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Author: Suraj

Social media is a powerful marketing tool, but leveraging it effectively requires strategy and effort. Creating content for social media can be overwhelming, especially with the constant demand for fresh, engaging material. We have created a comprehensive guide on how to use social media for your nonprofit 1. Understanding the audience: Knowing your audience is essential before you plan your social media content. Do you want to reach young activists? teachers? Seniors, who are potential donors? Immigrants in need of services? Writing for your audience requires a lot of research and time. Here are a few tips for creating a perfect content for the right audience: Understand the language and kinds of stories that are relatable to your audience. Take inspiration from different articles on social media. This will give an idea of what works and does not. Consider your target audience's age, location, and interest, and customize your content accordingly. Storytelling is a very effective way to make your audience feel connected. Create a hypothetical audience member representing different segments. Talk about their challenges and problems and how the nonprofit was able to help them. Utilize surveys and polls to gather valuable insights about your content, and use this feedback to refine and enhance your content strategies. This approach allows you to understand your audience's preferences and adjust strategies to meet their needs more effectively. 2. Set clear goals: Before you plan content, set clear and achievable goals. Answer these questions before you begin. Are you looking to raise donations or are you looking to create awareness or are you searching for volunteers? Define such goals and create content based on your end goals Make sure your goals are realistic, achievable and time-bound. For instance, set a goal to increase your social media followers by 15-20%. Unrealistic goals can be a demotivating factor. 3. Content Planning A well-structured content is essential for maintaining consistency and relevance. Create a content calendar in advance. Plan your post, and campaign themes related to important dates, upcoming events, and occasions. Create a mix of content from various formats like images, videos, carousel posts,stories, etc. This helps to keep your audience engaged. Inform and educate your audiences about the latest news and research. For instance, inform them about the recent tax benefits on donations amounts, so that donors are well informed and can benefit from it. Storytelling is the best way to share impactful stories highlighting the real-life effects of your nonprofit’s work. Personal stories resonate more than statistics. 4. Crafting Engaging Posts Once you have your content planned, it’s time to create posts that capture attention. Always start with powerful hooks: Start with strong statements or questions that draw readers in. For example, “What if you could change a life with just one click?” or “Do you want to make a remarkable difference in anyone’s life? Use a Conversational Tone: Write as if you are speaking directly to your audience. This makes your content more relatable and engaging. Include Calls to Action (CTAs): Encourage your audience to take specific actions, whether it is sharing your post, donating, or signing up for a newsletter. It has a psychological impact and motivates them to take immediate action. 5. Create a visually appealing content Use professional videos and photographs rather than stock videos or Google images. This makes your appeal look more authentic. Create a unique brand kit for your organization. Use simple fonts and colors so the audience can identify your organization easily when they see an ad or a post. Write your content using different formats like infographics, mindmaps, tables charts, etc. This makes your information more readable and impactful. 6. Engagement and Community Building: Social media is an excellent tool to build a community of like-minded people. Engage with your audience by responding to their comments and messages promptly. This fosters a sense of community. Invite your followers to share their stories. This motivates others to take similar actions and provides authenticity. Host live events like webinars, live Q&A sessions, and interviews of the people who have benefited from your services, to connect with your audience in real-time. This can enhance trust and transparency. 7. Review and Analytics: Regularly reviewing your social media performance is essential for ongoing success. Use analytics tools to monitor engagement rates, follower growth, and post reach. This data will inform your strategy. If certain types of content perform better than others, adjust your content strategy accordingly. Be flexible and willing to change your approach. Try using different post styles like static or carousel, and CTAs to see what resonates best with your audience. Make adjustments as per your goals and audience. 8. Update your knowledge: The Social media algorithm changes rapidly.  Make sure you are updated with the latest trends and features of your social media platforms. Take time to upgrade your skills regularly. Follow successful nonprofits and social media experts for inspiration and best practices. With technological advancements and the growing popularity of social media platforms, there are many opportunities to explore and leverage. In fact, according to the statistics by Nonprofit Tech for Good, A staggering 71% of Nonprofits from all across the globe, agree that social media marketing is an effective and efficient way for online fundraising.   It has been observed that Social media platforms drive 57% of traffic to fundraising campaigns. Social media is vital for nonprofits to engage with their audience and make a meaningful impact. To maximize the effect start with clear goals and analyze your target audience. Plan your content strategy to align with the demographics of your audience, considering factors such as age, location, and interests. Social media is perfect for showcasing your creativity. Create visually appealing posts to capture your audience's attention. By following this checklist, GiveCentral has created meaningful connections with our audience, raised awareness for our cause, and ultimately drove positive change. Remember, consistency is key, and every post is an opportunity to make an impact. Start small, stay consistent in your efforts, and watch your non-profit organization touch lives and make a difference. Let us join forces and revolutionize the entire fundraising game. Get in touch with our team of social media experts and help customize an impactful social media strategy for your nonprofit. Click here for more information.

August 20, 2024 • Best Practices • Ideas • Marketing for Non Profits • Nonprofit Marketing • Social Media • Views: 24

8 Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Social Media for Your Nonprofit

Social media is a powerful marketing tool, but leveraging it effectively requires strategy and effort. Creating content for social media...

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August 11, 2024 • Alumini Giving • Alumni Giving • Views: 21

GIVECENTRAL Vs PUSHPAY

WHY IS GIVE CENTRAL THE BEST CHOICE? Donation and fundraising are the most important pillars of any nonprofit organization. In today’s...

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The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points 1. School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! 2. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 7

Listening to Christ’s Voice: The Transformative Power of the Transfiguration

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and...

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The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning to reflect on the final things of life, most notably how we shall be judged. Pope St. John XXIII noted that on the final day we shall be judged in love. This not only reflected the optimistic view of the Holy Father, but was also a theological statement, for God is Love! The first reading today causes us to reflect on the very practical aspects of what that love looks like for us as human beings. Are we fair? Are we generous? Are we forgiving? Are we aware that God hears the voices of those who suffer, especially those who may suffer at the hands of other human beings? The Gospel continues by asking us if we love the Lord our God with our whole mind, heart, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves? Perhaps our first thought about being judged at the end of all history in love brings us a sense of relief, as well it might. But then, the question will go further, “how have we loved our neighbors?” Call to action: Three great acts have traditionally been noted as hallmarks of the Christian life when we are repenting – that is, when we are turning our hearts and minds back to the Lord. They are emphasized more strongly in Lent but apply to the Christian life always. The first is prayer, the second is fasting, and the third is the giving of alms (gifts to the needy). Giving, whether to the Church, to the homeless and poor, or to one’s favorite charities is a hallmark of Christian discipleship. As we thank God for these fall months of harvest and prepare for a new year, let us ask our people (and ourselves) if we are indeed praying, fasting (not just from food), and giving our alms as the faith beckons us. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has an amazing set of GC Smart Tools available to help your church grow. Do you know how to use them? Just call or email us at GiveCentral and we will be happy to spend time with you making you a success! Are you doing a fall stewardship drive? Statistics are clear that the greatest amount of giving happens in the final quarter of the year in association with the holidays, and that people are planning their budgets for the new year already. Use your GC Smart Text and GC SmartQR codes to help your people make their gifts quickly, efficiently, and without the donor friction of apps, website logins, etc. Getting ready for Advent? GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt to your parish for free. Just look for them in your New Communications Portal.       Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social!   Toll-free:  833.716.2612   |   Email us at: support@givecentral.org        

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 3

Judged in Love: Reflecting on the Final Things and Our Call to Action

The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning to reflect on the final things of life, most notably how we shall be judged....

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Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up” his son (after years of having no heir) is able to keep him, whereas God the Father’s Son will be the one sacrificed for human sin. All these events happen on mountain tops, which are spiritual images for peak experiences. However, what stands out in today’s gospel passage from St. Mark are the words of the Father, “this is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” Listening, by which is meant deep listening, is no easy thing. Our minds are ablaze with our thoughts, our “to do” lists, and, let’s be honest, our own prejudices. We tend to filter everything we hear through the thick haze of our own preoccupations. Yet, if we will settle down, calm down, and turn the inner noise down, we might then be able to “listen to Him.” When we listen to God, we are in the act of being obedient. The word obedient comes from the Latin roots meaning “to listen to.” Someone who is disobedient, therefore, is someone who isn’t listening. They are filtering – as we all tend to do. The disciplines of Lent are meant as a gift to help us de-clutter, to cut the “noise,” and to listen to the Lord deeply. Call to action: At Give Central we keep pressing the point about becoming welcoming parishes. Why? Because if we listen to the numbers only 15 to 18% of Catholics are attending mass or being active in some way in their parishes. We must be obedient to the Lord when he told His disciples to out to all the nations and spread the Good News! Our churches must become sanctuaries of welcome where the brokenhearted can find rest and renewal in Christ. As Easter approaches and many “sometime” Catholics will attend our masses please take advantage of your GC Smart Tools, like GC Smart Text and QR Code to “capture” the contact information from your visitors, then follow up by contacting them and making them feel welcome. Once again, form a welcoming ministry, or ask your youth groups and/or senior citizens group to become welcomers. You can also set up a small kiosk in your entry area with information for visitors and guests. Pastoral Action Points 1. Keep your pews equipped with your parish’s pew cards all through Lent to make engaging and giving easy for your donors! 2. GC Guru is launching soon! This your GC AI assistant! You have questions? GC Guru has the answers! You will soon see the GC Guru upon logging into your admin account. 3. If you have not signed up for SmartGive Elite for Lent & Easter - - now is your chance to signup! Time is running out, click here to sign up! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 1

Deep Listening in Lent: Tuning Our Hearts to God’s Voice

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up”...

Read More →
The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 2

Transfiguration and Mission: Transforming Our Parishes for the World

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and...

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Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that we had a “cheat sheet” for the final judgment; it is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel in the 25th chapter – today's Gospel proclamation. How we should conduct ourselves as Christians is no mystery. Whatever else our faults may be, and whatever our sins in need of reconciliation, we can be charitable and kind to those who hunger and thirst, to those who are sick or imprisoned. (As St. Peter tells us in his epistles, love covers a multitude of sins!) However, the call of Matthew 25 isn’t directed at only the individual Christian! It is directed at the Church, corporately! Another Pope of blessed memory, Benedict XVI, reminded us that the Holy Eucharist finds its fulfillment when the Church goes forth from the Sacred Liturgy and puts love into action in the world! In the first reading today, the prophet Ezechiel tells us what sounds like a job description for the Church. “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” That’s why we need to welcome the lost and strayed back into our churches Call to action: This is a good time to remind your people about their end-of-year giving! Use your GC Smart Tools to send an email or direct mail to your parishioners about end-of-year giving, or to make a commitment for their giving for the coming year of 2024. It’s a best practice to let them know the impact of their giving from this past year and to thank them for their generosity with time, prayer, and financial giving! (Did you know there is research from neuroscience about what’s called “giver’s glow?” More on that later.) Finally, Advent and Christmas are great seasons for welcoming back Catholics who have slipped in their participation, or potential new Catholics who are seekers in faith. Be careful about judging the lapsed! It might be better to be curious about why they’ve been away! Pastoral Action Points Are you ready with new, seasonal pew cards for Advent? You can find free templates for Advent pew cards in our Communication Portal. Not sure how to use it? Contact Teresa at teresa@givecentral.org or Edgar at edgar@givecentral.org Over 85% of Americans, including the elderly, now use smart phones. More Americans use smart phones than computers! Make sure your GiveCentral Smart texting phone number and GC Smart QR Codes are ready to go! Again, you can email Teresa or Edgar for more information or training! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 3

A Call to Action: The Church’s Role in Bringing Christ’s Love to the World

Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that we had a “cheat sheet” for the final judgment; it is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel...

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Pastoral Reflection The readings for Sunday call for peace, respect, and the exercise of virtue in family life. While modern family life is a great deal more complex than family life in ancient times, the need for virtue and respect is as relevant as ever! The idea of the family today is very broad and includes the extended family, the family of the parish community to which we belong, our “work” family, and many others. Yet, the family of our own household is the place where the greatest lessons of life and love are learned. Let us take this Sunday and New Year’s Day (Mary, Mother of God) to first give thanks for our own families, in all their joys and sorrows, their virtues and vices. Then, let us ask God’s blessings upon our families that we may grow in love and devotion to one another, reaching out where needed and reconciling where bonds have been bruised. Finally, let us pray that the bonds of love may unite the whole human family in love and peace throughout the entire world! (Mary, Mother of God, is also the day of prayer for world peace.) Call to action: Use your GC Smart Tools to send a quick email or text to your families this week inviting them to attend mass this weekend as a family. Also, remind them to pray together as families, and to offer prayers of blessing together before meals. Remind parents that they may offer simple blessings to their own children every day. In some cultures, it is common for mom and dad to make the sign of the cross with their hands or thumbs on the forehead of the children each night before bed, or in the morning before school. Also, at masses this weekend, offer a special blessing for families at the end of the homily. You can find some lovely blessings in the official Book of Blessings. Studies are clear that in families where faith is expressed at home, more family members will remain connected to the Church. Pastoral Action Points You might also consider handing out a simple gift, like a bookmark, that has a blessing prayer for families printed on it. Families can then use this as a prayer in the “domestic church” of the home. Consider a simple family activity after mass, like having families come to the hall. There you can have sheets of paper where families can draw their family tree. The family tree can then be blessed and taken home as a reminder of belonging. Help non-traditional families, like one parent households, to feel included. Remind them that they are a part of the greater family of the Church and the Kingdom of God! Keep your eyes open! GiveCentral has some exciting and innovative announcements coming in January 2024! Your experience of GiveCentral is about to get easier and faster! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 1

Strengthening Family Bonds: A Call to Peace and Virtue in the New Year

Pastoral Reflection The readings for Sunday call for peace, respect, and the exercise of virtue in family life. While modern family life is...

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From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world to investment strategies in the gospel parable, it looks like the readings are all over the map for this weekend. But they aren’t. There is a consistent theme, and it's about how we should be living until the Day of the Lord. St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are children of the light and of the day, and so should live with the joys, hopes, and conduct appropriate to being in the light. The first reading describes the virtues of a wife (from an ancient perspective), and the gospel parable describes what we should be doing with what the Lord has given us. I imagine that the writer in Proverbs is a man who appreciates his wife and is writing this reflection as he beholds her from across the room, watching what she does. The gospel parable is from the first part of the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Next weekend we will read the last part, where the sheep and the goats are divided and judged. In light of that, we can see the urgency of this parable and all the readings of this weekend. We are called, at the end of the day, to appreciation, to recognition of the light we’ve been called to, and to use generously and well the talents we’ve been given. Call to action: If you’ve been doing a stewardship drive this month, the readings for this weekend provide a wonderful opportunity to pull it all together! The call to live spiritually in the light (prayer and sacrifice), the call to give of ourselves virtuously (the image of the good wife), and the call to use and give our talents well and generously (parable of the talents). As we approach Thanksgiving later this week, do we have a spirit of gratitude? A spirit that celebrates joy, feels appreciation for all that we have, and is willing to give generously? It’s time to call your parishioners to Christian joy and generosity. Use your GiveCentral GC Smart Tools, especially your pew cards with your Smart Text number and/or QR Code, allowing them to give joyfully and quickly. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has customizable templates for your pew cards! You can find them here. Do you need help using our GC SmartTools? Please email edgar@givecentral.org so you can join an onboarding/re-boarding training where you will learn all about the GC platform and GC SmartTools. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 1

Living in the Light: A Call to Joy, Gratitude, and Generous Stewardship

From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world to investment strategies in the gospel parable, it looks like the readings are all over the...

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Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The person who is wise seeks wisdom, while the fool runs from thing to thing. However, in order to obtain wisdom, we need to be focused and prepared. In today’s gospel parable the wise virgins are ready for the wedding feast because they have prepared, they have thought about what is needed, and they have actively sought what they need – in this case, oil for their lamps. The foolish virgins are foolish because they have not prepared and have not actively sought what they need. Every human being comes to a point in life when he or she realizes that life is short and that we want a life of meaning. Sometimes people come to our churches because they are seekers, and they are actively looking for wisdom and meaning, for connection and hope. The good news is that there is still time, though not an infinite amount of it! For those whose souls are like “dry weary lands without water,” and who are seeking the One who is the Truth, who is Wisdom, let them find in our parish communities a welcoming place, a place where He who is Wisdom can be found. Call to action: The readings in the final Sundays of Ordinary Time focus on the last things and the conclusion of history. It reaches a crescendo on the Solemnity of Christ the King – the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Christ the King celebrates looking forward to the time when all things shall be under the headship of Christ. November also marks the beginning of the Holiday Season as people prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. It is also the time when the greatest amount of charitable giving is done for churches and nonprofits. Perhaps your parish is running its annual stewardship campaign, or you are asking your people to consider their Christmas gift to the parish. If you are, use your GiveCentral texting and QR Code capabilities to make things easier for them! Remember, the wise are prepared! Pastoral Action Points Do you have a new staff member that needs to be trained on the GiveCentral platform? If so, contact Teresa to set up training at teresa@givecentral.org Prepare now to welcome new church members and those “once or twice a year” visitors during Advent and Christmas. Do you have a welcoming ministry organized? Also, we have Advent and Christmas pew card templates, email templates, and direct mail templates here available for your use. Contact teresa@givecentral.org for more details! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

August 11, 2024 • Pastoral Notes • Views: 2

Seeking Wisdom: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ’s Coming

Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The person who is wise seeks wisdom, while the fool runs from thing...

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