Why Nonprofits Should Blog

A few months ago, I read an article in The NonProfit Times suggesting that most nonprofit organizations don’t collect enough feedback from their constituents. I couldn’t have agreed more, and said as much in a letter to the editor of the publication. It’s as clear as the day is light that many organizations, nonprofit and commercial alike, don’t engage openly enough with the marketplace because they’re reluctant to leave themselves exposed to the possibility of negative comments and criticism. By not even attempting to close the loop, however, they don’t know what people really think about their services, products, mission and values. By keeping their donors and customers at arm’s length, they’re fostering relationships that, in effect, can’t possibly live up to their full potential.

…which is one very big reason why nonprofits should blog.

As I wrote in my letter to the editor of The NonProfit Times on January 20, 2005, “a blog is humanizing, engaging and empowering. It is an addictive, grassroots communications platform with an incredibly high trust factor. A blog involves its constituency by providing the opportunity to respond almost instantly to any and all organizational news and information. It allows a nonprofit to draw out invaluable feedback, establishing a mutually-beneficial dialogue with donors, prospects and friends, increasing the potential for more successful fundraising, activism, participation and volunteerism.”

I’m sure that’s what Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, has in mind with his blog, Taking The Initiative.

And what The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog has been doing on behalf of so many who were in the way of that dreadfully fierce wave that mercilessly struck and ravaged southern Asia the day after Christmas.

But those aren’t the only nonprofits you’ll find in the blogosphere. Greenpeace has a blog, too. As does Oceana, the Alliance for Justice, Common Cause and Operation Give, among others.

Even Simmons College has jumped on the blogging bandwagon, using a handful of student blogs to reach out to incoming freshmen.

If you’re interested in learning more about the many benefits of blogging for nonprofit organizations, I’ll be speaking on this very subject at the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association (DMFA) luncheon (11:30 AM — 2:00 PM) at the Lenox Hotel in Boston on June 7, 2005. You can register for this event here. Questions? Thoughts? Feel free to contact me anytime at Cargill123@aol.com or simply post a comment below. I’d have no business calling myself a blogger if I didn’t practice the transparency that I preach, which includes soliciting your feedback and leaving my door wide open.

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