By Christa Carignan, ASF
I was pondering over data from The Foundation Center’s recent study of foundations using social media.
- 45% of foundations use social media, but just 34% of family and independent foundations do.
- 74% of foundations on social media say it is useful in furthering philanthropy.
- 41% of foundations manage their social media with communications staff.
For those who manage philanthropy from a small shop with few or no communications staff, adding social media to your to-do list can elicit utterances of, “Who has time for that?”
But consider how social media could support your philanthropy. Take Twitter, for example. It’s a great place to start. Sign up for a free account, “follow” several people or organizations of interest to you, and then simply listen. Get a feel for the medium (short messages with 140-character limits) and the lingo. See if you find valuable information—even inspiration!
You can use Twitter to:
Scan news related to the issues you’re passionate about.
