Social Media and Email Fundraising: Creating Engaged Communities in Uncertain Times

Learn how to use social media, email marketing, and messaging apps to build digital communities and run effective fundraising campaigns for your nonprofit. In a rapidly shifting digital landscape, successful nonprofits don't just need donations - they cultivate communities ready to show up, share, and act whenever they're needed. This course teaches students how to harness social media, messaging apps, and email to create engaged, adaptable communities that respond to your mission all year long.
 
You'll learn how to design a digital communications strategy that balances compelling content with real human connection, avoiding the trap of chasing algorithms. We'll cover emerging platforms like NoPlace, BlueSky, and Threads, as well as evolving behaviors on Facebook, Instragram, TikTok, NextDoor, LinkedIn, and YouTube. More importantly, you'll discover how to move audiences to owned channels like WhatsApp, Discord, SMS, and email, where engagement deepens and action becomes possible.
 
Through hand-on exercises and a final project, students will build a multi-channel fundraising campaign that transforms followers into active, loyal participants in your organization's mission - ready to give, volunteer, or advocate, no matter what the ask.
 

Course Topics:
 

• Build digital communities that are ready to act anytime.
• Turn followers into loyal supporters across social media, text messaging, email marketing, WhatApp, and Discord
• Design multi-channel fundraising campaigns that adapt to change and leverage Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, NoPlace, BlueSky and Threads.
• Crafts stories that move hearts and inspire giving, volunteering, and advocacy.
• Navigate emerging platforms and evolving audience habits.
• Measure engagement and community growth that actually matters.
• Develop a nonprofit digital strategy that grows engagement and inspires action.
• Launch a hands-on multi-channel campaign for Giving Tuesday or year-end initiatives.

 
This course is eligible towards the completion of the Certificate in Fundraising. Bundle your coursework and earn a professional credential that communicates knowledge and skills gained. Declared Certificate students receive 10% off of courses within the program.
 
Note: Full participation in this course is applicable for 18 points in Category 1.B-Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 2.5

You'll walk away with

• The ability to build and nurture digital communities that show up, give, volunteer, and advocate throughout the year.
• Strategies for leveraging social media, messaging apps, and email to deepen engagement and move supporters from casual followers to action-ready participants.
• Skills to design flexible, multi-channel digital campaigns that adapt to evolving platforms and audience behaviors.
• Practical experience creating a multi-channel campaign blueprint you can deploy in your organization and replicate for future initiatives.
• Insight into emerging platforms and shifting audience trends, giving you the foresight to stay ahead of the digital landscape.

Ideal for

• Communications or fundraising staff at small to mid-sized nonprofits seeking practical digital strategies
• New social media managers looking to build a strong foundation in digital organizing
• Experienced social media managers transitioning from for-profit to the nonprofit sector
• Seasoned communications or fundraising professionals eager to experiment with emerging social media platforms, digital tools, and multi-channel nonprofit marketing strategies.