Holiday Social Media Marketing for Nonprofits

The holidays are filled with the spirit of giving, especially between Thanksgiving—a time to be thankful and give back—and the New Year, where we collectively set goals to be our best selves. During this time, there’s a significant increase in donations and volunteer sign-ups. So, how are you planning to get your cause in front of the right people? By reading this blog, you’re off to a great start! We’ll cover the steps to help you market your campaign on social media over the holiday season. Plus, we’ve got an easy-to-follow Guide to the 2024 Holiday Season specifically geared towards nonprofits.

Define Your Campaign Goals

Any campaign you launch should start with clear goals. Goals are crucial for successful campaigns, developing marketing strategies, and measuring key metrics. So, your first step should be to schedule a meeting with your team to discuss the goals for your campaign. Using S.M.A.R.T. Goals ensure success.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

• Specific: What exactly will be accomplished? 

• Measurable: What data will you track to measure your progress?

• Achievable: Do you have the necessary skills and resources?

• Relevant: How does the goal align with broader objectives?

• Time-Bound: What is the timeline for achieving the goal?


→ Click here to learn more about S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Partner With Influencers and Organizations

Once you’ve defined your S.M.A.R.T. goals, the next question is: do you want to partner with local organizations or influencers? Partnering with influencers can significantly boost your reach and help you connect with a larger audience. Influencer marketing can be an excellent strategy for reaching the right audience during this busy time of year. Check out the following resources to get started with influencer marketing: 

→ A Beginner’s Guide to Influencer Marketing

→ CASE STUDY: Influencer Marketing for Alexandria Massage Therapy and Wellness Center

If you choose to partner or collaborate with other organizations, you can also expand your reach through cross-promotion across all the involved accounts. Additionally, it can be more cost-effective to collaborate by pooling resources. When selecting organizations to partner with, make sure their mission aligns with your cause and their audience is similar to yours.

Use Storytelling to Create a Holiday-Themed Content Strategy

People connect with stories, not brands. Use storytelling elements to capture your audience’s hearts. With so many causes out there, it’s essential to stand out by explaining why people should donate to your organization. Consider sharing stories from your donor base, events, and employees. Show your impact on the people & causes you serve. The goal is to use storytelling to spark action and rise above the noise.

Use Paid Ads to Boost Reach

It takes money to make money, right? Paid ads offer an opportunity to reach a much wider audience on social media. By incorporating social media ads into your campaign, you can increase visibility, gain more volunteers, and attract more donations. Plus, social media ads don’t have to be expensive—you can start with a small budget and gradually increase your ad spend as you see results.

We understand that the holidays can be a stressful time for most, and adding a campaign on top of that can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created a Guide to the 2024 Holiday Season specifically for nonprofits, so you can tackle each task one step at a time. We love breaking big projects into smaller, manageable checklists! By using S.M.A.R.T. goals, collaborations, storytelling, and paid ads, you’ll be well on your way to a successful campaign.

Want Help Planning and Executing Your Giving Season or Year-End Campaigns?

Book a discovery call to discuss a successful Giving Season for your non-profit!