Building a community and creating a sense of belonging is at the heart of every organization’s mission. After all, who else will help you spread the word about your organization and drive new supporters? No organization can do it alone. A strong community requires and supports relationships with people who are willing to lend a helping hand, no matter how big or small that may be. There’s a lot that goes into building a supportive community. Fortunately, doing so isn’t nearly as difficult as some people make it out to be. The right actions can lead you down one path or another—and it all starts with your connections. Below we’ve identified six actionable steps for building a supportive community within your organization.
Build relationships before you ask for anything.
Before thinking about asking for donations, volunteers, or new members, you must first be armed with a strong network of connections. There are many reasons why many nonprofits aren’t building solid relationships outside their organization. From being too busy to be too shy, there are many reasons why connections may not be made. However, one of the most common reasons is not knowing where to begin. Many nonprofits don’t have enough time to meet new people and build new connections. However, a quick look at the average American’s schedule will show us that we rarely have enough time in our day, even for the most important tasks. To build new relationships, take the time to speak with each person you meet. When you meet someone for the first time, ask them their name, what they do, and how you can get in touch with them. You’ll be surprised how many people you’ll connect with this way.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Community building is a two-way street. You’re not going to get very far until you’ve made an effort to connect and build relationships with others. It would be best if you did this with the right mindset. First and foremost, you must never come across as needy or desperate. Instead, you must come across as a genuine person who cares deeply about your cause and is willing to make an effort to help. It would be best if you also remembered the difference between asking for help and being demanding. You mustn’t come across as a do-it-yourself type who expects others to jump through hoops just because you’ve asked them to.
Build a presence online.
Your nonprofit’s online presence is essential for building a community and reaching new supporters, donors, and volunteers. It’s also important for attracting new employees who want to work for your organization. Chances are, your organization’s website is where you’re first making connections with potential supporters. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure it’s a practical and helpful tool for community-building. Your nonprofit’s online presence is essential for building a community and reaching new supporters, donors, and volunteers. It’s also important for attracting new employees who want to work for your organization. Chances are, your organization’s website is where you’re first making connections with potential supporters. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure it’s a practical and helpful tool for building a community. Your nonprofit’s online presence is essential for building a community and reaching new supporters, donors, and volunteers. It’s also important for attracting new employees who want to work for your organization. Chances are, your organization’s website is where you’re first making connections with potential supporters. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure it’s a practical and helpful tool for building a community. Your nonprofit’s online presence is essential for building a community and reaching new supporters, donors, and volunteers. It’s also important for attracting new employees who want to work for your organization. Chances are, your organization’s website is where you’re first making connections with potential supporters. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure it’s an effective and helpful tool for building a community.
Hold events.
It may feel like a lot of work to host in-person events, but they’re essential to building a community. No matter how strong your online presence is, it’s impossible to reach every person online. And it’s also nearly impossible to meet every person in your community. Events allow you to meet many new people, connect, and build a supportive community. They can also be a source of revenue for your nonprofit. They may be a great way to engage with your members, volunteers, donors, and supporters. They can also be a great way to make new connections and build a community online.
Create content and share it frequently.
Many nonprofits focus solely on building an online presence without devoting much time to creating helpful content for their website. Creating content is one of the most important things you can do to grow your nonprofit. You can use content in various ways, including the following: – For content-generating activities, consider holding an editorial meeting where you review your organization’s content and make any adjustments that need to be made. – Consider creating a blog or newsletter where you can publish articles regularly. – For internal purposes only, consider creating a nonprofit wiki. – For external purposes only, consider creating a nonprofit website.
Conclusion
Communication is a critical factor in building a community. You must ensure you’re regularly reaching out to your supporters, donors, and members. You can use email campaigns, social media posts, newsletters, and more to ensure you’re staying in touch with your supporters. You can also use these channels to publicize upcoming events, create content for your website, and more. Communication is also essential for building a supportive community. You need to ensure you’re reaching out to others in your organization and outside of it. Communication isn’t accessible, but it’s worth the effort. The right actions can lead you down one path or another—and it all starts with your connections.
