Tip of the Week: Don’t assign an intern or volunteer to manage your social media presence

Social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have become powerful fundraising, marketing, and online community building tools for nonprofits. But look before you leap, and make sure you’re up for the related commitment—social media must be given proper weight and consideration in your marketing strategy and efforts, and its oversight must be assigned to an actual staff member.

As 350.org’s Jon Warnow and Joe Solomon say in Chapter 16 of Nonprofit Management 101, “Online Community Building: How to Wire a Network to Support Your Nonprofit’s Mission,” “By encouraging a staff member to take on the community building role, you’ll provide a deeper understanding of your mission, as well as develop a consistent presence and voice on your networks.” Assigning a staff person to role of monitoring and updating these sites will also facilitate consistent, mission-focused messaging and ensure the accountability you need to ensure your store isn’t left untended.

Read more and discover related resources in Chapter 16 of Nonprofit Management 101.