Social Media for Small Nonprofits: 10 Essential Tips for Success

If managing your nonprofit’s social media feels overwhelming, this guide is here to help. Learn essential tips for promoting your organization online and connecting with your community. Plus, discover how to easily create and publish posts across all your social platforms using smart, time-saving tools like Hookle.

Table of Contents

1. Enroll as a Nonprofit

2. Include Donation Buttons

3. Use a Content Calendar

4. Share Stories

5. Use AI Tools to Create Posts

6. Create Hashtag Campaigns

7. Connect with Your Local Audience

8. Post on Your Followers’ Preferred Platforms

9. Use a Social Media Scheduling App

10. Review Analytics Regularly

Bonus Tip: Manage All Your Socials Easily with One App

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Social media marketing is one of the most affordable and impactful ways for nonprofits to connect with their audiences, raise awareness for their causes, and inspire action.

Small actions on social media can create big waves of change

However, creating an engaging social media presence can be challenging - especially with so many voices competing for attention online. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help. Let’s dive into the tips!

1. Enroll as a Nonprofit

If you run a charity or another nonprofit, be sure to enroll as a nonprofit when creating your social media accounts. Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Pinterest all offer these options for organizations like yours.

Enrolling as a nonprofit adds validity to your group. It also provides access to dedicated resources that help you maximize your presence on specific platforms.

2. Include Donation Buttons

Facebook and Instagram also allow nonprofits to add donation buttons to their posts. If you’re trying to raise money for a specific cause, donation buttons make it easy for your followers to contribute.

By removing barriers to entry and simplifying the donation process, you’ll be amazed at how many more contributions you receive.

Example: Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary has a dedicated page (with a prominent donation button) for people who want to give money to elderly dogs in need.

3. Use a Content Calendar

Working for a nonprofit often means long hours, tight budgets, and even tighter schedules. If you find yourself skipping social media content creation and posting because you have too many other things on your plate, consider using a content calendar.

Planning content in advance helps you know what to post and when

Planning content in advance helps you know what to post and when. It also ensures you don’t miss holidays or other important dates for people interested in causes like yours.

4. Share Stories

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect with potential donors, volunteers, and others who may want to support your organization.

Ask people who have worked with your nonprofit in the past to share their experiences and talk about how you helped to make a difference in their lives. You can also interview a long-time volunteer, so your followers can learn about the organization from their perspective.

Example: Time to Change Campaign regularly shares stories about the importance of small conversations on mental health.

5. Use AI Tools to Create Posts

Nonprofits can use AI tools such as ChatGPT to create high-quality social posts that save time and resources, generate content ideas, and suggest hashtags. This enables them to deliver meaningful messages, engage their audience, and drive support for their cause.

AI-powered social media marketing apps like Hookle enable small nonprofit organizations to not only generate but also schedule posts with a simple click of a button.

Generating social media posts with AI may sound daunting, but trying it out can bring surprising results. Don't be intimidated by the technology - give it a try and see the benefits it can bring to your social media strategy!

6. Create Hashtag Campaigns

Hashtags help people find content on social media. They also help people feel that they’re part of something bigger than themselves and can encourage your followers to spread awareness of your organization.

Hashtags help people find content on social media

Example: Know Your Lemons (a global nonprofit supporting breast cancer education) uses the popular #KnowYourLemons hashtag.

7. Connect with Your Local Audience

Don’t forget about the power of local tools (like your free Google Business Profile) to connect with people in your area and get them excited about supporting your organization.

Claim your profile free today and start updating it with photos, answers to frequently asked questions, and other content that encourages interest in your nonprofit.

8. Post on Your Followers’ Preferred Platforms

Think about the people you’re trying to reach with your nonprofit. Then, consider which platforms they use most often. This blog post might help you choose the right platform for your nonprofit.

If you want to support professionals (or encourage them to support others), make sure you’re present on LinkedIn. If you want to encourage more young people to support your cause, up your TikTok game.

9. Use a Social Media Scheduling App

A social media scheduling app, especially combined with a content calendar, is an excellent way to save time without sacrificing your social media presence. Use these kinds of apps (such as Hookle above) to plan what and when you want to post and ensure you stick to a consistent schedule.

10. Review Analytics Regularly

Pay attention to your post and social media profile analytics. Find out what posts receive the most attention and learn about the types of people who follow your profiles. This data will help you tailor your content to your target audience.

Manage All Your Socials Easily with One App

Effective social media marketing for nonprofits starts with a solid strategy. Use the ten tips above to create a plan that helps you reach potential donors, volunteers, and supporters who care about your mission.

With Hookle, you can manage all your social media accounts in one place

To save time and stay consistent, use social media management tools like Hookle. With Hookle, you can manage all your social media accounts and Google Business Profile in one app - generate posts effortlessly, and schedule or publish content across multiple platforms at once.

Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself. Download Hookle free today and see how easy social media marketing can be!