CharityVillage® Research: Not-for-profits using social media

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Not-for-profits using social media
By Paulette Vinette, CAE
February 15, 2010

In last month’s 3-Question survey, we asked which social media tools readers are using: Facebook and Twitter both were selected by 88% of respondents. YouTube was chosen by 55.6%; LinkedIn by 44.4% and Delicious by 11.1%.
Under "other" readers wrote “Animoto, Blog, Ning, Blogger, Eventful, Vimeo, Issuu, Wordpress, and Posterous.
When asked what purpose they are using social media for, they told us:

Promote our organization - 83.3%

For personal use - 61.1%

Attract new members - 55.6%

Increase event registration - 44.4%

Receive donations - 33.3%

Attract youth support - 27.8%
Other uses:

Research

Networking

Prospecting

Volunteer and staff communications

Public awareness/education

Promote a cause

Provide knowledge and research to other not-for-profits

Build fundraisers vs. donors (support network +)

The third question asked what percentage of your total operating budget is used on social media, they answered:

Comments included:

Our communications department updates Twitter; the president maintains his blog, alumni maintain Facebook; and an online giving platform that is $1 million plus is underwritten by a vendor/friend of university.

All volunteer time and effort

Costs associated with producing a PSA and online advertising

All staff time
We found lots of information by searching "Social media for nonprofits." For example, we found a fact-filled powerpoint - click here. Don’t forget to search on CharityVillage too.
Next 3-question survey: NFP work conditions
Our next 3-question survey asks about your work conditions - click here or paste http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8CT5SBT into your browsers. Survey deadline is March 6, 2010.
Paulette is President of Solution Studio Inc., a consulting practice that serves the not-for-profit association community. Paulette co-authored two manuscripts on risk management & not-for-profit organizations and regularly conducts risk management, strategic planning and board development workshops. She can be reached at 1-877-787-7714 or Paulette@solutionstudioinc.com.