25 Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits To Increase Engagement

Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat…

You’ll find the world compressed and packed into these social media platforms. These channels are our go-to solutions for everything - shopping, information, fun, business, and profession. It’s no surprise that everyone is leveraging the features of social media to their advantage. Businesses rely on the power of social media for marketing. For nonprofits, these channels can serve as a platform to raise awareness, attract the right audience, and garner support for their causes and mission. 

But the catch is that you have to plan strategies to harness the power of social media. Start with a strategy and, most importantly, do it right. It can help maximize the impact exponentially. In this blog, we’ll tell you 25 social media strategies for nonprofits to increase engagement. But first, let us understand the benefits of social media and the best platforms for nonprofits to implement these strategies.      

Benefits of social media for nonprofits

The benefits of social media platforms for businesses are widely known. Today, let us study how nonprofits can specifically benefit from being active on social media platforms. 

Raising funds

Social media platforms offer various fundraising tools, such as donation buttons and crowdfunding options, making it easier for nonprofits to collect funds online.

Increasing brand awareness

Social media is an effective platform for advocating for social and policy change. Nonprofits can mobilize their followers to support and promote fundraiser events on social media, encouraging them to take action.

Educating people about causes

Nonprofits can engage in direct and instant communication with their audience to educate them about their cause. This allows for real-time interactions, addressing questions, and responding to feedback promptly, building stronger connections.

Recruiting volunteers

Nonprofits can use social media to recruit volunteers, board members, and staff. It's a platform to share opportunities and connect with those passionate about the cause.

Growing donor base

With social media, nonprofits can extend their reach far beyond their local communities. This global reach enables them to connect with supporters and partners from diverse backgrounds and locations and grow their donor base.

What are the best social media platforms for nonprofits?

There are many social media platforms to help you gain increased awareness about your causes. Each platform is unique and has distinctive features. Leverage them to their full potential to achieve your conversion goals.

Facebook

This Meta platform, Facebook, has a massive user base, making it an excellent choice for nonprofits to reach a diverse audience. Use its features, like the Donate button, to collect funds directly. You can also use this platform to promote fundraisers, events, and awareness campaigns.

X (formerly Twitter)

X is perfect for sharing real-time updates, news, and in-trend conversations. You can make effective use of hashtags to amplify your message. This platform is best when you need to gather support for emergency relief efforts, disaster management, and more.

Instagram

Instagram is focused on visual content. It is great for nonprofits to tell compelling stories through images and videos. It's particularly effective for engaging younger audiences who are drawn to visual content and stories.

LinkedIn

This is a great platform for connecting with professionals, potential partners, and donors. Nonprofits can establish themselves as thought leaders in their field by sharing industry insights and updates. It’s also an excellent platform to recruit skilled volunteers or brand members. 

YouTube

YouTube is the go-to platform for sharing long-form content in the form of impactful videos, documentaries, educational content, success stories, and in-depth information about your mission and causes.

Pinterest

This platform is excellent for sharing visually appealing content and creating pins that offer guides or infographics related to your causes.

TikTok

For nonprofits looking to engage with a younger and trend-focused audience, TikTok's short-form videos can be highly effective. Participating in trending challenges or starting your own buzz can help your content quickly go viral.

Snapchat

Like TikTok, Snapchat is popular among younger users. Use it to share your nonprofit’s daily activities and events. Create custom geofilters for events and fundraisers to boost brand visibility.

Reddit

Reddit hosts numerous niche communities (subreddits) where nonprofits can connect with people who are passionate about their cause. Nonprofits can conduct Ask Me Anything (AMAs) to answer questions and provide insights about their work. 

WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger

These messaging apps enable one-on-one or group chats with supporters, donors, and volunteers. Choosing the right social media platforms for your nonprofit depends on your target audience, mission, and resources. An effective strategy may involve a combination of these platforms to maximize your impact and engagement with supporters.

25 effective social media strategies to increase engagement  

Nonprofits need well-defined plans and approaches to achieve their objectives through the use of social media platforms. Here, we outline 25 social media strategies for nonprofits. These strategies help them harness the power of social media channels to effectively engage with their target audience, build brand awareness, drive website traffic, generate leads, and accomplish the desired outcomes. 

1. Set clear goals: Any strategy, whether it is for SEO or social media, starts with defined goals. Plan specific, measurable, short-term objectives for your social media campaigns. Whether it's increasing donations, volunteer sign-ups, or awareness, having clear goals keeps your efforts focused. Also, evaluate the social media strategies and performance of competitors to identify opportunities and areas for improvement.
2. Know your audience: Get to know who your audience is and what they like. Find out who they are, what their interests are, and what their issues are, so you can create content that resonates with them. It also helps you choose the most suitable social media platforms to achieve your organization's goals.
3. Craft a compelling story: Spread the word about your mission and what you stand for by telling stories that people will relate to. Emotional language, eye-catching visuals, and touching stories are all great ways to make people feel something.
4. Use visuals: High-quality visual content like images and videos captures more attention. People are more likely to remember information presented in a visual format compared to plain text. Moreover, visuals have the ability to evoke emotions, making your cause more relatable.
5. Consistent branding: Maintain a consistent visual identity across all platforms for brand recognition. Use the same colors, fonts, and logos to reinforce your nonprofit's identity and build trust.
6. Social media profile optimization: Optimize your social media channel account by crafting a compelling profile bio or description using keywords relevant to your cause. Additionally, make sure to use high-quality, recognizable profile and cover photos. Complete all available profile fields, including contact information and website links, making it easy for supporters to connect and learn more about your organization.
7. Utilize hashtags: Use hashtags that are relevant to your niche to enhance the visibility of your content. Identify trending hashtags and utilize them in a strategic manner.
8. Engage in trends: Participate in trending conversations when relevant to your cause. Leveraging trends can boost your visibility and relevance.
9. Share educational content: Educate your audience about the issues you're addressing. Use informative posts, articles, and videos to raise awareness and understanding.
10. Tell success stories: Highlight the positive impact of your work on individuals or communities. Share real success stories that showcase the difference your nonprofit makes.
11. Live streaming: Engage your audience in real-time through live streaming of events and updates. Live videos create a sense of immediacy and encourage active participation.
12. Run contests: Organize contests to encourage user-generated content and engagement. Contests can be a fun and creative way to involve your audience and create buzz. 
13. Share testimonials: Feature testimonials from beneficiaries or supporters to build trust. Authentic testimonials add credibility to your nonprofit's work.
14. Host webinars: Educational webinars can establish your organization as an expert in your field. Offer valuable insights and solutions to the issues you're tackling.
15. Celebrate milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements with your followers. Milestone posts demonstrate progress and motivate continued support.
16. Volunteer spotlights: Highlight the dedication of your volunteers and staff. Recognizing their contributions fosters a sense of belonging and appreciation.
17. Share behind-the-scenes content: Offer a glimpse into your organization's day-to-day operations. Transparency builds trust with your audience.
18. Engage in conversations: Respond to comments and messages as soon as possible to establish a feeling of community. Show that you value your audience's input and engage in meaningful dialog. Also, prepare for crisis management. Respond to negative situations that may arise on social media, such as addressing customer complaints or handling public relations issues.
19. Collaborate with influencers: Partner with influencers who align with your cause to expand your reach. Influencers can bring authenticity and a broader audience to your nonprofit.
20. Use ad campaigns: Spend money on targeted social media advertisements to reach a larger audience. Paid advertising can help you reach specific demographics and locations effectively.
21. Cross-promote with partners: Collaborate with other nonprofits and partners for broader exposure. Joint efforts can amplify your message and expand your reach.
22. Advocacy campaigns: Mobilize your followers to support policy changes or social causes. Promote fundraiser events on social media, drive social change, and inspire action.
23. Express gratitude: Regularly thank your supporters for their contributions by tagging them in your posts. Gratitude reinforces your appreciation and strengthens donor relationships.
24. Content calendar: Plan your posts in advance to ensure a steady stream of content. A content calendar helps you stay organized and ensures you have a diverse mix of content.
25. Track analytics: Monitor your social media performance to adjust your strategy as needed. Analyze metrics like engagement, reach, and conversions to refine your approach.

Wrapping Up

The role of social media channels in today’s digital world is undeniable because they help nonprofits achieve their specific goals, whether maximizing awareness, attracting more supporters, or boosting donations. 

If you want support to achieve your fundraising goals, we can help. GivingX is a custom fundraising software that you can use to create your donation landing pages and forms to maximize your impact online.

Do you want your nonprofit to not just be visible online but also influential in driving positive change and support for your cause? Sign up for GivingX today.