Social media for nonprofits is a great way to share your story and spread information across a wide range of businesses, organizations, and industries. Social media helps build relationships, create and organize small groups, and even improve programs and services. (4 Ways Social Media is Changing the Non-Profit World, Beth Kanter)
But, when using social media as a way to communicate and engage, it is important to follow special social media guidelines, different from a normal business. Nonprofits using social media have to be aware of sensitive information and what they disclose to the public. Creating a social media policy will help manage what is being shared, who is sharing the content, and to whom the message is being shared.
Creating a nonprofit social media policy requires discussion within the organization to determine the specific guidelines you wish to follow and who will be the manager of the profiles you wish to create. Many resources are provided to help you create and learn about a social media policy for a nonprofit organization. Here are some to get you started:
- Networked Nonprofits Have Social Cultures
- How to Write a Social Media Policy
- Beth’s Blog – Social Media Policy
- A Social Media Policy: Better To Have One Now Than Later
- 10 Must-Haves for Your Social Media Policy
- Social Media, Risk, and Policies for Associations
- Social Media Governance database of 150+ social media policies
If you’re not sure if social media is the right step for your nonprofit organization or if you want to ensure its success, here are some useful resources:
- 4 Tips for Non-Profit Social Media Success
- How Non-Profits Are Using Social Media
- Infographic: How the Top 50 Nonprofits Do Social Media
- 10 Way Non-Profits Can Benefit From Social Media
How does your nonprofit organization use social media? Do you have a social media policy in place?
