subject: Fundraising For Nonprofit Companies [print this page] The internet can be a very useful tool in fundraising and marketing for nonprofit companies.
Non-profit has the added problem of needing to keep costs down and to do things efficiently. They need to look at tools that give them the best value, and social media and web 2.0 are such tools. Some tools are:
1. Twitter. Anyone can see what you are tweeting about. This is a great way to get the word out about your company. People can find out about you, and get involved.
2. LinkedIn. This is a great way to find business connections. People maintain their own profiles, so if they move, you will still be able to keep in contact with them.
3. Everyone knows that Facebook is largely for personal use, but it is also used to build up a community. This community can be very helpful in donations and fundraising.
Time is very important for nonprofits. The sites above are based on live updates, which sometimes require a lot of time. Sites like Ping.FM and Hootsuite can be used to set up updates in advance. This can greatly cut back on the time spent updating your status.
4. Blogs are another great way to create community. They also can help a website get found. Blogs get higher ranking then regular sites, so do a blog as a sub domain of your main site.
5. A great way to keep people informed is through email blogs. This does not mean spam. Send out interesting, informative emails to people who already interested in your cause.
6. It goes without saying that your company will need a website. You will need people to be able to find your site, so it makes sense to spend some time on search engine optimization (SEO). Your site also needs to be able to take donations online, to make it easier for customers.
7. There are other tools of Web 2.0 that are great ways to save on time and money. This will help with the infrastructure of your nonprofit charity. Skype, wikis, Basecamp project management, Google Wave etc. are all free and allow for collaboration
8. YouTube and Flickr are good sites for getting your word out. Keep the videos interesting and entertaining. There is a lot of content out there, and you need to stand out from the crowd.
Increasing donors and donations is very important for nonprofits and charities. Utilizing tools found in Web 2.0 can be very beneficial to your company.
