“Social media isn’t going anywhere,” says commenter Gina Dotson, “so we may as well learn how to use it.”
That alone could be the theme of this issue of GMNsight: Advancing Grantmaking. Just a few years ago, social media was a new invention; now, it’s the way of the world and, increasingly, the way of the world of philanthropy. But what does it mean for grantmaking?
First and foremost, grantmakers must embrace social media as another tool in their arsenal or risk falling behind the practices of nonprofits and grantseekers. Funders must also come to terms with answers to questions about whether, why, and how to integrate social media into their existing practices or—more likely—overhaul their practices to be more effective with the addition of social media.
In this issue of GMNsight: Advancing Grantmaking we have included several perspectives on why and how to use social media to advance the work of philanthropy. We also asked some social media experts for their tips on how to get started and where to go first in the landscape that’s changing every day.
Using Social Media for Personal and Organizational Success When asked what three things organizations need more of to really make an impact on their work, the response is often: time, talent, and treasure. Even in our own lives, this ubiquitous…
How It’s Inevitable and Why You Should Embrace It After you make the decision to tweet with a personal Twitter handle, you have to decide what you’ll actually tweet about. As a philanthropy professional, it’s important to put your likeable,…
The Importance of Social Networking to Grantmaking When I decided to apply for the position of Grants Manager and Social Media Coordinator at The Burton D. Morgan Foundation last year, I had to ask my 15-year-old daughter to give me…
Philanthropy: It’s a word that conjures images of grand, old family foundations, gala benefits, and PBS underwriters. It’s so mired in tradition and upright duty that it is all but synonymous with a wood-paneled boardroom. But thanks in large…
Social media is a powerful tool in leading and creating social change. Think about the Occupy Wall Street efforts, the Arab Spring protests, and Hurricane Sandy reports: social media played a critical role in getting the word out and served…
In 2009, the blog “Philanthropy 411” identified 90 foundations with a Twitter presence. Fast forward to 2013, where a Twitter search reveals hundreds of foundations that tweet. The early adopters have been joined by many peer organizations, with a large…
In April 2013, I was invited to participate in a meeting organized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called Advancing Social Media Measurement for Foundations, where I presented on the State of Nonprofit Social Media Measurement. The participants were a…
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