Infographic: How Digital and Social Media Have Transformed Nonprofits

We aren’t the same people we were 10 years ago—or even at the start of last year. But the one thing we can count on is that change is a constant. The key is to embrace the change—and nonprofits have seized the opportunity.

"How Digital and Social Media Have Transformed Nonprofits," an infographic by advertising agency MDG Advertising, sheds light on the most effective online approaches for nonprofits. Notable takeaways include:

• Three of the four most important engagement channels for nonprofits are digital: website, 32 percent; email campaigns, 15 percent; and social media, 11 percent. In-person events took the second spot with 19 percent.
• With 33 percent of all online donations coming through peer-to-peer (P2P) campaigns, this digital channel also is seeing huge growth. The average P2P fundraiser raises $568 from seven donors.
• #GivingTuesday continues to grow. The $26.1 million raised by 4,300 organizations on Giving Tuesday 2014 is 36 percent more money raised and 50 percent more transaction volume compared with 2013.

But why settle for one approach when you can use multiple?

While online fundraising contributions saw a 13 percent increase from 2013 to 2014, social fundraising specifically saw the biggest boost at 70 percent. Email remains a steady and important channel—boasting the best ROI of any marketing tactic at $40 for every $1 spent—and websites have taken on the role of engagement hubs, providing information, receiving donations and aggregating content.

Using each channel’s independent advantages in combination can help create an even stronger multichannel approach.

Check out the full infographic below for a more detailed look: