If you've had any contact with today's American youth or media, which is to say that if you are just about anyone living or breathing in the US, then you have most likely heard about the phenomena of Facebook and MySpace. If you're particularly savvy, then you're well aware of the perils that come with such social networks. And if you're an especially creative thinker, you have probably thought about how companies might use these spaces to market their products to today's youth, filling them with even more consumer-driven desires.
What you may not have thought about, however, is how Facebook and MySpace can do some good. When used properly, these social networking communities provide an excellent platform for you to educate the youth culture about your nonprofit's worthy cause and invite them to be a part of something that matters. It's a sales pitch that counts.
The best thing about Facebook and MySpace is that they give you access to a much broader range of potential young donors and activists than traditional methods. Since young people don't typically have gobs of cash lying around, you might not see the donations come rolling in right away. But you will begin to build a strong, lasting presence in the hearts and minds of the next generation of generous donors. And you'll be doing some good for them, too, by encouraging them to get involved in a worthy cause.
Since it's free to start a group in Facebook and MySpace, there's no investment except time. You keep your overhead low and you begin to reach out to an important, all too often overlooked, segment of the population. But you have no time, you say. Don't I know that nonprofits are understaffed as is, you exclaim in an exhasperated huff. Ah, never fear, the volunteer is here!
Surely you know at least a few young people. Get one of them involved in establishing and running the group. Chances are, if they like your organization and believe in your cause, they'll be happy to go out and meet other fun, young people on your behalf. It beats stuffing envelopes and nursing paper cuts.
What are some specific ways that you think Facebook and MySpace can be used to get youth involved in nonprofit organizations? Tell us about your nonprofit and how you want to get young people excited about such a worthy cause. Leave your comments. I can't wait to be inspired.
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