5 Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits

By Sharlize Lescano, Account Supervisor

In today’s digital landscape, social media can act as a powerful tool for storytelling and community building. Nonprofit organizations can use social media to share information, connect with supporters, and reach new audiences despite geographical barriers. The trick is to use social media effectively, which can be difficult for a nonprofit already stretched thin in resources. That’s why in today’s blog, I’m sharing five cost-effective tips to help elevate your social media strategy. 

Tip #1: Aim for Quality Over Quantity

One common mistake that many nonprofits make is that they try to churn out as much social media content as possible to increase visibility, but in the process, they lose out on quality. It’s always better to post one or two relevant posts each week than ten posts that are subpar or rushed. Prioritizing high-value content over volume or frequency will go a long way to building credibility and boosting engagement. 

Tip #2: Use Call To Actions

When it comes to social media, a strong call to action (CTA) is essential to spurring followers to take action, whether that be donating, volunteering, or sharing a post. It’s best to keep CTAs basic and direct so that readers know exactly what you’re looking for. Powerful words like “now” and “today” will help create a sense of urgency and encourage your audience to do something immediately. And never underestimate the power of adding whitespace around CTAs, as it can help draw the viewer’s attention to them. 

Tip #3: Use Hashtags Strategically

Not all social media platforms are created equal, which is why nonprofits should test the number of hashtags used in their posts (fewer hashtags vs. more) to see if they notice a difference in post engagement or reach. In general, popular hashtags on social media should always be balanced with niche hashtags—those with smaller followings yet more relevancy. While hashtags can help with discoverability, it’s important not to overuse them, as this can cause more harm than good. 

Tip #4: Get Engaged 

One way to build meaningful relationships with other people and organizations is by interacting with them. Consider resharing like-minded organizations’ posts, tagging them in content that is relevant, or reacting and replying to your followers’ comments. Not only will these actions increase your posts’ reach and visibility, but they will also help you gain and retain loyal supporters by making them feel seen and heard online.

Tip #5: Leverage the Power of Giving Tuesday 

Giving Tuesday is one of the biggest annual fundraising events for nonprofits. Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday sets new donation records each year and gets billions of impressions on social media. Even if your organization doesn’t reach its fundraising goal on Giving Tuesday, it’s still a great opportunity to engage with new audiences and raise awareness of your mission. To be successful, it’s vital that nonprofits start preparing their social media strategy for Giving Tuesday well in advance. Tools like Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Canva are perfect for creating content calendars and planning ahead. 

When it comes to creating content on social media, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But taking the time to implement the tips above and understand what works best for your nonprofit will certainly put you on the right path to success.