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Your Nonprofit’s Hidden Goldmine: LinkedIn. Here’s how to use it. |
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Most nonprofits focus their energy on Instagram, Facebook, and email. Those platforms matter, but one often gets overlooked: LinkedIn (Yes, that platform your board members keep telling you to use. 😅)
LinkedIn is where board members, corporate partners, grant decision-makers, major donors, and business leaders spend their professional time. I even recently saw a foundation asking for the nonprofit CEO’s LinkedIn profile as part of their grant application. 😮 People who can open doors through funding, partnerships, and connections are definitely looking for you and your cause there.
SO – When you optimize your LinkedIn presence and use it intentionally, you create opportunities to connect with people who can genuinely support your mission.
In this week's Changemaker Mondays ☀️ ☕ 🌍, I'm sharing how to optimize your nonprofit's profile and your personal profile on LinkedIn, plus what content helps you build relationships with supporters.
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Changemaker Mondays is brought to you by:
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1. How to Optimize Your Nonprofit's Profile
Your nonprofit's LinkedIn page is often the first thing potential partners, donors, and board members see when they search for your organization. Make sure it looks professional and clearly tells your organization’s story.
- Add your logo and cover image: Use your logo as the profile photo, and include a cover image that shows your mission in action. Write a simple description explaining what you do and who you help, but use plain language, like you're talking to someone who's never heard of you.
- Include your website, contact information, and location: Add keywords like "youth mentorship" or "food security" so people can find you when they search for those topics.
- Post updates regularly to keep your page active: Share stories about your impact, program updates, or volunteer highlights. This can include re-posting your leadership’s posts about the organization to the page. When your page is active, it helps people see your organization’s work.
These small updates make a big difference in how your organization appears on LinkedIn.
💡 Try this: Search for your nonprofit on LinkedIn. Is your page complete? If not, spend 30 minutes this week updating your logo, cover image, description, and contact details.
2. How to Optimize Your Personal Profile (as a Leader)
Your personal LinkedIn profile matters just as much as your nonprofit's page (remember what I was saying earlier about the grant foundation asking for your leaders’ LinkedIn profile?).
People connect with people, not just organizations. When potential donors, partners, or board members look you up, your profile should show that you're credible, passionate, and leading meaningful work.
- Update your headline: Show what you do and why it matters. Example: Executive Director at [Organization] | Helping 500+ families access affordable housing each year.
- Write a clear summary: Use the "About" section to tell your story. Why do you do this work? What impact has your organization made? Write in first person and keep it conversational.
- Keep your skills up to date: Include skills like fundraising or program management.
- Use a professional photo and banner: Add a clear, friendly photo and a banner image representing your nonprofit's mission.
- Update regularly: Review your profile every 3-6 months and after major changes.
These updates help people understand who you are and why your work matters.
💡 Try this: Update your LinkedIn headline this week to reflect both your role and your impact. Then add at least three skills to your profile that showcase your nonprofit expertise.
3. How to Post Content That Builds Relationships (On Your Personal Profile)
LinkedIn is a platform for building real relationships with people who can support your mission. Use your personal profile to post consistently and engage authentically.
- Share stories with images or video: Yep, even LinkedIn’s algorithm is favoring video and images these days. Post photos or short videos (30-60 seconds) showing your impact. Feature volunteers, behind-the-scenes moments, or participant success stories.
- Ask questions and run polls: Start conversations with your network. Ask what people want to learn about your cause or poll them on topics they care about.
- Thank people publicly after meetings or conversations: After you meet with a potential partner, board member, or donor, post a thank-you that acknowledges the conversation. This shows you're actively building relationships and helps others see who you're connecting with.
- Share documents: Upload your annual impact report or program summaries. Add a brief summary explaining what people will learn.
- Repost and engage: Share relevant content from partners or organizations in your space. Add your thoughts when reposting and engage with others' posts by commenting.
When you post consistently and authentically, you stay top of mind with your network and attract new supporters.
💡 Try this: Post one piece of content on LinkedIn this week. Share an impact story with a photo, ask a question, or repost something relevant. See what response you get.
Try it this week 🚀
Pick one action and try it -- Whether it’s updating your nonprofit's LinkedIn page, optimizing your personal profile, or posting one piece of content. The more you show up on LinkedIn, the more opportunities you create to connect with supporters.
Hit Reply
Are you already using LinkedIn for your nonprofit? What's working well, or what feels challenging about it? (Also -- here's me on LinkedIn if you want to connect!)
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- Due by April 28: The Newman's Own Foundation Food Justice for Kids Prize provides grants up to $100,000 over 2 years for organizations across the United States working to ensure all children can access, learn about, and engage with nutritious, culturally relevant food at school and in communities.
- LOI Due by May 7: The Bigglesworth Family Foundation strengthens capacity for national nonprofits working to expand access to justice for underserved and underrepresented communities and help break cycles of poverty.
- Rolling Deadline: Smart Family Fund supports early-stage nonprofits with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet demonstrated the efficacy needed for growth funding or a sustainable model. Grants range $25,000-$100,000.
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Join me May 6-8 in Wisconsin at the 55th Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinators Association Conference!
I'm excited to share insights and strategies on mobilizing your communities to support your cause as the keynote at this year's Wisconsin Volunteer Coordinator's Association Conference. Learn more about this amazing event and register here. Hope to see some of you this Spring!
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Keep an eye out for future workshops and events open to the public! In the mean time, need an event speaker or workshop trainer? Learn more about my workshops and other services. |
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Enjoy this week's newsletter? You might find this video helpful, too.
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3 more ways I can help you
- I have lots of free content for you! Check out my library of 400+ educational videos on nonprofits, social entrepreneurship, fundraising, and more on my YouTube channel. If you like what I'm trying to do, help me reach more people like you by subscribing to the channel and sharing it with a changemaker friend! 😁
- Need extra support to build or grow a nonprofit or social enterprise? Check out my Changemaker Accelerator membership or my Zero to $100,000 Fundraising Starter Toolkit.
- Need a speaker or training workshop for your social impact event? I'm currently booking 2026-2027 speaking engagements -- check out my speaking and workshop opportunities to learn how I can help you make your event inspiring and actionable!
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Hey, Changemaker!
I'm Amber, writer of the Changemaker Mondays newsletter! I'm a nonprofit founder, speaker, and social entrepreneur on a mission to equip you with the tools you need to create positive change where ever you live -- whether you're starting a nonprofit or socially-conscious business, looking for a social impact job, or leading a volunteer project in your city. Don't hesitate to connect (socials below), or reply to this email if you ever have any feedback on how we can make Changemaker Mondays the best newsletter for supporting changemakers in the world!
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