LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers and businesses — it’s also a powerful tool for nonprofits to connect with potential volunteers, board members, and supporters. Whether you’re recruiting for National Volunteer Month in April or need help year-round, LinkedIn and social media platforms can significantly expand your nonprofit’s reach.

Here are some strategies to leverage LinkedIn and social media to grow your nonprofit community.

**Don’t miss the three-day Nonprofit Marketing Summit from Mar. 4-6, 2025!

Optimize Your Personal LinkedIn Profile

Your personal profile is one of the best tools for promoting your nonprofit. Here’s how to make it shine:

• Customize Your LinkedIn URL: Make it easy for people to find you with a memorable URL.
• Showcase Your Nonprofit Work: Fill employment gaps with volunteer roles under the experience section, emphasizing the skills you used.
• Use Keywords Strategically: Optimize your profile with relevant nonprofit and volunteer-related keywords.
• Engage With Your Network: Don’t just like or share posts — comment thoughtfully with at least a sentence or more to boost visibility.
• Publish Newsletters: Share impactful stories about your nonprofit’s work, with clear calls to action for volunteers in a newsletter from your profile or your company page.

Leverage Your Nonprofit’s LinkedIn Company Page

A well-maintained Company Page helps establish credibility and attract supporters.

• Create Branded Visuals: Use Canva Pro (free for 501(c)3 nonprofits) to design custom banners and logos.
• Share Impact Stories: Post testimonials, volunteer highlights, and behind-the-scenes content to humanize your organization.
• Boost Engagement: Encourage team members and volunteers to share your posts. You can “repost” to your page or copy the link via the three dots menu at the top right and post that on your personal feed for better reach.
• Track Performance: Export LinkedIn analytics monthly to monitor what content performs best.

Social Media Strategies for Nonprofits

Don’t stop at LinkedIn — expand your reach with other social media tools.

• Canva Pro Benefits: Design graphics in multiple sizes (1080×1350 for Instagram, 1200×630 for LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter/Meetup) to streamline posting.
• Free and Discounted Tools: Use tools like Linktree Pro, Google for Nonprofits, and discounted software via TechSoup.
• Create Carousels and Videos: Use Canva to make engaging carousels and videos, adding eye-catching thumbnail covers for LinkedIn and Instagram.

Hashtag Strategy

A consistent hashtag strategy helps build brand recognition and makes your content more discoverable.

• Create a Branded Hashtag: Choose a unique hashtag for your nonprofit (e.g., #GreatCareersPHL) and use it across all posts.
• Encourage Followers: Ask your audience to follow the hashtag to see more of your content in your LinkedIn signature with a call to action (CTA).

Find Volunteers Using Boolean Searches

Don’t wait for volunteers to find you; seek them out using LinkedIn’s advanced search functions. With Boolean searches, you can combine keywords to locate users who align with your mission. You can also seek a sponsor for Catchafire.

For example: “volunteer” AND “graphic design” AND “Philadelphia“

This method helps you identify professionals open to volunteering their time and skills.

Final Thoughts

With thoughtful use of LinkedIn and social media, nonprofits can tap into a vast network of volunteers and supporters. There are countless ways to maximize your outreach, even with limited resources, from optimizing your profiles to leveraging branded hashtags and using free tools like Canva Pro.

Start applying these strategies today, and watch your volunteer community grow!

Check out these nonprofit resources:

• Here is a comprehensive list on the Great Careers Network website.
• Read the interview with a subject matter expert on volunteering.
• You can see volunteer opportunities or seek volunteers for a nonprofit on the LinkedIn Volunteer Marketplace.
• Apply for a partnership opportunity with LinkedIn.
• Explore LinkedIn’s resources for nonprofits.
• Read LinkedIn’s nonprofit blog.

Did you read the previous article? How to Craft a Memorable LinkedIn Headline Step-by-Step

Next Steps

• Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
• If you need a resume or LinkedIn profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat! … Can’t beat a free discovery call!
• Join as a member here of the No. 1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “Book of Lists” five years in a row!
• To support our charity at KeepOnSharing.com use the referral code “Career.”
• Follow #GreatCareersPHL.

Upcoming Events

Check out our Nonprofit Events Quick List Page.

● Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Business Executives Networking Group (BENG) & ChemPharma

● Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Beyond the Resume: Crafting a Personal Brand for Career Success

● Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Beating the Applicant Tracking System

● Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Create Graphics for Social Media Using Canva and More

● Thursday, Feb. 27 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking

● Friday, Feb. 28 – Aliens Among Us: Ten Surprising Truths about Gen Z, The Disconnected Generation

● Monday, Mar. 3 – Ditch the Guilt, Embrace Your Worth

● Tuesday, Mar. 4 – Tips to Build Your LinkedIn Brand

● Tuesday, Mar. 4 – Nonprofit Marketing Summit

● Wednesday, Mar. 5 – Nonprofit Marketing Summit

● Wednesday, Mar. 5 – Harnessing AI for Smarter Job Searches

● Thursday, Mar. 6 – Nonprofit Marketing Summit

● Friday, Mar. 7 – Power of Acknowledgement

● Monday, Mar. 10 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking

● Monday, Mar. 10 – LinkedIn for Nonprofits at SCORE Silicon Valley

● Monday, Mar. 10 – A Six-Step Process to Take Ownership of Your Career Journey

● Tuesday, Mar. 11 – Kickstart Your Confidence: Navigating Transitions with Resilience

● Wednesday, Mar. 12 – Careerland Q&A for the Game of Life

● Thursday, Mar. 13 – How to Create Snazzy Graphics for Social Media Step-by-Step Demo

● Thursday, Mar. 13 – Virtual Jobseeker Support Group

● Thurdsay, Mar. 13 – Leveraging LinkedIn to Build Your Business

● Tuesday, Mar. 18 – The Emotional Side of Job Transition and Job Loss

● Tuesday, Mar. 18 – Lehigh Valley Business Executives Networking Group

● Wednesday, Mar. 19 – Mastering STAR Stories for Behavioral Interviews for (OACETT)

● Thursday, Mar. 20 – Recruiter on Call with Jobs

● Thursday, Mar. 20 – Cold Calling & Your Job Search

● Monday, Mar. 24 – Immigrant Professionals Career Support Group

● Tuesday, Mar. 25 – Business Executives Networking Group

● Wednesday, Mar. 26 – Secrets of Empowering Negotiation

● Thursday, Mar. 27 – Career Success Group Job Seeker Accountability & Networking

● Monday, Mar. 31 – Gamify Your Career Path

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Lynne Williams is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing career education and networking for unemployed, self-employed, and employed individuals. Connect on LinkedIn at www.LinkedIn.com/in/lynnewilliams and check out other resources.