by Rabbi Yossie Goldman What do King David and the hilltop youth have in common? What would King Saul have said about exacting vengeance in response to terror attacks? Interesting as these questions are, few of us have time to come to a scheduled activity - isn't it easier to log onto Facebook to participate in the discussion? In today's world, it's harder than ever to get people together in one room for a staged program or activity. Hillel Israel's leaders are fully aware of both the difficulties created by our modern schedules and the power of the social media to reach and engage young adults. Why not harness the social media, like Facebook, as a means to explore Jewish questions, learn Jewish sources, and express opinions about burning issues? Face the Book of Books is an … Continue Reading
Picture This: Using Social Media to Engage Jewish Millennials
by Adam Goldberg Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduates and graduates so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. As Hillel staff we seek to engage Jewish college students by providing a Jewish college experience, we also aim to engage them creatively online as well. As a Hillel Program Associate, part of my job is to foster student ideas and leadership. I can count on two hands the number of times I have been asked to plan a bowling night or laser tag. I always push back and say, what would the Jewish content be? My students have learned how they can intertwine aspects of Judaism into their programing. Our Hillel has taken a similar approach when it comes to engaging our students online as well. The fundamental reason that people are on Facebook is to … Continue Reading
Staying On Top with Tech
Some recent articles for managing your organization's tech strategy: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Facebook Timeline Page With Images With each new overhaul of Facebook pages, there have been increased opportunities for brands to use imagery to better promote their offerings and create visual interest, and Timeline for pages is no different. How Facebook Social Plugins Increase Engagement On Your Nonprofit’s Website If you want to increase pages views and site engagement, it’s critical that you create a more social experience when people visit your website. Is Your Non-profit In the Cloud? Last month, NTEN published their The State of the Nonprofit Cloud report. They found that 91% of the 780 nonprofits they surveyed (in the fall of 2011) were using some kind of cloud-based software … Continue Reading
Nonprofit Investment in Social Networks and Membership Continue to Grow
San Francisco, CA (April 3, 2012) - Blackbaud, Inc., in collaboration with the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) and Common Knowledge, today released the 2012 Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report at the 2012 Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC). The 4th annual report, featuring survey results from more than 3500 respondents, provides an extensive look at how nonprofits are using social media, highlights key trends and provides insights for the year ahead. New to this year’s report is a benchmark for the average cost of acquisition for Facebook likes and Twitter followers, along with the average value of a Facebook Like. The self reported average cost of a Facebook Like is $3.50 and a $2.05 for a Twitter Follower with the average value of a Facebook Like being reported as $214.81 over … Continue Reading
7 Tips and Cheat Sheets to Help You Implement the New Timeline
[eJP note: Facebook is switching over all nonprofit and business pages to the new Timeline format today, March 30th.] by Beth Kanter bethkanter.org If you are an administrator for your organization’s Facebook page, you’ve no doubt noticed the alert that invites you to preview the look of your new page with the option of publishing it for all the world to see. Between now and March 30, only page administrators can see the changes, if you haven’t set it live yet. On Friday, Facebook will flip the switch for everyone. Many large nonprofits and big brands already have. Livestrong is one of the nonprofit early adopters that has published its brand page using the new format. Others are exploring and testing and fixing glitches or simply checking out the new features, like the … Continue Reading
The W’s of a Nonprofit Social Media Strategy
by Ephraim Geffen When it comes to marketing, PR and fundraising, most nonprofits create a strategy with short and long-term goals, milestones and objectives. So why do so many organizations neglect to do the same for their social media presence? Let's be frank: Having a Facebook page with 1,000 Likes does NOT mean you will be able to raise funds from that channel. To wit: in 2010 0.4% of nonprofits raised $100,000+ via Twitter or Facebook 77.6% of nonprofits that used Facebook to fundraise ended up raising less than $1000 Does that mean you cannot use social media as a vehicle for fundraising? Of course not - but much of your efforts will depend on your strategy. A major component of a social media strategy is being able to answer "The W" questions. Here is a quick look at each … Continue Reading
Benchmarking Your Digital Fundraising
Here's a first look at the eNonprofit Benchmarks Study; check back next week for more. … Continue Reading
Nonprofits Compete in Facebook Contests
by Rabbi Jason Miller Thousands in Metro Detroit’s Jewish community have been flocking to Home Depot’s Facebook page in recent weeks. No, they are not all interested in becoming fans of the national retail giant. They are simply trying to help a local social service agency win $250,000 from the Home Depot Foundation. Jewish Family Service in Michigan was one of 12 nonprofits around the country to win a monthly prize of $25,000 cash and another $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards from the Home Depot Foundation this past January. That win put them in the competition for the Aprons in Action contest that will give away a total of a half-million dollars in March. JFS plans to use the cash prize for its Project Build! program, which provides JFS clients with safe and barrier-free homes through pro … Continue Reading
Lessons to Be Learned: Kony 2012
Kony 2012 is a film created by Invisible Children, Inc. The film's purpose is to promote the charity's 'Stop Kony' movement to make indicted Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony internationally known in order to arrest him in 2012. The video has spread virally - 80 million on YouTube alone - created controversy, and perhaps ignited passions not seen in kids and young adults in generations. Here is some general background from Wikipedia on the video, and two articles worth noting: from today's The New York Times: Backlash Aside, Charities See Lessons in a Web Video It has galvanized young Americans, inspired a flood of donations and stirred a backlash from critics. But for some in the nonprofit world, the reaction to the unprecedented success of an advocacy video about the murderous African … Continue Reading
Communications for Smaller Nonprofits in the Era of Twitter
by Jo-Ann Mort Over the last few years, the world of communications has simultaneously become both more accessible and less manageable. With the explosion of social media came the democratization of communications - one Tweet can reach more people than a press release, and a Facebook post can receive just as much attention as coverage in traditional media. This change in how news gets out can benefit, smaller nonprofits that may not be budgeted for large communications outlays. But just because social media is accessible to all of us does not mean it should be approached without an airtight strategy. It is true that people and organizations now have many more opportunities to get out their story than they did in a pre-digital age. Absolutely and without a doubt. If your local newspaper … Continue Reading
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