Who here isn’t guilty of forgetting about social media? Scrolling through your feed, you realize with just a hint of shame that it’s been over a month since you posted anything on any of your channels. Nonprofit social media posts often slip through the cracks when things get busy, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

And, in case you’re thinking of using the “But we haven’t had anything to say” excuse for falling behind on posting, you should know that it is no longer valid. There are plenty of things to say to your supporters on social media, keeping your nonprofit relevant and top of mind, even when it feels like you have nothing to share. Aside from the fact that it’s expected in today’s connected world, staying active on social media has a ton of benefits for nonprofits. It’s not hard to do when you have a plan in place.

We say this a lot. But I’ll repeat it for all the new readers. When it comes to nonprofit marketing (social media included), strategy and organization are key to success. For nonprofit social media posts, having a few evergreen posts waiting in the wings of your editorial calendar can be a lifesaver during your busy season or when creativity and post inspiration feel far, far away.

Nonprofit Social Media Posts

Write up these nonprofit social media posts for your editorial calendar now and pull from them when you’re short on time or ideas. You can rotate through these post types as often as you like, peppering in more timely posts when you do have something to say.

Repurpose Impact Stats

Pull a few impact statistics from your annual report and post them sporadically throughout the year, perhaps along with a snazzy graphic created in Canva.

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services posts use a fun “Did You Know?” graphic template to post stats from their programs and annual report on Instagram.

Offer Bite-Size Stories

You probably have a few good stories from your supporters and those that you’ve helped in your back pocket. Condense them into bite-size pieces and link the posts to your blog or website for the full story. Try to include a photo of the storyteller along with the post if you can.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association shared snippets of stories from their supporters who have been affected by ALS throughout May, ALS Awareness Month.

Share Testimonials

When someone says something nice about your nonprofit, post it on social and post it again after a few months. You could even tag the person within the quote if they’re comfortable with it. Social proof is a powerful thing.

Aging Ahead uses testimonials from current program participants to tout their senior exercise classes on Facebook.

Take a Hint From Popular Hashtags

No matter what day of the week it is, there’s a hashtag to use and relate back to your organization and work. Bonus points if you create your own weekly hashtag and stick with it.

  • Monday: #MotivationMonday, #ManCrushMonday, #MindfulMonday
  • Tuesday: #TransformationTuesday, #TravelTuesday
  • Wednesday: #WomanCrushWednesday, #WellnessWednesday, #WisdomWednesday
  • Thursday: #ThrowbackThursday, #ThursdayThoughts
  • Friday: #FlashBackFriday, #FreebieFriday, #FridayReads
  • Saturday: #SocialSaturday, #Caturday, #SaturdayStyle
  • Sunday: #SelfieSunday, #SundayFunday, #SpotlightSunday

Tree House Humane Society, a humane society with a focus on finding good homes for stray cats, created their own #ToesieTuesday to share photos of cute cat paws.

Fundraise

It’s okay to pepper in donation appeals as long as it’s not the only content you post. Do you provide assistance for supporter-run Facebook Fundraisers? Let your followers know that you make the process easy.

KIF1A.org uses powerful videos to raise money for their rare disease research initiatives on Facebook.

Post Inspirational Quotes

Whether you go with Helen Keller, Steve Jobs, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr. or Henry David Thoreau, there are some pretty great inspirational quotes out there that can easily relate back to your mission. Have a few good ones ready and waiting for your social crowd.

Girl Scouts of the USA get a lot of love when they post inspirational quotes from strong women on their Instagram account.

Celebrate Your Staff

Highlight a staff member on a special work anniversary or someone that’s killing it at your organization on the daily. Or maybe there’s a new member of your team to introduce to your audience on social media or a great quote from your executive director or board chair. Let people know what they do and how it impacts your mission.

The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias celebrates staff milestones with their social media audience.

Put a Volunteer in the Spotlight

We all love volunteers. And every good volunteer engagement strategy includes showing appreciation for your volunteers. Why not do it on social media, where your audience and all of their friends can see?

After a mission trip, AMOS Health and Hope creates a Facebook album with photos from the trip to thank the volunteers who attended.

Remind Followers About Ongoing Programs

Time to plug your ongoing programs, from volunteer programs to direct services to corporate giving to social media ambassadors. A gentle reminder through social media never hurts program participation and engagement.

Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley uses Twitter to encourage followers to participate in their volunteer programs.

Share Old Blog Content

You can post your blog content on social media more than once, especially if it’s hyper-relevant to your audience on social media. And there’s a good chance a good percentage of your followers didn’t even see it the first time. Get tips on sharing your reusable content.

Hopefully, these content ideas help build out your nonprofit’s editorial calendar for the next few months. (And encourage you to start an editorial calendar if you don’t already have one built out!) Staying active on social media gives your supporters a place to engage with your organization in meaningful and ongoing ways. You’ll be top of mind when they think of causes to give to, places to volunteer, services to take advantage of and fundraisers to attend.

Which nonprofit social media posts do you lean on when your editorial calendar gets short? Are there types of posts that are particularly popular with your audience? Let us know in the comments below.

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