This document provides 10 tips for nonprofits to engage donors and supporters through social media. It discusses using different platforms for different goals, such as Facebook for learning and Instagram for quick updates. It also recommends communicating the nonprofit's mission through stories and photos, interacting with followers, capitalizing on events and celebrities, and leveraging friends' networks for sharing. The tips are based on insights from Habitat for Humanity and a focus group of social media-savvy millennials.

1. 10 social media tips for nonprofits
to further engagement

2. Social media is changing the way
we give to charity
Engage and re-engage
donors and volunteers
Educate the public
Encourage dialogue and
participation
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3. Case in point:
Changing the way we give to charity
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The 2014 ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge raised
over $230M + ALS awareness
• Contributions staying 25% higher
• Donor base broadened to a
younger generation
• Financed discovery of a new gene
as a cause ofALS
Reasons for success
Competition element,
peer-to-peer aspect,
celebrity participation
were all delivered via
social media

4. Be meaningful and effective
INSIGHTS FROM
Habitat for Humanity
international senior VP of
marketing and communications
Chris Clarke
and a
social media-savvy millennials
focus group
Help your organization
leverage social media to stay
relevant, creative and
engaging
Read the article Furthering
Engagement Through Creative
Use of Social Media
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5. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 1
Communicate your mission
with stories and pictures.
Photos, videos and stories that
are uplifting and inspirational,
and show success are received
more positively, with greater likes
and shares.

6. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 2
Use different tools for
different goals.
Benefits vary by platform
For example:
FB for understanding + learning
Instagram for quick check-ins
Twitter for engaging questions +
hosted parties
Pinterest for project ideas

7. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 3
One post should
accomplish one goal.
Per Habitat's Chris Clarke,
motivate people to:
• Like
• Take action
or
• Donate

8. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 4
Interact with your
followers.
Make it a two-way dialogue.
Habitat promptly responds to
questions and thanks users for
positive comments.

9. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 5
Stay clear of ads and direct
donation requests.
Viewers tend to skim over posts
resembling ads and direct pleas
for donations.
See the full report
The State of the Not-for-Profit Sector in 2017

10. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 6
Capitalize on celebrities,
milestones and events.
Post about celebrity volunteers
and mission achievements, and
events like #GivingTuesday.
Keep in mind:
Many viewers follow people
rather than organizations.
See the full report
The State of the Not-for-Profit Sector in 2017

11. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 7
Have a plan, but be ready
to adjust it.
The Habitat social-digital team
develops steady content and
photos, responds quickly to
questions and comments, and
updates news stories to reflect
current events.

12. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 8
Know your target market’s
platform choices.
Understand platform
demographics to engage your
target market.
For example:
Instagram + Snapchat
for millennials
FB and LI for baby boomers

13. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 9
Stay on or ahead of the
curve.
Be constantly active and relevant.
Check out and use tools as they
become popular.
For example:
FB live event posts
Twitter parties
Snapchat Spectacles

14. Be meaningful and effective
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No. 10
Leverage the power of
friends and connections.
Promote sharing and friendly
competition. Links from friends
are often more successful
than direct contact from
organizations.

15. Requirements of successful social media
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• Keep track of posts and activities that have worked for
your organization
• Monitor those of other organizations that have gained
positive attention
• Use creative and fresh thinking
• Be aware of ever-changing tools and trends
• Send out a message only if you'd personally share it
with your own friends

16. Read the article
Furthering Engagement Through
Creative Use of Social Media
See the full report
The State of the Not-for-Profit
Sector in 2017

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