Nonprofits and MySpace Roundup Inspired By Solidariti

The Solidariti Blog is written by Priscilla Brice-Weller who has worked for the not-for-profit sector in Melbourne, Austraila.  She is the online campaign coordinator for a national grassroots organization, ANTar, that supports indigenous people.

Her recent blog post, called web2.0 goodness, caught my eye.   She writes about a nonprofit portal in Myspace called Nonprofit Organizations MySpace. It offers tips on how not-for-profits can effectively use MySpace for fundraising and/or campaigning.   It looks like a good place to start if you want to find examples of nonprofits with a presence in MySpace and get ideas.  Looks like quite a few organizations are listed, a combination of institutions and smaller grassroots organizations.   

Here's a list of Nonprofit Myspaces that I visited quickly.  One thing that struck me is that difference in style/look and feel - from say this profile and this one.   I can't seem to get handle on myspace ugliness.  I liked the audio welcome message at this site.  Some sites are using the blog feature to write about their organizations, while others haven't set it up.  Here's a list culled from the portal .. happy browsing.

• ACLU
• Amazon Conservation Team
• Americans for the Arts
• Breast Cancer Action
• Code Pink
• Concern Worldwide UK
• Corazon de Vida
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Handicap International
• Human Rights Campaign
• Impact Awards
• Jobs With Justice
• Katrina Stories
• National Farmers Union
• National Wildlife Federation
• Medecins Sans Frontieres
• Mothers Acting Up
• Planned Parenthood
• Rafiki's Children
• Save Darfur
• Saving Pets and Shelters
• Seacology
• School of America's Watch

Priscilla describes her own organization's activity on MySpace.

I've made a MySpace page for ANTaR (become our friend!) and in two months we've got over 100 "friends", one volunteer, and heaps of petition sign-ups (not to mention an unmeasurable education value). I reckon that's doing pretty well considering our organisation is pretty small.

She also points to a recent article in the Australian press about nonprofits in Melbourne raising money in my space called It's MySpace, my charity, your money.  The article profiles two organizations using MySpace, including OrphFund's efforts on MySpace (here)

According to the article, OprhFund reported a 30 per cent jump in attendance at a recent fundraising event for a new orphanage in Tibet.  OrphFund organizers credit their work on MySpace: 

 

"While we still use group emails and SMS to advertise our events, they are quite random and faceless," she said. "There's no immediate interaction. You really can't see who else is involved just from reading an email.

"But when you are sent a message on MySpace you can click on the site and check out who else is involved in that particular project. It creates more of a community. And you're not scamming people, only (contacting) people who are interested."

She said it was not surprising small charities were turning to MySpace: "The latest way people communicate changes all the time … if you're not up with what's going on then you're not going to get your message out."

An interesting article in the NY Times about arts organizations using MySpace.

 

Following out a bunch of the links, I discovered Diosa Communications which has site and newsletter focused on myspace best practices, tips for setting up your profile and "friending" people.

 

1) Center your "Friends" and "Comments" section
2) Link to your organization’s Web site
3) Use your organization's logo for your default MySpace profile image
4) Don't use an acronym for your MySpace profile name
5) Invest the time and energy in acquiring "Friends"
6) Don't "Add" a song to your organization's MySpace profile
7) Link to your organization's website in bulletins
8) Post comment images that are no larger than 600 pixels in width
9) Use your blog to inspire support and action

Marc Sirkin has a good post reflecting on exactly how an organization might fill out a MySpace profile.

I'd also like to add Nonprofit Dos for MySpace Success from Nancy Schwartz of the Getting Attention Blog.   And, if you're trying to just beginning to test the waters in MySpace or trying to decide which social networking space is right for your organization, Nancy hosted a Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants on the topic of "How to Pinpoint the Right Social Networking Tools for Your Nonprofit, and Get the Support and Budget to Put Them to Work"

Photo:
from the Solidariti blog

 

Comments

[Paige La Grone Babcock]

What a fantastically informative post! I'll be sure to study up on the suggestions and implement some as makes sense for us at Mothers Acting Up.

Thank you for including us on your short list.

With joy,
Paige La Grone Babcock
National Outreach Coordinator & Community Organizer, MOTHERS ACTING UP

[Heather @ DIOSA]

Hi Beth,

Just wanted to says thanks for starting this conversation and for linking to the MySpace Best Practices [For Nonprofit Organizations & Higher Education].

So, yes... MySpace is an amazing Web 2.0 tool. Ironic that was bought by Fox, yes? Someone even e-mailed me that he is writing his disertation about if it is possible to inspire social change through a tool owned by Fox. I think so.... definitely!

I've been on MySpace for close to a year, and I have probably only utilized 50% of its functions. MySPace is vast and evolves daily.

I'm very exicted to learn about MySpace success stories, especially concerning fundraising. Please post them on this blog, as well as on the blog at the Nonprofit Organizations MySpace. Thanks again!

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