Most nonprofits are now at least dabbling in social networking
- Wed, April 29 2009
- Filed under: Social networking and web 2.0
Most nonprofits are now dabbling in social networks, according to a new survey on the nonprofit industry’s use of social networking for marketing and fundraising from NTEN, Common Knowledge and ThePort Network. You can find the full study here.
I use the word dabble because I think most of us are still grappling with how we should be going about using social networks and tools. Last week’s Washington Post story suggesting Facebook is solely a fundraising strategy and the ensuing controversy shows we need to be focused on the potential to build relationships with supporters, rather than seeking dollars, on Facebook and elsewhere.
Included in this survey’s highlights:
-Among commercial social networking sites, Facebook is the most popular, with 74 percent of nonprofits maintaining a presence. Nonprofit communities on Facebook are still relatively small, with an average size of 5,454 members.
-Four-fifths of nonprofits are committing at least one-quarter of a full-time staff person to their social networking efforts. More than half of nonprofits intend to increase social networking project staffing over the next 12 months.
-Approximately one-third of nonprofits have built one or more “house” social networks. Of those with their own social networks, 86.3 percent host communities of 10,000 members or less.
- Share:
Comments
Katya - thanks for the thoughts. As we mentioned at NTC this past week, this survey is not so much an authoritative source as it is a benchmark. This lays the groundwork for determining how social networking is being used today. After we repeat this survey over the next two or three years, we’ll be able to determine not only how NPOs are using social media, but how and where they are deriving value.
Great to hear more and more non profits getting into social media. It’s a great route for them.
we actually started with the use of social media as that is my background..so perhaps we are going about this inside out….i appreciate your study on the subject and your blog in general. Keep up the great work!
Among commercial social networking sites, Facebook is the most popular, with 74 percent of nonprofits maintaining a presence. Nonprofit communities on Facebook are still relatively small, with an average size
This should specify that the percentages are of the non-profits STUDIED (i.e. 74% of nonprofits surveyed maintain a presence on Facebook).
Otherwise it’s more than a bit misleading - no way the study included every single existing non-profit, and those who weren’t reached almost undoubtedly have less developed web properties than the (relatively) small proportion that were contacted.
I would venture to say that taking into account the global landscape of NPOs, most have no social (or even web) presence whatsoever.
Social networking sites allow people to create a “mask” and claim to be a completely different person from who they really are…
I have been dabbling in social networking for a little while now and am finding it to be quite educational, fun and intellectually and financially rewarding. I thought I’d put together the bulk of what I’ve been using and learning about and share them with whoever is interested. That is what I’ve done here. I’ve included some links to some valuable social networking sites and tools. Please keep in mind that I am not a professional social networker and have just been experimenting with it a bit, but have really taken a liking to it. Feel free to use this information as you wish.
jewelry armoire
I’ve included some links to some valuable social networking sites and tools. Please keep in mind that I am not a professional social network and have just been experimenting with it a bit, but have really taken a liking to it.