Nonprofits use social media as new fundraising tool

As big-money donors cut back and government funding grows scarce, nonprofits are successfully turning to social media to solicit smaller donations to make up for shortfalls.

During the past two years, social media campaigns have become an important part of the communications and fundraising repertoires of nonprofit agencies in Sacramento and across the country.

According to a Dartmouth study published last year, 89 percent of the 200 largest charities in the United States were using at least one form of social media in 2008.