Social Media for Nonprofits: 20 Tactical Campaign Tips

At the heart of every volunteer-based nonprofit lies an unyielding passion to make a difference. Yet, without the full-time dedication of paid staff, these organizations often face unique challenges in raising awareness and garnering support for their causes.

In this tactical guide, we’ll walk through the transformative potential of social media in your marketing strategy, exploring how all kinds of volunteer groups — historical societies, Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, arts, community service, foundations, women and gender issues, environmental and other membership based organizations — can leverage digital platforms to create a powerful ripple effect. Which social media platforms are best to use for your nonprofit, and how can you create content that resonates on each one? Let’s explore.

1. Give a Behind the Scenes Look at Your Cause

Share a video or photo series of volunteers in action during a community project. This gives you a chance to showcase the work that goes into what you do, introduce volunteers with short bios and highlight their contributions. Use Instagram or Facebook Stories to offer small glimpses of the day-to-day of your group.

2. Make Good Use of Hashtags

Create a unique and memorable hashtag or series of hashtags for your cause and encourage supporters to use it when sharing their experiences or participating in events. Also, don’t be afraid to utilize trending and relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your posts to connect with a broader audience. Run a hashtag campaign by asking followers to share their favorite moments from an event or their reasons for supporting your cause using the designated hashtag.

3. Share Bite-Sized Impact Updates on Twitter and Threads

Using Twitter or Instagram’s newer Threads counterpart, regularly post short updates about ongoing projects, partnerships or milestones. Share impactful statistics of quotes related to your cause, and use the Twitter polls feature to engage followers and gather feedback.

4. Share Statistics with Infographics

Design and share infographics (using a free tool like Canva if budget is of concern) that visually represent key statistics, achievements, or facts related to your cause. Break down complex information into easily digestible visual elements to enhance understanding and retention.

5. Create Virtual Volunteer Challenges

Volunteer challenges have been popular for ages. It’s time to bring them into the digital age. Launch virtual challenges that supporters can participate in from anywhere. This could be a virtual 5K, a fundraising challenge or a community service project. Encourage participants to share their experiences and progress on social media using your hashtag.

6. Post Engaging Volunteer Spotlights

You don’t have to wait for Volunteer Week to highlight the stories of individual volunteers to showcase their connection to your cause. Interview the volunteer or conduct a Q&A, allowing them to share their experiences and motivations. The logic here is that there’s nothing like the personal touch of seeing someone else supporting something to motivate the next person. Create a dedicated section onyour website or social media profiles to feature volunteers.

7. Create a Behind-the-Scenes Series for TikTok

Share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your nonprofit’s day-to-day in a series of short, engaging TikTok videos. Using this popular channel can really help your nonprofit social media strategy. Feature different team members, showcasing their role or contributions. Find a trending TikTok template and have your team of volunteers help you create the short form video.

8. Evoke Feeling with Inspirational Quotes and Messages

Share uplifting messages that align with the values of your group or association. This could be a saying from your founder, a heartfelt thank-you from one of your beneficiaries, or an inspirational quote that moves people to action. Design visually appealing quote graphics to make these messages stand out and easily shareable.

9. Create Events that are “Gram-Worthy” and “Pinnable”

Create visually appealing backdrops at your events that prompt people to take photos and share them on Instagram (“the Gram”). Post visually appealing images and graphics and utilize Pinterest and Instagram. Test out Instagram’s carousel feature to share a series of images, or Reels to create short, engaging videos that capture attention while conveying your message.

10. Develop Interactive Quizzes and Puzzles

A quiz related to your cause or organization’s history can really get peoples’ minds moving! Use the polls feature of Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to gather opinions on initiatives or events.

11. Start a User-Generated Content Campaign

Create a campaign encouraging followers to submit their own content, such as photos, artwork, stories or testimonials. Showcase the best of these submissions on your social media channels to celebrate your community.

12. Collaborate with Influencers

If there are relevant, well-known personalities in your community or who support your cause, invite them to share their stories or even take over your social media accounts for a day. Give them creative freedom with their social media posts; you never know if they will hit on something new that might resonate with your audience.

13. Celebrate Milestones & Anniversaries

Recognizing and celebrating significant events are important for nonprofits. This might be the group’s founding anniversary or the completion of a major project. You can use Stories to create a series of teasers leading up to the milestone, and then engage followers in the full celebration across all social platforms.

14. Create Educational Quick Tips Content

Keeping things short can be a game changer when it comes to using social media for your nonprofit campaigns. Craft concise and engaging tips on key issues or initiatives that can impart valuable knowledge and spark conversation. This can amplify your nonprofit’s impact and foster an informed community that is inspired to take action.

15. Post Around the Calendar

Tailor your content to align with seasonal themes or holidays, connecting your cause to broader conversations. At MoneyMinder, we like to celebrate all of the holidays, no matter how silly they may seem at first glance. From “World Kindness Day” to “Have a Party With Your Bear Day”, it’s good to have your finger on the pulse of the holidays that might resonate with your cause.

16. Share Impactful Testimonials

It’s really hard to beat the impact of a heartfelt testimonial from an individual in your community who is positively impacted by your organization. Encourage supporters to submit their testimonials or stories about how they became involved and benefitted from the cause.

17. Hold an Live, Interactive Q&A

Host live Q&A sessions on platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live or LinkedIn Live Events where followers can ask questions. Use the opportunity to provide in-depth insights into your group’s work. Bring on other volunteers or stakeholders to give varying perspectives to the live social media event for your nonprofit.

18. Create a Snapchat Challenge

Create and promote a challenge related to your cause, asking followers to participate and share their challenge videos. Feature the best submissions in future Snapchat Stories or other social media channels.

19. Spotlight Board Members and Volunteers on LinkedIn

Create a series of LinkedIn posts that highlight the backgrounds, expertise, or work done by a volunteer. Feature short interviews or write-ups along with a photo about their role in your organization.

20. Hold a Virtual Workshop Series Using Facebook Events

Host a webinar or virtual series on an important topic related to your cause. This could be anything from an information session about a local initiative that could impact your group to an annual planning session for parents. Create a Facebook Event for your workshop to provide detailed information and encourage participants to RSVP.