Social Media for Nonprofits: Build Community and Drive Donations

May 21, 2026·Nataliia· 11 min read All posts

As a small nonprofit, you're likely wearing many hats - from managing volunteers to planning fundraising events. But have you considered the power of social media to build a community and drive donations? With the right strategy, you can reach new supporters, engage with existing ones, and ultimately increase your fundraising efforts.

70↑

Nonprofits using social media

Percentage of nonprofits in the US

40↑

Nonprofits with a social media strategy

Percentage of nonprofits with a dedicated social media team

25↑

Nonprofits measuring social media ROI

Percentage of nonprofits tracking social media metrics

60↑

Nonprofits using social media for fundraising

Percentage of nonprofits using social media for fundraising

Social media is no longer just a nice-to-have for nonprofits - it's a necessity. With most people spending a significant amount of time online, social media provides a unique opportunity to reach new supporters, build a community, and drive donations. By having a strong social media presence, you can:

Increase brand awareness and reach new supporters
Engage with existing supporters and build a community
Drive donations and fundraising efforts
Share your mission and impact with a wider audience

Pro Tip

Want expert help? DataLatte's social media management service is built specifically for local small businesses.

To get started with social media, you need a strategy. Here are some key steps to consider:

Define your goals: What do you want to achieve with social media? Is it to increase brand awareness, drive donations, or build a community?
Identify your audience: Who are your supporters? What are their interests and needs?
Choose your platforms: Which social media platforms are best for your nonprofit? Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn?
Create content: What kind of content will resonate with your audience? Photos, videos, stories, or updates?

Measuring the success of your social media efforts is crucial to understanding what's working and what's not. Here are some key metrics to track:

Engagement rates: How many people are interacting with your content?
Follower growth: How many new followers are you gaining?
Donations: Are you driving donations through social media?

Social Media Metrics

Engagement Rate

Follower Growth

20%

DonationsBest

10%

Average social media metrics for nonprofits

Building a community on social media requires consistent effort and engagement. Here are some tips to get you started:

Post regularly: Keep your audience engaged with regular updates.
Respond to comments: Engage with your supporters and respond to comments and messages.
Use hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience.

Pro Tip

Use social media scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to plan and schedule your content in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have 500 followers and nobody donates. Is social media even worth it?

You don't need a million followers. You need the right followers. Go through your 500 and find the 50 who actually engage — the ones who comment, share, or DM you. Send them a personal message asking them to be founding donors. Ask for $20 each. That's $1,000. If you can't get $1,000 from 50 engaged people, the problem isn't your follower count — it's your ask. Direct, specific, and personal.

Q: Should I run ads if I have zero donation history from social media?

Yes, but start small. Run a $100 test. Target people within 20 miles of your location who already follow similar causes. Use a specific ask: "$35 buys school supplies for one child. Donate here." If you get one donation of $35, your cost per acquisition is $100. That's not great, but it's proof of concept. If you get zero donations after $100, stop. Try a different audience or different creative. Don't throw good money after bad.

Q: What's the single most important thing I should post this week?

A story about a specific person or animal your nonprofit helped. Include: (1) their name, (2) what was wrong, (3) how your organization fixed it, (4) what it cost, and (5) a direct link to donate. One good story will outperform 20 generic posts. I've seen a single post about a foster puppy's surgery raise $3,800 in one day. A generic "support us" post would have raised maybe $80.

Q: How much time do I actually need to spend on social media per week?

Three hours. One hour to plan the three posts for the week. One hour to create them (use Canva templates — they take 10 minutes each). One hour to engage: reply to comments, respond to DMs, and reshare user-generated content. If you're spending more than three hours, you're overcomplicating it. If you're spending less, you're probably not asking for donations.

Q: Do I need to be on TikTok?

Probably not. Unless your audience is under 25, TikTok is a distraction. Most small nonprofit donors are 35-65 and live on Facebook and Instagram. TikTok requires daily posting, trends, and personality-driven content. If you have a staff member who loves making TikTok videos, great. If not, focus on Facebook and Instagram. I've watched nonprofits waste 10 hours per week on TikTok with zero donations. Don't be that organization.

Q: What's the biggest mistake nonprofits make on social media?

Posting without tracking. Most nonprofits have no idea which post led to a donation, which platform performs best, or what time of day their audience is active. Use UTM parameters on every link. Set up Google Analytics for free. Or use a simple spreadsheet. If you're not measuring, you're guessing. And guessing is why your social media feels like a waste of time.

I once watched a nonprofit spend 18 months building a following without ever asking for money. They had 12,000 followers and $0 in social-driven donations. Their board was baffled. I asked one question: "When was the last time you posted a link to your donation page?" Nobody could answer. They were so focused on "engagement" they forgot the point. Don't be that organization. Ask for the donation. Use the strategies above. Track what works. And if you're stuck or just want someone to look at your accounts for 30 minutes, book a free consultation. I'll tell you exactly what I'd fix — no fluff, no jargon, just what I've seen work at 40+ nonprofits.

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Nataliia

Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.

About Nataliia