![\"Download](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/53\/3dc1dfd9-2cb4-4498-8c57-19dbb5671820.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAll under a limited marketing budget. If you\u2019re wondering how to pull this off, keep reading.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n How do you tell your story as a nonprofit to attract either donors or engaged audiences? A website alone won\u2019t do. Nobody googles NGOs to make a contribution or become a follower unless they already know you. That means SEO isn\u2019t your winning strategy.<\/p>\n But social media is.<\/p>\n 70% of donors visit a nonprofit’s social media profiles before making a gift, as Bloomerang found<\/a>. But let\u2019s leave fundraising aside for a moment. Social media is a powerful means to inspire supporters and get your organization discovered by new audiences.<\/p>\n Viral video content on TikTok is your go-to tool. Organizations can build a following exponentially by creating moving or funny content.<\/p>\n An example is a Spotlight Humanity video gathering 1.1M views. The video is quite simple \u2014 just a little deed that means a whole life to a child.<\/p>\n LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Instagram \u2014 all foster two-way communication and keep audiences linked to a cause. It also opens new doors for networking with influential backers.<\/p>\n For example, TeemTreas, a collaborative fundraising campaign launched by YouTube star MrBeast, planted 20+ million trees. The initiative found its supporters across different social media platforms.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The biggest fear of a supporter is that money will be spent somewhere else. Creating open annual reports with all incoming and spent funds by articles gives immense transparency to an NGO of any size.<\/p>\n Next, you create a series of social media posts where you share your numbers and beneficiaries\u2019 stories.<\/p>\n Facebook and Instagram offer special tools and solutions for nonprofits<\/a> to send more givers to your website or raise money directly on Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n How did I discover a foundation to fundraise for? Through their Instagram account, namely Reels. How do we gather volunteers to remove debris or help distribute food kits?<\/p>\n Guess the answer. Social media campaigns.<\/p>\n We even hired a few team members who DM\u2019d our Instagram account and offered their help as volunteers.<\/p>\n Media content is the best way to connect with change-makers and create a better world.<\/p>\n The simplest example is clean-up campaigns.<\/p>\n Bonus:<\/strong> You\u2019re becoming a recognized thought leader in a chosen sector, therefore, boosting brand awareness on a local and global level. Members of your organization will be offered interviews and broadcasts.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n At District #1 Foundation, a nonprofit I\u2019m part of, we use YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram as our prime channels. However, we will soon be launching TikTok as well. I joined the organization in its first year and needed its solid online presence to communicate with potential donors.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide to social media strategy development that you can follow for your own organization.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t stretch yourself thin and create all possible content at once. Select your three desired outcomes you want to achieve first and build up a strategy around.<\/p>\n I recommend starting with:<\/p>\n While chasing these goals, you\u2019ll automatically drive more traffic to your website and build a community of like-minded people.<\/p>\n Secondly, turn these goals into measurable, time-bound objectives.<\/p>\n Example: <\/em><\/strong>Grow our Instagram engagement rate to 1.5% and add 1,000 new followers by June 2025. Raise $3,000 to buy equipment for clean-ups. Engage two influencers in the initiative by June 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n Once you have it, develop your ICP (an ideal customer profile) that you want to attract. Use HubSpot\u2019s ICP Worksheet<\/a> to find best-fit supporters.<\/p>\n Before you write a single caption or cue up a reel, get clear on who you\u2019re talking to. Then, speak in their language.<\/p>\n Donors fund the mission \u2014 they want to feel the real impact.<\/p>\n Volunteers give their time \u2014 they need a reason to show up.<\/p>\n Advocates and influencers carry your message \u2014 they thrive on stories worth sharing.<\/p>\n Each one needs different content.<\/p>\n Tip:<\/strong> Different age groups prefer different platforms. Gen Z may be more active on TikTok or Instagram Reels, while Gen X leans toward Facebook.<\/p>\n Use a free buyer persona generator<\/a> to understand shared and unique traits of your audiences.<\/p>\n This is your goldmine of thought-provoking, funny, touching, and entertaining campaigns to inspire your content strategy.<\/p>\n Start by analyzing local charitable initiatives and organizations, and look up their social media. Take notes of top-performing posts and make assumptions about why they worked out.<\/p>\n Pay attention to the audience segment a post was created for.<\/p>\n Here, you want to get ideas for attracting volunteers and micro-influencers.<\/p>\n How to find such initiatives? Google charitable organizations registered in your city or country, or use hashtags on social media.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Examples:<\/em><\/strong> #AnimalRescue + #Seattle, #HomelessOutreach + #Philly, #LAvolunteers, #BeachCleanup, #ForYou, #donate.<\/em><\/p>\n Tip: <\/strong>Use ChatGPT Model 4o to generate relevant hashtags.<\/p>\n Plan your content pillars. These are categories of posts you’ll rotate between.<\/p>\n Videos of beneficiaries, their before and after, or clips taken from the field. This content format is perfect for TikTok and Instagram Reels, as well as for paid ads. It can also be a carousel post.<\/p>\n And remember, your videos shouldn\u2019t always be of superior quality. They must convey emotions and the reality on top of anything else. Look at the post below from an animal shelter rescue from Gaza.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n These are primarily staff intros and daily team activities, from the office and the field.<\/p>\n Posts aiming to gather volunteers, emergency response, donate to a cause, sign up for your newsletter, sign a petition, etc.<\/p>\n For example, MercyCorps urges you to donate to skill training programs for smallholder farmers in Guatemala by matching 2X your contribution.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Infographics, awareness facts, or survey results. In both video and graphic formats.<\/p>\n For example, UNICEF Ukraine shares educational Reels, Stories, and Carousels twice a week to teach parents or youth about how to cope with war-caused anxiety, how to properly feed an active teenager, etc.<\/p>\n In the post below, UNICEF collaborated with a child therapist and featured 24 ideas for tired parents to play with the baby.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n When you attend events for NGOs, fundraising evenings, or talk to government officials, you want to share the news and key takeaways and tag the event or an important person. This way, you forge trustworthiness and increase brand awareness.<\/p>\n You can create a standalone post or repost one of your colleagues.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Received a non-anonymous contribution or signed a new contract with a donor? Turn this into the post! Make photos with a contributor, record a short video-interview (can be done online via Zoom), and make them feel appreciated.<\/p>\n Plus, the giver will repost it and show your work and impact to their audiences.<\/p>\n At District #1, we share such news across all platforms.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n And, as the final step of your social media strategy for a nonprofit, turn to analytics. Define what metrics you\u2019ll be working towards at the beginning and check every month if you\u2019re on track. Try to replicate top-performing content and see if it yields the same results.<\/p>\n What metrics to track:<\/p>\n Run and analyze all your social media campaigns from one place. Connect with people you care about on each social platform.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n According to HubSpot\u2019s 2025 Social Trends Report<\/a>, 85% of marketers found that social media marketing was effective for their brands. Charitable organizations also saw above-median engagement rates across all social media platforms<\/a>, with TikTok dominating the engagement rate per video.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n While it\u2019s great to have a diversified nonprofit social media strategy, focusing on too many platforms at once uses up a lot of time and resources.<\/p>\n So, instead, I suggest selecting two to four platforms that work best for my cause and sticking to them until you reach your social media goals.<\/p>\n My favorites are Instagram and TikTok. Since each platform has its unique features and user preferences, you should follow different strategies to maximize your content\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been using Facebook ever since I got my first smartphone.<\/p>\n But this year, 1 in 5 marketers<\/a> plan to cut investments in Facebook and pour budgets into YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, according to the 2025 HubSpot Social Trends Report.<\/p>\n Given that, I\u2019d not prioritize this platform, but ditching it completely would also be a mistake. Millennials are still hanging out on Facebook, meaning your audience can be there. Plus, their private contributions are generous \u2014 most millennial donors gave between $100 and $499 in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n (This is also why I advise you to create a buyer persona and understand where your supporters sit.)<\/p>\n Consider No Kid Hungry<\/a>, a charity organization that aims to end childhood hunger in the U.S. The nonprofit has gained over 334,000 followers by regularly posting about its campaigns and activities on its Facebook Page.<\/p>\n Numbers aside, Facebook offers simplicity and versatility. My peers from nonprofits had success promoting all types of content, from texts and videos to infographics and polls. Let\u2019s look at some strategies they follow.<\/p>\n Instagram has become the #1 platform for nonprofit discoveries among Gen Z, according to 1,000 surveyed supporters<\/a>. On top of that, 51% of Gen Z volunteer their time in tandem with their financial contribution.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n So, this platform is ideal for engaging the young audience and recruiting volunteers.<\/p>\n However, Instagram only promotes visual content formats like images and videos. This can pose a challenge if you prefer writing about your brand.<\/p>\n Use various reel templates, memes, and other social media trends for nonprofits to turn serious charity information into fun content your audience will love.<\/p>\n Hilarity for Charity<\/a>\u2019s Instagram posts recently grabbed my attention while scrolling through my newsfeed.<\/p>\n I like how they use content categories and brand colors to create a powerful and supportive atmosphere while educating readers about Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n TikTok\u2019s 2.85% engagement rate per video compared to 0.66% for Facebook makes this video-based platform a solid choice for social media marketing strategy for nonprofits. It supports charities not just through fundraising but also by rolling out new features.<\/p>\n For example, in 2023, TikTok donated $250,000 to the Rare Impact Fund<\/a> while introducing features like sleep reminders and screen-time limits to support mental health.<\/p>\n TikTok\u2019s demographics largely consist of people below the age of 34<\/a> . This means I can easily reach Gen-Zers and younger millennials on the app.<\/p>\n Other nonprofits also use TikTok for growth and increased reach. American Cancer Society<\/a>, for instance, has built a good presence on TikTok and has gained over 28,700 followers.<\/p>\n Modern businesses are shifting their focus to video-based platforms, but X still has a fair share, with 63% of B2C<\/a> brands using X. Personally, I also consider X a great nonprofit marketing channel.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just me. Other nonprofits have had great results on this platform. Consider Oceana International<\/a>, an NGO dedicated to saving and restoring the oceans. It has amassed more than 482,800 followers on X.<\/p>\n X has a massive celebrity presence, which means you can grab the attention of celebs who might be interested in working for your cause.<\/p>\n Creating content on the platform is also easy, as it allows users to add short captions to images and videos.<\/p>\n However, what\u2019s tiring about X is that I need to post daily. Otherwise, engagement rates quickly die down, and it becomes difficult to increase your reach once more.<\/p>\n Similarly, hundreds of other nonprofits have successfully created social media campaigns on platforms like Reddit, Threads, and LinkedIn. The platform you choose depends on your goal and the demographics you want to target.<\/p>\n Meagan Jackman<\/a>, President and CMO of The Harkey Group<\/a>, provides guidance to help you choose the ideal platform:<\/p>\n \u201cIf a nonprofit needs corporate donations, the team should turn to LinkedIn. If there\u2019s a youth nonprofit looking to speak to parents, they should leverage Facebook. If the message is informational, YouTube is a great medium.\u201d<\/p>\n The ultimate goal is to be where your target audience can find you.<\/p>\n My experience showed that LinkedIn is the most effective way to find institutional partners and large donors. However, I used a mix of personal branding and cold outreach.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Use these tips when designing your social media strategy for a nonprofit organization. It will make you connect with supporters faster.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, the best-performing content types for non-profits in 2025 are:<\/p>\n A quick iPhone video of a fieldworker explaining what a $25 donation provides is more powerful than a static link post. And $25 can feed a kid, plant 25 trees, and sow hundreds of vegetables.<\/p>\n You want to be:<\/p>\n Make your brand voice heard and convey it through your media formats.<\/p>\n Usually, you\u2019ve got endless opportunities to snap a video while working on the site. Every beneficiary, be it a cat, a tree, the ocean, or a human, is a compelling story. But when I\u2019m on a field trip, I always hesitate on what to shoot.<\/p>\n Here, AI can come to the rescue.<\/p>\n As an SMM specialist, it\u2019s your duty to guide your fieldworkers on the type of content you want them to capture. Ideate with ChatGPT or Jasper. Explain the purpose of a field trip and ask a robot to generate ideas for different social media channels.<\/p>\n Use AI to speed up social media strategy creation and ask it to develop a social media calendar.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll save days on it and reinvest time into analytics and creativity.<\/p>\n Mega influencers may rack up views, but micro-influencers tend to have tighter-knit communities. Partner with mission-aligned voices who actually care about your cause.<\/p>\n Encourage them to co-create content and become a real part of your initiative.<\/p>\n For example, Weston Koury (@westbrouck) on TikTok partnered with The Good Patch and the It Gets Better Project to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ youth mental health.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Focus on conversions that matter. Donation clicks, volunteer sign-ups, event RSVPs. Combine social data with CRM insights for full-funnel tracking.<\/p>\n Remember to A\/B-test multiple versions of the same post across different sub-audiences. Analyze micro-conversions (e.g., 10-second video views vs. link clicks) to refine messaging.<\/p>\n Add unique UTM tags to campaign posts to measure platform ROI and see exactly which source drives the highest-value actions.<\/p>\n Having these data points, you can double down on what works, even with a limited budget.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Habitat for Humanity is a charitable foundation that helps with social housing. It has a presence on all social media except for TikTok. However, I noticed that their Instagram generates the most engagement.<\/p>\n Their team focuses on creating field content, showing construction in progress, and featuring stories with happy beneficiaries.<\/p>\n The page looks vibrant and really gives off that strong mission vibe. I recommend that nonprofits study this Instagram and take notes on the field content.<\/p>\n Dollar For has a noble mission to pay hospital bills that people can\u2019t afford. It has amassed a great following across different social media platforms without investing in fancy video production. TikTok has 93,500 followers, while Instagram has 64,600 followers.<\/p>\n Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The founder of the organization records his thoughts on the topic and posts educational content every day, including beneficiaries’ stories, medical bills that are queuing to be paid, etc.<\/p>\n I love that level of authenticity! It allows for a real connection with the mission and his passion, which is contagious.<\/p>\n Note: <\/strong>They repurpose the same content across different platforms while changing captions and colors. And this strategy works! You can replicate this too for cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n Their noble mission is to restore nature across the globe. A 100-year-old foundation found its supporters on X (aka Twitter) with 272,100 followers and an active audience under its posts.<\/p>\n\n
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Why Nonprofits Should Use Social Media<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Social media gives you brand exposure and visibility.<\/h3>\n
2. It helps you nurture supporter relationships.<\/h3>\n
![\"teemtree\u2019s](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-2-20250424-3050196.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n3. It adds to your transparency and credibility.<\/h3>\n
4. It amplifies fundraising efforts.<\/h3>\n
5. It helps you recruit volunteers and staff.<\/h3>\n
![\"find](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-3-20250424-1330940.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow to Build a Nonprofit Social Media Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-4-20250424-6832255.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n1. Outline the goals you want to achieve.<\/h3>\n
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2. Think of the key audience segments.<\/h3>\n
![\"create](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-5-20250424-2486020.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Analyze popular volunteer movements and charitable organizations’ social media.<\/h3>\n
![\"find](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-6-20250424-2520062.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n4. Create a content strategy.<\/h3>\n
Impact Stories<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"impact](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-7-20250424-8856449.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nBehind-the-Scenes<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Calls to Action<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"cta](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-8-20250424-9364185.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nEducational Posts<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"educational](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-9-20250424-7127602.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nEvent Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"mercycorps](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-10-20250424-6960409.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nDonor Spotlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"donor](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-11-20250424-6226633.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n5. Measure results and improve.<\/h3>\n
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Best Social Media Platforms for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-12-20250424-2792721.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n1. Facebook<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-13-20250424-6763786.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow to Use Facebook for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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2. Instagram<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-14-20250424-8216553.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-15-20250424-9453143.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow to Use Instagram for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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3. TikTok<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Use TikTok for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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4. X (Formerly Twitter)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-16-20250424-6357018.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nHow to Use X for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Social Media Tips for Nonprofits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Prioritize high-engagement formats.<\/h3>\n
\n
Write with a human voice.<\/h3>\n
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Use AI tools to inspire your content strategy.<\/h3>\n
Collaborate with micro-influencers.<\/h3>\n
![\"micro-influencer](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-17-20250424-9213228.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nUse advanced data-driven tactics.<\/h3>\n
Nonprofit Social Media Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Habitat for Humanity<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"instagram](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-18-20250424-1502993.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nDollar For<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"dollarfor](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-19-20250424-9483436.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nThe Wildlife Trusts<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-20-20250424-1392608.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
![\"social](\"https:\/\/web-stil.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/social-media-for-nonprofits-21-20250424-1796546.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/track.hubspot.com\/__ptq.gif?a=53&k=14&r=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Fnonprofits-social-media-marketing-data&bu=https%253A%252F%252Fblog.hubspot.com%252Fmarketing&bvt=rss\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"