What nonprofits should know about social media

Here are 5 Myths About Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations from the Good Counsel blog:

1. Social media is a great way to fundraise.
2. Social media will get people to do something for us or drive more traffic to our website.
3. A nonprofit's 'follower' numbers directly translates in to memberships, dollars in the door or increased event attendance.
4. Social media will fix all the problems, and is a great strategy for nonprofits.
5. Social media is a fad, and we can just ignore it until it goes away.

I half-way agree with #5. Actually, for fundraising purposes, social media is largely a fad (actually several rising and falling fads), but it would be foolish to just ignore it. Social media in some form is likely to become much more than a fad, possibly even a great medium for raising funds. Pay attention, because the switch is likely to be subtle and quick.

Comments

[Dania Toscano Miwa]

Jeff,

Thanks for your link to my post, and your additional comments. I agree that social media for fundraising has many rising and falling currents (I remember when the causes page was the best thing since sliced cheese!) However, I have talked to groups who believe they can just ignore the whole social media world entirely and not worry about where their donors (or potential donors) are. That is my opinion is sorely misinformed.

Dania

[Dania Toscano Miwa]

Whoops. Let's pretend I spell checked that last comment. Last sentence SHOULD read. "That IN my opinion is sorely misinformed." I'd like to think that my opinion itself isn't sorely misinformed.

Dania

[EyeBrand]

Not so sure I agree. While social is not the be all - end all, it is a critical piece of an overall fundraising strategy.

While social media can help with awareness and with networking, the biggest plus is that people are lazy. In today's world, we tend not to talk to people. We email or use other electronic ways to communicate, share and for e-commerce.

Fundraising is e-commerce. By offering an easy way to offer contributions via social media, we meet the needs of a younger demographic who tends to gravitate towards social media and being mobile.

When is the last time someone under 30 wrote a check?

Social should definitely be part of the strategy. No matter what social looks like today or tomorrow.

Twitter: @eyebrand