# Social Misfits Media publishes guide to fundraising on social media

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/11/25/social-misfits-media-publishes-guide-to-fundraising-on-social-media/
- Published: 2014-11-25T14:02:55+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

“Friends with Money: a guide to #fundraising on #socialmedia” is a new free publication
from Social Misfits Media. It’s the third in a series of practical guides for charities
large and small, featuring case studies and advice for charities from some major
technology companies including Facebook and Google.

The 34-page guide aims to help charities and social enterprises in the UK move beyond
thinking of “fundraising on social media as simply asking their followers for donations–
the digital equivalent of shaking a bucket”.

Produced in association with social giving platform JustGiving, it features four
case studies, and five pages of practical resources.

## Advertisement

It begins by reporting that [in 2013 £2.4 billion was donated online in the UK](http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/27/charity-and-social-media),
according to research for mobile operator Three. Yet fundraising on social media
channels is still unrealised for many charities. The report cites research by Blackbaud
in June 2014 that revealed “only 2% of US nonprofits raised between $10,000 and 
$25,000 USD on Facebook in one year, and only 1% generated between $25,000 and $
100,000 USD”.

Social Misfits Media recommend charities see social media tools as offering four
key opportunities to fundraisers:

1. identification

2. cultivation

3. solicitation

4. acknowledgement

It concludes its introduction saying:

> “By providing social media toolkits, engaging with your fundraisers on social 
> media and encouraging them to share pictures, videos and blogs about their experience,
> you’ll be reaching new potential supporters at an exponential rate. You’ll be 
> identifying new prospects with whom you can start the fundraising cycle all over
> again”.

## Case studies

The case studies feature **Rotary Global Swimarathon, Child’s i Foundation, Cancer
Research UK and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland**. Each is designed to exemplify the four
key opportunities and stages in digital fundraising already mentioned.

Each appears with “three takeaways” in which Social Misfits share important lessons
for other charities.

In the case of the Grantham Rotary Club’s success with the Swimarathon, for example,
they point to the importance of searching for and **finding key ‘interest indicators’**(
like-mind people who are potential supporters), and **tapping into existing networks**.

 

## Interviews

_Friends with Money_ features interviews with staff at major technology companies,
namely:

* Lauren Van Horn, Strategic Partnerships, **Facebook**

* Claire Díaz-Ortiz, Head of Social Innovation, **Twitter**

* Charles Wells, Chief Marketing Officer, **JustGiving**

* Isobel Kenyon, Planning Manager, **JustTextGiving by Vodafone**

They are asked questions such as:

 * What unique opportunities does Facebook give fundraisers that other platforms
   do not?
 * How can people go above and beyond to say thanks to donors and supporters?
 * What nonprofits have you seen using Twitter creatively and strategically to nurture
   relationships with their people – donors, staff, volunteers, or beneficiaries?
 * How can Twitter Analytics help organisations measure and analyse the effectiveness
   of their messaging or campaigns?
 * Is JustGiving only about the transaction – the back end of getting money from
   someone’s account into the hands of the charity?
 * Where does mobile giving fit into the social media landscape?

 

## Resources for fundraisers

![JustGiving statistics 2013-14 in Friends with Money by Social Misfits (November
2014)](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/friends-with-money-
justgiving-stats-2013-14.jpg)

JustGiving statistics 2013-14 in Friends with Money by Social Misfits (November 
2014)

The final section includes advice from JustGiving on fundraising on social media
on a shoestring, an array of statistics on how people are using JustGiving together
with Facebook and Twitter, and a one-page checklist for online fundraising using
the four-stage process highlighted above.

There is also a further reading list, linking to the charity-related services or
content on the major social media channels plus other relevant blogs and resources,
including UK Fundraising.

You can download ‘[Friends with Money: a guide to #fundraising on #socialmedia](http://pages.justgiving.com/friends-with-money.html)‘
for free in PDF. Free registration is required.

## Other publications in the series

Social Misfits Media has produced two other guides in the series:

* [About That First Tweet](http://www.socialmisfitsmedia.com/downloads/About_that_First_Tweet.pdf)

* [Something to Tweet About](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/2013/11/25/facebook-youtube-google-contribute-charities-guide-content-social-media/)

 

## Launch of the report

The report was launched at JustGiving on 25 November 2014.

 

 

 

 

 * **[Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan to donate 99% of their Facebook stock](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/12/03/mark-zuckerberg-and-priscilla-chan-to-donate-99-of-their-facebook-stock/)**(
   3 December 2015)
 * **[J.K. Rowling to discuss Lumos live on Facebook](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/09/16/j-k-rowling-discuss-lumos-live-facebook/)**(
   16 September 2016)
 * **[Facebook launches £1 million partnership with anti-bullying charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/10/18/facebook-launches-1m-partnership-anti-bullying-charities/)**(
   18 October 2017)
