Five Ways Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers

With all of the buzz about social media nonprofit organizations cannot afford to miss the boat. Social media connects nonprofits to volunteers easily and affordably. Tragically, few charities know how to use blogs or other networking opportunities such as Facebook or Twitter effectively. Underutilizing these resources can make nonprofits lose out in terms of both funding and connecting with volunteers.

Take the recent Haiti disaster for example. This was the first time that social media allowed connections to be made on a large scale. When the disaster struck people immediately began turning to blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other networking sites looking for ways to help and stay informed. Impromptu yard sales, fundraising efforts and health kits were organized on a local level. The help was able to be sent to Haiti because of the powerful networking by volunteers using social media sites.

So how is it that social media connects nonprofits with volunteers? There are a myriad of ways. The type of networking tools that are used will vary with the expertise of the nonprofit. Briefly, we outline a few types of social media and ways that they can be dilapidated to connect.

Blogs – Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers

Perhaps the easiest map to connect with or recruit volunteers is by using a blog. Two of the popular free blogging sites are Blogger and WordPress. In just a few minutes your nonprofit agency can be online. Signing up and updating are easy. Nonprofits can quickly post information about any event that volunteers need to know about. Fundraisers, office needs, outreach and awareness opportunities can all be posted.

Twitter – Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers

Uses for connecting through Twitter are endless. A nonprofit can remind board members about meetings. Keep volunteers updated if weather forces an event change or cancellation. Remind board members about meetings, changes of residence or times.

Go to the Twitter website and follow the prompts to set up an account. Charities can choose to update the account by text messages sent from a cell phone or by accessing the account online.

Updates must be 140 characters or less. Volunteers, who are on Twitter can go to their accounts, type in the ID for the charity to start receiving (following) tweets. Messages (called tweets) will go out to anyone who has chosen to receive the messages from the nonprofit on Twitter.

Maps – Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers
Although this is not necessarily social media it is an easy and helpful tool to use. Go to Google Maps and plug in the address of the event. Click the link for “embed map” and paste that information to your blog or send it by email directly to the volunteers who are helping.

Facebook – Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers
It seems that everyone is on Facebook these days. Your nonprofit should be too. As with most forms of social media setting up an account is lickety-split and easy. Volunteers who want to be a fraction of the nonprofit’s Facebook presence can inquire to be added as a friend. The nonprofit can choose to add the person or not. As with Twitter, updates can be posted via text message from a cell phone or can be done online.

Ning- Social Media Connects Nonprofits to Volunteers
On Ning, a nonprofit can create a network that lets volunteers plan and discuss needs with nonprofit staff. Here you can create discussion boards where messages can be exchanged, post pictures or even video clips of events or volunteer activities. This platform can be good for event planning, posting volunteer needs or to just keep volunteers informed.

Volunteers can’t help a nonprofit if they aren’t kept informed of the needs. Social media offers connects nonprofits with volunteers in easy formats that don’t hold lots of time to manage.

Source:
Personal Experience
Blogger
WordPress
Twitter
Ning
Google Maps