Happy Sunday, Reader

Your nonprofit is doing great work, so why does engagement often feel like a one-way street?

You post, email, and share stories about your impact, but what do you get in return?

*Crickets*

It’s frustrating, and honestly, it’s exhausting. I get it.

Creating a community for your nonprofit, whether online or offline, is no easy task.

Supporters feel overwhelmed with content, social media algorithms hide your posts, and shrinking attention spans make engagement harder than ever.

Trust in online spaces is becoming more complicated, especially with the influx of AI-generated content. It’s tough out there.

What if you could change the way your supporters engage with your mission? What if you could turn your followers into a more active, engaged community?

In today’s edition of the Social Profit Stack, I’ll share simple but effective ways to create a space where people feel like they belong and want to engage. And in 2025, that’s more important than ever.

Building Community Isn’t About Shouting Louder

I recently worked with a nonprofit that was struggling to connect with its donors.

Kate, the Director of Development, juggled everything—fundraising, communications, social media—from the corner of her desk. (We all know what that’s like!)

Despite her team’s dedication, donor engagement was low, and their email list felt stagnant.

So, we took a step back and asked:

👉 What do your donors truly care about?

👉 How do you want them to feel when interacting with your nonprofit?

👉 What conversations are you starting (or missing) that would make people want to participate in your mission?

We realized the missing piece wasn’t about fundraising but a lack of community.

Shift Your Approach

Kate’s team shifted their strategy from simply asking for donations to increased engagement.

They experimented with new messaging for donors, added two new sections to their website to share stories, and transformed their social media posts from mere announcements into meaningful conversations.

Rather than stating, “We raised $25K for student bursaries!” they shared how that support changed a student’s life.

The result? Engagement soared. There were more email sign-ups, increased shares, and increased donations.

Create a Thriving Community

If you’re struggling with engagement, here are a few strategies to get you started.

Talk about what matters to your supporters. Share their values, challenges, and role in the mission—not just your organization’s work.

Make your messages more personal. Drop the formalities, remove the jargon, and write as you speak. You’ll surprise yourself with the ease of writing this way.

Encourage interaction. Ask for opinions, share polls, and ask for replies. A one-way conversation won’t build a movement.

Offer value beyond fundraising. To attract and nurture your audience, create a free lead magnet, such as a guide, webinar, or behind-the-scenes update.

Offer to meet IRL (in person). Your local supporters will appreciate meeting others who support your mission. Grab a coffee or offer a way to network with other supporters. Share updates and what the future holds.

Measure what works. Data for the win! Track engagement, test new ideas, and adjust based on your audience’s response.

Your Next Steps

Think about your last email or social media post. Did it invite a conversation or even a reply? Did it make people feel like they were part of something bigger?

Try rewriting one post this week to focus on engagement rather than only information. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Highlight someone impacted by your nonprofit and invite followers to share their experiences. (“Meet Sarah. Last year, she struggled to afford school supplies, but thanks to donors like you, she received a bursary that changed everything.”)

Poll your email list or invite opinions. (“We’re planning our next community workshop! What topic interests you most?”)

Let people see the work behind your mission. (“Ever wonder what a day at [Your Nonprofit] looks like? Here’s a sneak peek!”)

Encourage sign-ups with a lead magnet - a free resource, like a guide, checklist, or toolkit. (“Grab your FREE copy of ‘5 Easy Ways to Support a Cause (Without Donating a Dollar)’”)

Celebrate your community and their contributions. (“Wow. We’re speechless! Because of you, we reached our goal of [X amount raised]!”)

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Try one of these posts this week and watch how your audience responds. But promise me you won’t get discouraged if it takes some time. Stay consistent.

When you build a community, fundraising becomes much easier—it’s often the next step in the cultivation process. By sharing value, you’ll continue to build a strong community of people who remain committed to supporting your cause.

Hit reply! Share the post or email you'll send this week to encourage engagement and participation in your mission.

Link 💜

Ready to take action on building out an online community? I learned tons about building communities from Shana Lynn Bresnahan a few years ago. She shares all you need to know about the best online community platforms.

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