Board Social Media Guide

Social Media is a powerful tool that has the potential to promote your organization and your mission to more people. However, what many people get wrong about social media is that while it’s a convenient way to get your message out there, it does still take strategy, planning, and teamwork to make sure your messages are seen by the right people at the right time. One of the easiest ways to make your social media content more powerful is to recruit Social Media Champions who will like, share, and post their own content on behalf of your organization.

When you post something on social media, it is only seen by those who already subscribe to your organization. However, when someone other than your organization interacts with that content, or creates and shares content of their own, your reach can expand exponentially! Your board members should be passionate about your mission and excited to help you promote the Giving Challenge. Using these tips and sample messages, your board members can help you have an even greater impact during the 2024 Giving Challenge!

Social Media Tips

Tip 1 - Share your story

Share the story of why this organization matters to you and why you are passionate about their mission. People respond better to someone’s personal experience than a generic ask. Pull at their heartstrings and show them why this is a cause worth caring about.

Put your money where your mouth is! If you are already planning on donating to your organization during the Giving Challenge, consider setting some of that money aside to motivate your network to take part in the fun. Offer to donate $5 for every share one of your social media posts gets - or for every new donor that makes a donation! Get creative and have fun!

Whenever the organization you are supporting posts content on their social media page, you can help to make that post go the extra mile by liking it or sharing it with your own friends. It’s a quick and easy way to make sure more people are seeing those messages and learning how they can support their mission.

Collaborate with other Social Media Champions! Interacting with other board members or supporters on social media can be a great way to have an organic conversation about your organization that also promotes your cause and your participation in #GivingChallenge2024! Don’t be afraid to use that @mention to promote a little friendly competition either!

Tip 5 - Set small goals

Set a weekly quota for yourself to make sure that you’re staying connected and helping your organization reach their goals. Our team of fundraising experts recommends at least one original post every week as well as several likes and shares to make sure that no one misses a beat this Giving Challenge!

Tip 6 - Use #GivingChallenge2024 and #BeTheOne

Don’t forget to use #hashtags in your posts! #GivingChallenge2024 and #BeTheOne are the official 2024 Giving Challenge hashtags. Be sure to use those in all of your posts in addition to custom hashtags for the organizations/causes you support. Hashtags are a great way to be a part of the conversation and get your message out there to more people. Whether it’s a #hashtags that represent your cause like #animals #literacy or #hunger or #hashtags that promote the event #giving #fundraising #donate or #nonprofits - using hashtags is the perfect way to engage with more people throughout the great social network!

Sample Social Media Posts

Facebook ▼

X (Twitter) ▼

Instagram ▼

Click one of the social media icons above to see tips, tricks, and sample posts for each of these social media platforms

Facebook Tips

Looking to get the word out with Facebook? This guide will help you get started and on the road to creating a successful strategy.

Below is a list of ways you can begin engaging your community for the 2024 Giving Challenge!

Talk it up! Post interesting information about the area that you are supporting and share success stories and photos. Ask your followers questions to engage them in dialogue. Remember to keep posts brief! You don’t want to lose your audience by presenting lengthy updates.

Tell everyone that the organization that you are supporting is a part of the Giving Challenge. Be sure to tell people what it is all about. Let them know how they can donate and ask them to spread the word as well.

Create a Facebook event. Invite your constituents to be part of the 2024 Giving Challenge so that they can be reminded as the day gets closer AND see who else is participating. Also, tell people to invite others. It doesn’t matter whether or not you are hosting an event onsite; the whole event is worth celebration!

Sample Facebook Posts

  • April 9 - 10 I am proud to support [ORG NAME] in the #GivingChallenge2024 in an effort to raise awareness for [YOUR CAUSE/MISSION] and make a positive impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. Join me in making a difference in our community! #BeTheOne
  • April 9 - 10 I will be joining [ORG NAME] to celebrate #GivingChallenge2024 - an exciting day for our community to recognize all of the amazing work nonprofits do and the impact they have in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties and beyond! Head to https://www.givingchallenge.org to learn more. #BeTheOne
  • Have you liked [ORG NAME] on Facebook yet? If you haven’t you’re missing out! With #GivingChallenge2024 right around the corner you’ll want to check out their page to see the impact supporters will have on [CAUSE/MISSION] and our community. #BeTheOne
  • Save the date! April 9 - 10 is #GivingChallenge2024 and I can’t wait to support [ORG NAME] and all of the great work they do for Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. #BeTheOne
  • Still don’t know which organizations to support during #GivingChallenge2024? I’ve got a few ideas for you! Check out [ORG NAME] to see all of the incredible ways your contribution will have an impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties for the #GivingChallenge2024 April 9 - 10! #BeTheOne
  • Friends, with only [X TIME] until the #GivingChallenge2024, will you join me in supporting [ORG NAME] April 9 - 10? Every dollar makes a difference in [MISSION/CAUSE]. Help me and [ORG NAME] make Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties a better place! #BeTheOne
  • #GivingChallenge2024 is here! Over the next 24 hours Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties will come together to support all of the incredible nonprofits in our community. Today I am proud to #BeTheOne by supporting [ORG NAME] and helping them promote their mission and have a greater impact in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.
  • Wow! [ORG NAME] has already raised [X AMOUNT] during #GivingChallenge2024! With only [X AMOUNT] hours left - will you help them reach [# OF DONORS GOAL/AMOUNT RAISED GOAL] by 11:59AM on April 10? Every contribution today has a direct impact on [CAUSE/MISSION]! #BeTheOne

X (Twitter) Tips

Want to quickly engage donors and share information about your fundraising efforts? X (Twitter) is instant and efficient!

Below you will find a few tips to help you have success.

Follow @CFSarasota's X (Twitter)  account.

Tell your followers that you are fundraising for the Giving Challenge. Tell your followers about the specific area that you support and begin to build a story around that. Use some of the suggested posts provided below.

Use #hashtags and @handles. Whenever you share information include the @CFSarasota handle and #GivingChallenge2024 to further spread the word. Show that you are a part of the 2024 Giving Challenge by using the hashtag in all of your tweets.

Don’t just follow! Become a part of the conversation. Let people know that you are out there and engaged. Respond to tweets like you are holding a conversation. You never know where this may lead.

Share pictures, videos and interesting content. X (Twitter) is not just about your ‘words’. Pictures and videos draw people in, and sharing interesting articles about what you and others are doing shows that you are part of a community.

Tweet, retweet and tweet again (especially during the Giving Challenge)!

Sample X (Twitter) Posts

  • Follow [@ ORG NAME] on X for live updates throughout #GivingChallenge2024! #BeTheOne
  • I am proud to support [@ ORG NAME] for #GivingChallenge2024 to help them make a difference in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties! #BeTheOne
  • Do you care about [CAUSE]? Support [@ORG NAME] during the #GivingChallenge2024! #BeTheOne
  • I can’t wait to support [@ORG NAME] April 9 - 10 for #GivingChallenge2024! Will you join me in making a difference #BeTheOne
  • Help [@ ORG NAME] reach their goal of [GOAL] by giving during the #GivingChallenge2024! #BeTheOne
  • How much good can a community do in 24 hours? Find out April 9 - 10 for #GivingChallenge2024! #BeTheOne
  • Don’t forget to head to https://www.givingchallenge.org April 9-10 to support [@ORG NAME]! #BeTheOne

Instagram Tips

Looking to harness the power of visual communication? Take advantage of the ability to communicate with potential supporters with impactful images and catchy captions.

Follow @CFSarasota on Instagram.

Connect your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Make sure that your Instagram posts are automatically posted on Facebook. Connecting Facebook and Instagram harnesses the power of both social media platforms at once and allows you to reach a wider audience.

Find powerful images. People-centric, positive images will help you draw in new followers. Focus on sharing images that speak to your organization’s mission and your target audience. Canva.com is a great way to take your own photographs or a stock image to the next level. If you want to include important dates, statistics, or quotes, Canva lets you add text right on top of the image as well as provides you with a suite of photo editing tools.

Socialize! Like other supporters’ posts, and consider re-sharing posts that stand out and speak to your cause. Showcasing the stories and individuals that propel the mission of the Giving Challenge will help you gain more followers, recognition, and traction in advance of the 2024 Giving Challenge.

Use #GivingChallenge2024 and #BeTheOne, in addition to other creative hashtags. 2-3 hashtags per post is the sweet spot. Start with a branded or specific hashtag - like a tagline or fun phrase. Follow this with the name of the organization that you support, then a broader hashtag tied to the cause (i.e., #spreadingthelove). Having a succession of hashtags helps with branding!

Create a regular schedule for posting. We recommend posting at least 2-3 times per week to stay in your followers' feeds! If you integrate your Instagram posts with Facebook, you’ll want to consider how your Instagram posts will fit in with your other scheduled Facebook posts. Consider making posts that show a chronological history of the Giving Challenge and/or the organization you're supporting, if applicable.

Have fun! Instagram is a really playful platform, and the perfect opportunity to let the unique personalities, humor, and convictions of you and the organization you're supporting shine through your photos, captions, and hashtags! Instagram is a fantastic opportunity to relate to your supporters, showing them who you are and what you stand for.


#GivingChallenge2024  |  #BeTheOne