# Steve Bridger on Charities and the Social Web

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/08/01/steve-bridger-charities-and-social-web/
- Published: 2008-08-01T06:29:11+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Nonprofit social media expert and trainer Steve Bridger has shared the presentation
he gave earlier this week to staff at Action Aid, subtitled “does it mean we have
to change our jobs?”

It’s a fine summary of the issues that charities face in making best use of social
media and all things Web 2.0.

The visual style of Steve’s presentation is very engaging and enjoyable, and so 
too are his quotes and clear calls to action.

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[Charities & The Social Web](http://www.slideshare.net/mexicanwave/charities-the-social-web?src=embed)

view [presentation](http://www.slideshare.net/mexicanwave/charities-the-social-web?src=embed)(
tags: [groundswell](http://slideshare.net/tag/groundswell) [agile](http://slideshare.net/tag/agile)
[communities](http://slideshare.net/tag/communities) [storytelling](http://slideshare.net/tag/storytelling))

![](http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyMTc1MTM2MTk*
NTMmcHQ9MTIxNzUxMzYyNTk1MyZwPTEwMTkxJmQ9Jm49Jmc9Mg==.gif)

He explains why things have changed for charities on the web: “the social web has
changed charities from broadcasters pushing out messages and materials to aggregators
who bring together content.” He points out that charities’ stories of what they 
do and whom they help are their most powerful tool online.

He asks “as supporters increasingly want to mix giving their time, money, activism
and influence… has the time come for charities to re-structure to reflect this?”

Steve has been advising organisations on social networking for years and his approach
is friendly and constructive. I like his comment that “social media is a gardening
activity not a building one – let a thousand flowers bloom”.

He points to the [Dog’s Trust](http://www.dogstrust.org.uk) as a fine example of
a charity embracing and trying out these new tools.

He explains the changes in terms of the fact that “social media is forcing charities
to make friends” yet “you cannot ‘vet’ who wants to become your friend”.

Steve is clearly a fan of Seth Godin and he quotes him: “Ideas that spread _through_
groups of people are far more powerful than ideas delivered at an individual.”

He sums up the new situation charities are facing: “participation _is_ marketing”,
but reminds us that we must “engage first, fundraise second”.

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