Don’t Just Be A Transaction: If all you do is use social media to hit me up for cash, how are you any different than any other nonprofit that contacts me? I’ll hit the delete button on you before you can say, “online giving.” Don’t be lazy and think that putting out an electronic ask is all you have to do for a fundraising strategy.
Isn’t Something Better Than Nothing: That depends. Do you want spare change or an ongoing investment in your organization and mission? If you hit someone up for an online money grab, they might give you $5 or $10 dollars. It’s a reasonable transaction for many. But who’s to say that they wouldn’t have given you more, if you had taken the time to use social media to tell them more about your organization. And while I may give you five bucks, does that give me a false sense that my gift has just solved a major problem?
Use social media to take the potential donor into your world and let them know why you are important. Many people have no idea what exactly you do and why it’s critical to your community. They just know that you do, “good stuff.” By highlighting your mission, your successes, your staff, and volunteers you can become known as the nonprofit that does good work and gets things done.
With more and more people using tools like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, can you afford to not take advantage of this chance to connect with your supporters? Make me develop a habit of wanting to learn interesting things about you and how my support is making a difference. If you do this, you’ll lock in my support.
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Posted by Ken Okel 
