# Irish charities 'behind' with social media

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/05/18/irish-charities-039behind039-social-media/
- Published: 2011-05-18T15:06:17+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A leading social media consultant believes that charities in Ireland are “much slower
on the uptake” than commercial organisations when it comes to social media.

Writing in the Irish News, Jill Culbertson of Navajotalk, said that the charitable
sector lends itself well to promotion by social media but smaller charities and 
social enterprises in particular are missing out on the opportunities offered by
social media such as Facebook.

“Given the levels of engagement that social media fosters amongst ‘followers ‘ and‘
fans’, charities are really missing out on increasing recognition and support for
their cause,” Ms Culbertson said.

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She said that social media can have a direct effect on donations and is a ‘perfect
opportunity in this digital age’.

Ms Culbertson said not all charities are missing out on the potential of social 
media and quoted the examples of [Age NI](https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Northern-Ireland-Hi-5-Athon/194179872625)
for its High5 campaign, the [Irish Cancer Society](http://www.cancer.ie) for its
virtual gift campaign and social enterprise organisation [Loaf Catering](http://www.nowproject.co.uk/general/employers/bLoaf-Catering).

The first step for charities, according to Ms Culbertson, is to develop a social
media policy and strategy for social media marketing and messaging.

www.navajotalk.com

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