tempted to “set it and forget it” after months of tireless work to develop and implement your EOY campaign’s goal, strategy, content, and creative. Unfortunately, the data on online giving in 2022–especially during year-end–makes it clear that we need to keep our fingers on the pulse and adapt when necessary.

M+R’s 2022 benchmarks on GivingTuesday indicate an average 18% drop in online revenue on a day we once could count on to generate giving. And it wasn’t just a slow start–many nonprofits saw their EOY campaign end with more of a fizzle than a bang, with online revenue down 22% year-over-year on Dec. 31.

Boosting email volume and frequency last year helped to mitigate those losses for many nonprofits. And while we don’t yet know how EOY giving will play out this year, you should plan to be nimble and adapt when the moment demands it. Keep your eyes peeled for any opportunities–including resends, match increases, and graphical emails–to boost urgency and effectiveness for your donors.

Get ahead of your end-of-year campaign planning—download Network for Good’s Comprehensive Year-End Fundraising Plan today!

Looking for a strategic partner to take your end-of-year fundraising campaign to the next level? The team at Fresh Eyes Digital has worked for decades with nonprofit organizations to acquire and inspire digital audiences and convert them into loyal donors and activists. Reach out to set up a call to discuss how you might work together!

Published: August 15, 2023

The post 5 tactics to engage and inspire nonprofit donors this end-of-year fundraising season appeared first on Network for Good.

In this blog, we will outline a step-by-step guide on how to develop an effective social media strategy for GivingTuesday and year-end campaigns, along with suggestions for various types of posts to inspire and mobilize supporters across different social platforms.

Why does year-end differ from any other social strategy?

GivingTuesday is a global movement focused on charitable giving, and year-end is a key time for nonprofit fundraising with 30% of charitable giving taking place in December and 10% occurring in the last three days of the year. . Unlike your regular social media strategy that may cover a broader range of topics and initiatives, GivingTuesday and year-end center exclusively on inspiring generosity and encouraging people to support your cause. 

Because year-end only occurs for a limited time, it is important to do extra planning to ensure that your nonprofit can maximize its impact within that time frame. Another thing to consider is urgency and how people respond to it. If you were to see a sale that lasted for two months you might not be encouraged to purchase right then and there. But If you see the sale ends in one or two days, you might be encouraged to make a purchase sooner. This goes for donations, too! If supporters see that there is only a limited time to hit a donation goal, and see it over and over on social media, then they may be more likely to donate. 

Embracing GivingTuesday and year-end campaigns through social media can ignite giving spirits, make a significant impact, and drive positive change.

Step 1: Set clear goals and objectives.

The first step in developing a successful social media strategy is setting clear and measurable goals. Determine what you want to achieve through your GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising campaigns. Whether it’s increasing the number of donors, meeting a specific fundraising target, or boosting brand awareness, having well-defined goals will guide your entire social media approach. 

Try using the SMART goal table to define and specify your measurable goals! 

Step 2: Know your audience.

Understanding your target audience is essential to tailoring your message and content. Analyze your current supporter base and identify potential demographics that resonate with your cause. Different social media platforms attract diverse audiences, so consider where your target audience is most active and create content accordingly. Below is a general breakdown of the audiences on different social media platforms. There are two main generational demographics when it comes to giving: traditional donors (Gen X and Baby Boomers), and next-gen donors (Gen Z and Millennials). 

• TikTok audience: On TikTok, 69% of users are next-gen donors and 31% are traditional donors. There are 80 million daily active users in the United States and of those 49% said TikTok has helped them make purchase decisions. 
• Twitter audience: On Twitter, 61% of users are next-gen donors, and the remaining 29% are traditional donors.
• Facebook audience: Facebook hits a fairly equal amount of donors from both next-gen and traditional. 49% are next-gen donors and 51% are traditional donors.
• Instagram audience: With the second highest percentage of next-gen donors, Instagram’s audience is majorly next-gen donors with 64% being between the ages of 18 and 39.
• LinkedIn audience: LinkedIn, similar to Facebook, has 49% of the audience between the ages of 18 and 39 or next-gen with the other 51% being traditional donors. (source)

This is a great starting point to determine which platforms make the most sense for your organization. Now, consider who your current supporters are. It is ideal that you have similar data on your audience so you can decide which platforms you should start using or need to double down on for year-end. By using fundraising technology, you can easily track donor demographic information so you can pull this information quickly.

Step 3: Craft compelling content.

Engaging and persuasive content is the heart of any social media strategy, which is why developing a content plan that aligns with your campaign objectives and resonates with your audience is crucial. Some content ideas for GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising include:

Impact stories: Share real-life success stories that highlight the positive impact of your organization’s work. Stories can evoke emotions and inspire action. TikTok and Instagram reels are a great place to showcase impact stories. You can easily craft a video without any fancy equipment and show the real impact behind the scenes of your organization. 

In this video, Natik Esperanza shares the story of their program participant, Bernabe, who was able to participate in training to gain skills needed to lead a growing community of beekeepers in his community.

Behind-the-scenes: Offer a glimpse into your nonprofit’s daily operations, showcase an employee teambuilding event, or introduce your team members. Humanizing your organization fosters trust and connection.

This video works well because it humanizes the organization by showcasing the El Futuro staff learning and experiencing team building together.

Visual content: Utilize eye-catching images, infographics, and videos to convey your message effectively. Visuals often attract more attention on social media.

In this post, Mutts with a Mission utilized an impactful image to showcase their service dogs’ aircraft training.

Countdown campaigns: Build anticipation by creating countdown posts as the campaign launch approaches, or use countdown posts as a way to drive urgency to donate during the final days of the campaign. 

In this post, Go For Yours creates urgency for donors to contribute to their Dream Experience fundraising campaign before it ends. They also create a clear CTA in the caption and use appropriate hashtags.

Calls-to-action: Clearly communicate what you want your audience to do, whether it’s donating, volunteering, or sharing your content. You can include clear CTA’s at the end of posts to get people to complete the action you want them to do. This could be “click the link in our bio” or even “follow us on Instagram to learn more”

In this post, Go For Yours shares an update on their current campaign and urges donors to contribute to help them reach their goal.

GivingTuesday offers this canva folder with many different templates you can use to post on social media before and on GivingTuesday!

Step 4: Create a posting schedule.

Now, let’s talk about consistency. It’s the key to keeping your audience engaged on social media. Develop a solid posting schedule that mixes regular content like inspiring impact stories and campaign updates with timely posts related to GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising events. To make things easier, take advantage of scheduling tools. They’ll help you manage your posts efficiently, saving you time and keeping your social media game strong.

You can try using this template to begin planning your content for year-end 2023!

Step 5: Leverage hashtags and trends.

Time to stay on top of the game! It is important to stay updated with trending topics and hashtags that relate to GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising. There are over 1 billion views just on TikTok including #yearend and #GivingTuesday. 

Using popular hashtags can do wonders for your visibility and help you connect with a broader audience interested in charitable causes. So, don’t shy away from riding the hashtag wave–it’s a great way to spread your message far and wide.

Step 6: Engage with your community

Remember, social media is all about building connections. It’s a two-way street. So, don’t just post and forget about it! Engage with your followers, respond to their comments, and give a shout-out to your donors publicly. Building a strong and responsive community will foster loyalty and encourage more people to support your amazing campaign. Plus, it’ll show your audience that you genuinely care about their involvement.

Congrats! You’ve now got a high-impact social media strategy to make your GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising campaign shine. By setting clear objectives, knowing your audience inside out, creating compelling content, and strategically using various social media platforms, your nonprofit is bound to drum up support, engage donors, and make a lasting impact. 

But don’t forget, social media is a dynamic landscape, always changing. So, stay flexible and open to adapting your strategy based on real-time insights and feedback from your audience. With a well-executed social media plan, your nonprofit can create a meaningful and successful GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising campaign that will leave a positive mark on the world.

Interested in learning more about how to make the most of GivingTuesday and year-end fundraising? Download Network for Good’s Ultimate Giving Tuesday Checklist and Comprehensive Year-End Fundraising Plan to get started on your campaign planning today!

About the author:

Community Boost is the premier full-service nonprofit digital marketing agency dedicated to mission-focused organizations of all sizes and sectors. 

Published: August 10, 2023

The post 6 steps to creating a nonprofit year-end and GivingTuesday social media strategy appeared first on Network for Good.

1. Create compelling content.

Develop a content marketing strategy that focuses on delivering valuable and engaging content. Use Canva to create compelling visuals (don’t miss out on the nonprofit discount!). Consider writing blog posts, creating informative videos, or producing podcasts that educate, inspire, and evoke emotions. Optimize your content for search engines to increase organic traffic and showcase your expertise in the field.

2. Engage with local communities.

Engage with local businesses, other nonprofits, or community groups by participating in relevant events and initiatives. Set up booths or sponsor events that align with your organization’s purpose. Actively engage with attendees, distribute promotional materials, and exchange contact information.

3. Offer multiple ways to contribute.

Provide various ways for supporters to contribute, such as volunteering or donating. Cater calls to action to attract different levels of commitment and engagement. Make sure that the instructions for how to get involved are very clearly outlined on your website and other promotional materials!

Network for Good’s fundraising pages allow you to set suggested donation amounts, customize donation receipts, and share fundraising updates with donors so you can optimize the giving experience for donors.

4. Host virtual information sessions to cultivate relationships.

Organize virtual information sessions to introduce your organization. Use Zoom to connect with potential supporters in an interactive and informative manner. Ask questions, use polls, and even facilitate breakout sessions to get your community chatting and exchanging new ideas.

5. Collaborate with influencers and bloggers.

Partner with social media influencers and bloggers who align with your organization’s purpose. Engage them in creating content that promotes your cause and encourages their followers to support your organization. Influencers can amplify your message, attract new audiences, and inspire action. Don’t be afraid to message some influencers online to see if they are interested in promoting your cause!

6. Seek local media coverage.

Reach out to local media outlets such as newspapers, radio stations, or television networks to share your nonprofit’s story and impact. Earned media coverage boosts your organization’s reputation and credibility, which can help attract new supporters.

7. Leverage email marketing.

You should have a consistent email marketing strategy year-round, but you can use this time before end-of-year to ramp up your communications and reach potential supporters directly. Develop targeted email lists and segment your audience based on their interests and engagement level. Personalize your messages, tell impactful stories, and clearly outline how individuals can contribute.

8. Run digital advertising campaigns.

Allocate a portion of your budget to run targeted digital advertising campaigns. Platforms like Google Ad Grants, Facebook Ads, or LinkedIn Ads can help you reach specific demographics, geographies, or interest groups. Develop captivating ads that drive traffic to your website or landing pages, focusing on the value of supporting your organization. Don’t have the budget for paid promotions? You can still reach your people with organic digital content! Use relevant hashtags, engage with your audience, and encourage them to share your posts to amplify your reach.

9. Organize webinars or online workshops.

Offer webinars or online workshops related to your organization’s cause or expertise. Share valuable insights, tips, or educational content that attracts individuals who are passionate about the same issues. Provide opportunities for engagement, Q&A sessions, and offer follow-up resources to cultivate relationships with participants.

10. Provide transparency and accountability.

Clearly communicate how donations are utilized and the impact they have on your nonprofit’s work in order to build trust with future supporters. Share annual reports, financial statements, and success stories to demonstrate accountability and transparency.

Acquiring new supporters is crucial for the success of your nonprofit’s year-end fundraising campaign. By implementing these ten powerful tactics, you can expand your network and engage individuals passionate about your cause. Remember to tailor your strategies to suit your organization’s unique goals and maintain a consistent and personalized approach to foster lasting relationships with your new supporters.

Interested in additional tips as you prep for your year-end campaign? Download our Comprehensive year-end fundraising plan featuring everything you need for a successful year-end!

Looking for additional support for your nonprofit’s fundraising operations? Reach out to Devine & Parker Consulting to learn more about how we can help you succeed.

About the author:

Devine & Parker Consulting empowers nonprofit organizations to build sustainable and scalable fundraising operations so that they can maximize their impact and fulfill their missions.

Published: July 25, 2023

The post 10 powerful tactics for nonprofits to acquire new supporters before year-end fundraising campaigns appeared first on Network for Good.

From the rise in live streams to the craze of TikTok, marketing and development professionals are having to reimagine effective yet informative ways to reach, engage and convert silent observers to active advocates, donors and volunteers.

The first step to achieving that goal? Knowing the best stories to showcase your nonprofit’s culture and impact.

During this interactive webinar, you will discover:

• The power of storytelling on social media
• Three types of stories to share on social to build trust and engagement online
• How to leverage video to create compelling content that reenergizes existing and attracts new constituents online

Speaker: Ebbi Nicole, Founder of Ebbi Talks Digital

The post Supercharge Your Social Media Storytelling Through Video | 6/14 appeared first on Network for Good.

Build strong relationships

One of the most important aspects of securing event sponsorships is building strong relationships with potential sponsors. Take the time to research and learn about their values and interests. Researching sponsors in advance shows you have done your due diligence. In addition, it allows you to save time by identifying the right partners to pursue, so that you can strategically position your organization to secure funding without feeling overwhelmed. 

When approaching potential sponsors, it is important to be authentic and personal. Share your passion and dedication to your purpose and explain why your event is important and valuable to both the community and for the sponsor. Do not be afraid to show your personality and sense of humor, but keep it professional. Remember, people support people, so make sure your communications and interactions reflect who you are as an organization and as individuals.

Create a solid proposal  

Crafting a well-developed sponsorship proposal is key to capturing the attention of potential sponsors and getting them excited about supporting your purpose.

To make your proposal stand out, it is important to personalize it for each potential sponsor. Take the time to research each sponsor and understand what they value and how your event can align with their interests. Highlight the specific brand benefits that your event can offer and how it can help them achieve their own goals. Brand benefits can include mentioning their support in social media posts, including their logo on event materials, or even inviting them to participate in your event through breakout sessions or panels. Check out my free downloadable, “What to Offer Sponsors,” and my presentation, “What Sponsors Want and Why They Need You,” to learn about more brand benefits you can offer a sponsor.

Use creative and inspiring language and visuals to make your proposal memorable and engaging. You can do this by inserting photos or video links of your organization in action. Remember, your proposal is not just a document–it is an opportunity to connect with potential sponsors and showcase your organization’s values, purpose, and impact. So, have fun with it, be authentic, and let your passion shine through!

Practice good stewardship 

At this point, you have secured the support of sponsors for your event–this is a huge accomplishment and a testament to your hard work and dedication to your cause! Practicing good stewardship to ensure that these partnerships continue to thrive beyond your event is vital to the longevity of the sponsoring relationship.

First and foremost, it is important to communicate regularly with your sponsors. Keep them in the loop on your progress, share updates on how their support is making a difference, and be responsive to any questions or concerns they may have. This will help build trust and strengthen your relationship with your sponsors.

Another way to practice good stewardship is to express your gratitude and appreciation for your sponsors. Take the time to thank them personally for their support, and recognize their contributions in any relevant materials or activities based on the sponsorship level they commit to. 

Lastly, it is important to follow through with what you agreed upon with each sponsor. Sponsors will likely return if you fulfill the agreement made between the two of you. 

By practicing good stewardship, you will create a community of supporters who are invested in your cause and committed to making a difference. So, as you move forward with your event planning, keep in mind the importance of practicing good stewardship with your sponsors. Together, you can make a real impact and create lasting change for your community. Learn more about practicing good stewardship in my presentation, Art of Sponsorships.

Celebrate your success

Finally, do not forget to celebrate your success! There are many moments that you can celebrate.

1. Pressing send on the emails you have prepared to approach your sponsors.
2. Securing a meeting and beginning a relationship with a potential sponsor.
3. Getting a sponsor’s buy-in or interest in a particular sponsorship level.
4. Receiving the notification that your sponsor said “Yes” to your request and receiving a check from them.
5. Hosting a successful event.

Don’t let these moments pass by. Acknowledge them with your team through celebration. You can even share your success on social media and in your communications with your email subscribers. Celebrating your success will boost your confidence along the journey of seeking sponsors and help build momentum and excitement for your next event.

We hope you’re able to utilize these tips and strategies as you prepare for your next nonprofit event. By focusing on securing strong event sponsorships, you will ultimately raise awareness for your nonprofit’s purpose within your community, and gain a larger, long-term support system for your organization. 

About the author:

Mariah Monique, MPH is the Founder and CEO of The Sponsorship Catalyst, where she and her team helps nonprofit organizations position themselves to secure event sponsors by packaging sellable event sponsorship opportunities. Mariah is a Sponsorship Strategy Educator and Consultant, sponsorship seeker, and a funder, so she has a tri-fold perspective to teaching nonprofit organizations how to secure sponsors. Additionally, she has reviewed and evaluated hundreds of sponsorship packages and pitches, made decisions for sponsorship fund allocation, and built brand activations. She knows what sponsors want.

Published: May 9, 2023

The post 4 Tips and Strategies for Spring Event Sponsorship Success appeared first on Network for Good.

In this guide, we dive deeper into the following elements of supporter engagement including strategies you can implement for success: 

Promote Your Purpose 

The first thing you should do when developing a supporter engagement strategy is ensure your community is aware of your organization and your mission. It can be challenging to develop a supporter base if your community isn’t aware of the great work you’re doing. Raise awareness for your nonprofit through your website, social media, email newsletter, and events. If you’re a new nonprofit, take the time to establish these tools for your organization to ensure you can connect with your community. If you’re a more mature nonprofit, work to refine your strategy for these various tools and platforms to ensure you’re reaching the right audience.  

Donor Management 

Once you have established a strong foundation for your work, think about how you’ll manage donor information. As people learn about your organization and become donors, you need to have a management system in place to ensure you can cultivate those relationships going forward. While newer nonprofits may establish their database using a spreadsheet, it’s important to think about a more sophisticated platform as your organization grows. Consider investing in a donor management system like Network for Good to better manage and utilize your donor data.  

Donor Stewardship

Now that you have a donor management process in place, it’s time to engage with your donors and steward those relationships. In this guide we outline four steps you should take to craft a winning donor stewardship strategy: identify donor giving levels, identify the best stewardship activities for your organization, develop your stewardship plan, and evaluate and adjust your plan. Download the guide for a deeper dive into these steps.  

Donor Retention

Just planning how you engage with donors isn’t enough, you need to keep donor retention in mind every step of the way. In this guide we review how to calculate your donor retention rate so you can establish a baseline and determine how to weave donor retention into everything your organization does.  

Donor Reengagement

According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, donor retention is down across the board. That said, it’s important to have a reengagement strategy in place to reactivate lapsed donors. Having a donor management system like Network for Good will allow you to track supporter activity and easily engage with donors on a regular basis.

Interested in learning more about each of these elements of a standout supporter engagement strategy? Download our eGuide today to learn more!  

Published: March 28, 2023

The post Standout Supporter Engagement Strategies for New and Mature Nonprofits appeared first on Network for Good.

Wednesday, March 22nd starting at 1:00 pm ET

Many leaders of small nonprofits consider themselves to be accidental fundraisers. You didn’t join your organization to ask for money. But now, it seems like small nonprofits need to do even more to get their nonprofit noticed and bring in regular donations. You’ve evolved into the accidental marketer.  

In this conference, we’ve brought together four, amazing, female thought-leaders to help you through your challenges with marketing in fundraising. We’ll have sessions on how to create an effective email program, manage marketing with a small staff, how to better brand your nonprofit, and how to generate email leads using social media.

You’ll leave with everything you need to be a self-taught, confident marketer and fundraiser!

Session 1 – Creating a Media Plan for Less Than One Hour a Week | 1:00 to 1:30 ET

Session 2 – 4 Stages of Email Fundraising Success | 1:40 to 2:10 ET

Session 3 – How To Generate Email Leads for Less Than $0.50 Using Facebook Ads | 2:20 to 2:50 ET

Session 4 – The Branding Trick to Reach More Donors in Less Time | 3:00 to 3:30 ET

Speakers:

Alyssa Wright, Founder of Wright Collective

Vanessa Chase Lockshin, The Storytelling Nonprofit

Dana Snyder, Founder of Positive Equation

Beth Brodovsky, President of Iris Creative Group Inc.

The post Free Virtual Conference: The Accidental Marketer appeared first on Network for Good.

In fact, nonprofits get a greater return on investment with email marketing than any other online fundraising strategy.

So, how’s your email strategy? Are you effectively driving action through email? Come learn the proven strategies to increase open rate, click rate, and drive results with email marketing. You’ll walk away with a new perspective on email, helpful tools, and a path to greater fundraising results.

Speaker: Jesse Lane, Branches Mission Lab

The post Maximize Impact with the Greatest Digital Fundraising Tool: Your Email List appeared first on Network for Good.

1. It’s Accessible.

Social media is one of the most accessible ways to promote your organization’s purpose because it’s easy to set up a profile and it’s free to get started. While it will require some staff or volunteer time to establish your presence and maintain your profile, it’s still a valuable resource to build into your nonprofit marketing strategy. This free nonprofit marketing tool allows you to share your organization’s latest news and updates, promote your latest fundraising campaign, and strengthen relationships with your supporters.

2. You Can Tailor it to Your Audience. 

Because there are so many social media platforms to choose from, you have the opportunity to choose which ones make the most sense for your organization. Consider your target donor audience as well as the constituents you serve. First ask yourself, what demographics do these stakeholders fall into? Then do some research on each social media platform to see where your different audiences are engaging. If you mostly work with baby boomers, for example, then you may want to prioritize establishing a Facebook page. If you work more with millennials and Generation Z then you might decide it’s more important to establish an Instagram and a TikTok.

3. It’s a Great Relationship Builder. 

While social media is a great way to keep your existing supporters and donors updated, it’s also an incredible way to make new connections. Sharing information about the work your organization is doing will pique the interest of prospective supporters and encourage them to reach out to learn more. Plus, your existing supporters can easily share your posts with their network, attracting even more prospects. It’s also a great way to humanize and create a personality for your organization through the content you share and the interactions you have with followers. Finally, sharing donor testimonials and shout-outs allows you to recognize existing supporters while showing prospects some of the benefits of supporting your organization.

4. It Drives Traffic to Your Website and Improves SEO. 

Linking to your organization’s website in social media posts is a great way to boost traffic, and ultimately increase donations. Additionally, posting on social media could indirectly improve your organization’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO). When you include links to your website in social media posts and people share those posts, it boosts the credibility of your nonprofit’s website. Over time, as more people share those posts and create back links to your site, it could indicate to Google that your site features quality content and indirectly improve SEO—making it even easier for donors to find you when they search the web for your organization or cause

5. It’s an Extension of Your Fundraising Technology. 

As you work to create fundraising campaigns in the Network for Good platform, social media is a great way to extend your efforts to increase success. If you utilize Network for Good’s peer-to-peer fundraising features, encourage supporters who are hosting a campaign to share via social media. This will extend the reach of the campaign, make the most of your staff hours, and increase donations. For example, maybe you’re utilizing the text-to-give feature. Share your number as a quick and easy option for people to donate. And of course, share a link to your Network for Good fundraising page frequently so it’s always top of mind.

Social media is clearly a great nonprofit marketing tool to extend your reach and engage with supporters. Interested in learning more about how to get started with nonprofit social media and what kind of content to post on each platform? Download The Ultimate Nonprofit Social Media Guide to learn more.

Published: February 14, 2023

The post 5 Reasons Social Media is One of the Most Valuable Nonprofit Marketing Tools appeared first on Network for Good.

If you feel stuck on how to tell your nonprofit’s stories, you’re in good company. In this session, we’ll break down the steps to creating stories that generate movers and shakers. What’s more, we’ll explore how to tell your nonprofit’s stories with an ethical and trauma-informed lens that dignifies, respects, and protects those you serve.

Key takeaways:

• > Develop a deeper understanding of your audience
• > Learn ways to tell your organization’s incredible stories that will change the lives of those who hear them
• > How to position your nonprofit as the go-to authority in your industry
• > Gain practical tools to gather and create trauma-informed and ethical stories

Speaker: Maria Bryan, Nonprofit marketing and messaging strategist

The post Nonprofit Messaging That Breaks Through the Noise appeared first on Network for Good.