Social Media Policies for Non-Profits-5 Key Ideas

5 key ideas to remember for non-profit social media policies:

1. Social media is about engagement. Your social media policy should not be overly restrictive or punitive and should encourage interaction within a basic framework
2. Staff members have certain rights in their personal social media communications that won’t always reflect well on your non-profit. However, there are laws that protect some of their rights to converse openly and with other staff about your organization when they use their  personal sites. You can read more about those rights in the  National Labor Relations Board, Office of the General Counsel findings of August 18, 2011. If you need a restrictive policy, your non-profit (or business) may not have the right culture to use social media effectively
3. Break down your policy into 2 parts–one that relates to your non-profit organization as a whole, and, one that relates to your leadership, staff, and volunteers, as individuals. One policy that I’ve seen that does a great job in establishing the boundaries is from Bread of for the World shared by Social Media Biz
4. What to do? You have an urgent need to raise funds and your volunteers aren’t committed to giving. Including them in your social media efforts may convert some of them to donors or, even better, fundraisers for your non-profit. Read more about turning “Slacktivists into Activists.“  Also see Beth Kanter’s twitter graphic “Ladder of Engagement” for a great explanation of motivations behind different levels of engagement
5. If your key stakeholders want to create *sites which, specifically, promote your non-profit in its cause, goals, or agenda, provide them with a copy of your

• Social Media Policy
• Social Media Brand and Style Guide
• event dates
• key talking points and objectives
• list of online training and resources

*Be sure that any non-official sites carry a clear disclaimer that the site is owned, operated, and managed by the owner and not by your non-profit.