I whole-heartedly agree.  Applied to a donor/supporter base, I think social media can make a tremendous and easily-fascilitated impact.  A simple example is the use of twitter to acknowledge publicity and financial contributors.  For retweeting several Mercy Corps posts, I was tweeted a thank you for my support.

similarly, the crisis in Haiti spurred numerous efforts to use social media for fundraising and public information.  The American Red Cross uses its Facebook page to offer personal thanks to “fans” and contributors to aid in Haiti.  Such an effort also allows a community to congregate.

However, Beth Kanter, social media and nonprofit guru, cautions nonprofits against using social media as the be-all, end-all.  She notes that nonprofits should use social media with caution, realizing that the platforms are tools, not strategies. Most platforms follow Gartner’s hype cycle, ending in a plateau of performance. 

Regardless, responding to donors, contributors and “fans” on the platforms THEY use demonstrates a flexibility and fluidity not usually associated with nonprofits.  But as Dave Fleet mentions, sometimes the handwritten or personal touch is best.  For thanking  those large donations, perhaps in the words of Marshall Mcluhan, the medium is the message.

What other nonprofits use social media platforms to thank donors and contributors?  Do you think it’s a good tactic?

The International Red Cross  is a White House recommended organization. Donations are made here and fund medical aid and efforts to reunite families separated by this tragedy.  Donations of $10 can also be made and charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

UNICEF has issued a call for $120 million to support relief efforts through its post in Port-Au-Prince.  Donations support the children affected by this disaster and are made here.

CARE, mentioned in the Worldly Nonprofit here, is looking for donations to address the immediate needs of people affected by the earthquake, especially women and children.  Donations are made here.

The sustainable development nonprofit in Cap Haitien, Konbit Sante, mentioned in an earlier post has set up an earthquake response fund to address the immediate needs of the country.  Already contributing $25,000 from its reserves,  monies contributed will go to the now air-lifted  patients of Justinian hospital. Donations are made here.

Mercy Corps, a Portland, OR-based nonprofit mentioned here and here in the Worldly Nonprofit, is aggressively seeking donations to offer immediate humanitarian aid as well as offer psychological support and job infrastructure long-term.  Donations are made here and by starting a fundraising page.

Doctors Without Borders is currently hoping to expand their surgical capacity and seek donations for their Emergency Relief Fund.  Donations are made here.

Informationally,  The American Red Cross has a good update-style blog.  The White House blog contains timely informations about US efforts in Haiti.  Included in the blog is a link for the Center for International Disaster Information.  Mark Turner, former Financial Times journalist, writes from within Haiti in his Blog, Dispatches From a Fragile Island.  The Charity Water website has a great blog with information photos and links to their partner organizations, Partners in Health and Concern Worldwide.  Finally, the Facebook page, Global Disaster Relief is a tool for donation, connection and news updates.

Please add your input of other good nonprofit organizations and sites for information and donation.

Here is Obama’s statement yesterday after his call with President Preval of Haiti:

I discussed Mercy Corps earlier regarding the organization’s poignant and strategic use of Twitter.  Today, I revisit the nonprofit for its tactic in  acquiring holiday donations.  Like some its competitors such as Heifer International , Mercy Corps packages donating as “gift-giving.”  Its differentiator, however, is  to ”give the gift that lasts a lifetime,” a Mercy Kit.    

Donors have a choice of kits ranging from $25 and up, and benefiting specific causes.  One such kit is the Play to Heal Kit.  For $75,  a donor gives a child who has experienced trauma a mentor, supplies, and a caregiver manual.  If the donation is made for someone else, the named person receives a card.  Each kit page contains a story of  a person helped, a donor testimonial and a donation widget.

One testimonial: “The way that the Mercy Kit is presented makes it feel tangible. You get a real sense of how your gift could help someone.”

Brian Powell, Cause Marketing expert and author of the blog,  Good Concepts, would say this testimonial is at the heart of effective donation garnering.  He recently noted that two important quotients of cause marketing are transparency and tangibility.  Without promoting the truth of where donation dollars go, it is hard for a  nonprofit to compete.  Powell states that donors need a 1-to-1 ratio,  ”This $75 dollar sum buys this, this and this.”  Overall, nonprofits need to package a donation in a manner that answers Powell’s big ‘D’ question, “Will this donation make a difference?”

According to Charity Navigator, human services nonprofits experienced the biggest drop in donations last year.  However, these are the organizations that need money the most during the holidays.  It seems crucial, then, that organizations like Mercy Corps ensure their messaging reflect the big ‘D.’

A personal “Thank You” displaying that 1 -to-1 ratio from Jeremy Barnicle,  Mercy Corps Marketing and Communications Vice President

What organizations also do this well?

The true reason I mention Mercy Corps, however, is for the nonprofit’s use of  Twitter.  While I sometimes debate the true effectiveness of microblogging when it comes to garnering donations, I think Mercy Corps developed the right blend of 140-character fueled public information and public solicitation, and encouraged retweeting.  Here is an example of the last few tweets:

“Writer @loudmind shares his most memorable meals from the field. (And how it all started w/ Indiana Jones.) http://bit.ly/5XIdcR about 9 hours ago from web

If you can spend $10 on cranberry sauce, can you spend $10 a help feed a family? Put the “giving” back in Thanksgiving: http://bit.ly/QKG4X about 13 hours ago from web

Take a look at what women in CAR and our team around the globe are thankful for. Then add your thanks: http://bit.ly/4oXciH #thanksgiving “

They connect followers to the Mercy Corps blog, encourage donation and foster interaction with the nonprofit. 

Interestingly, Beth Kanter, social media and nonprofit expert and author of “Beth’s Blog”, notes some interesting trends in Twitter solicitations that Mercy Corps appears to  adopt.  In particular, the fostering of “person to person asks.”

She advocates, and I agree, that the strategy behind the posts that can lead to the ultimate goal, donations.  What do you think?