establishing your online presence...

establishing your online presence is perhaps one of the most important foundations your non-profit can have, especially if you are more grass-roots oriented. there are so many tools out there, so many good ones and so many that aren't even worth a second glance. following is a list of online marketing and advertising tools specifically targeted at non-profits that i have found extremely helpful. keeping these up takes work but it can really pay off in the end. feel free to suggest any additions you have found...


your official website
never underestimate your official website. it should be clear, concise and to the point, offer ways for people to get involved (donating or otherwise) and draw users in. do your research, don't pretend you know something about design until you look at what people are doing TODAY. be fresh, be relevant.
here's edurelief's site...

facebook, myspace, virb, etc...
the internet is overrun with social networks and other ways to get your image out there. some groups put way too much faith in these websites, investing time and money to make them work with little return, others stay away, rejecting a tool, that if used right, can help get their name and mission out to the masses. i believe a balance can be found, and while it can take an initial time investment, if you keep social networking sites linked and updated with the content from your main site you can sync and multiply your audience efficiently and effectively. here are some of the better places out there...

facebook causes
don't go for the standard facebook profile. instead, get your non-profit registered with facebook causes and let the socialists tell your story, link you with volunteers and accept donations (they do all the paperwork for a 4.5% cut). get your cause going here...

virb, myspace, etc...
in regards to other social networking sites i have only had experience with myspace (huge, unwieldy, full of spam, but still hugely popular and includes special paypal integration) and virb. virb is smaller but a better site by light-years design wise compared to myspace. both sites can be fitted with paypal or google checkout donation buttons.

youtube for non-profits
youtube recently opened up free "channels" for non-profits. it gives you a page and a place to upload any promo films you may have for your project + receive google checkout donations straight through your youtube site.

Google Grants
Google Grants is free Google AdWords that are awarded to non-profits. It can take up to six months to run the application through but it can give your web presence a huge boost. Highly recommended.

why "the little non-profit that could..."?

i run a little charity called edurelief. as any non-profit startup has learned it is quite a journey from dream to reality. i've learned that having access to great tools can make all the difference to you and your staff in making those dreams come to life. the point of this blog is to gather the many tools my staff and i discovered along the way that have made our lives so much easier (we also appreciate you posting ideas for tools we may have not found). i hope that they help you too and can save you from some of the many headaches that can be experienced in running a non-profit startup. here's to the little non-profit that could...

jonathan tavennec renich
edurelief founder / president