Nonprofits raising profile and money thanks to social networking sites
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009Author : Biz2Credit Advisor
Using Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to get the word out, the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Living Beyond Breast Cancer nearly tripled the number of groups participating in its annual Yoga Unites event and doubled the amount of money raised at last year’s event.
The organization is one of many nonprofits turning to social networking sites to reach more donors and volunteers. A recent survey found that 86 percent of nonprofits are on at least one social networking site, and the majority of them have joined in the past two years.
The groups are taking a page from the Obama campaign’s playbook. The Barack Obama team took advantage of online outreach to reach more voters and raise significant sums of money through small donations.
Some call it “friend-raising,” but social networking, in many ways, is the 21st century answer to good old-fashioned word-of-mouth fundraising.
“It’s the fastest way to get to people,” Bill Cowen, director of the public relations program at Villanova University, told the Philadephia Inquirer “In a downturned economy, it’s one of the most cost-effective means of promotion.”
This article was submitted by Katie Kapler, Director of Online Strategy for Biz2Credit. Biz2Credit is a small business marketplace that connects entrepreneurs with financing options and advice to grow their business. Send all questions to katie.kapler@biz2credit.com.
Tags: Barack Obama, Facebook Twitter Flickr, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Obama, social networking, YouTube
