Eight Internet Tips for Nonprofits

The internet offers a dizzying array of sites and services for nonprofit organizations. Here are a few worth checking out:

• SwipeGood rounds up debit or credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and allows your supporters to donate the difference: https://swipegood.com/

• eScrip is a resource for fundraising for nonprofits serving youth. Your supporters just have to sign up, choose your organization, and register any one or all of their existing credit, debit and/or grocery cards: http://www.escrip.com/ 

• Causes makes it easy for users to ask their friends (via Facebook) to donate to your nonprofit on birthdays and holidays: http://www.causes.com/

• eBay Giving Works allows sellers on the site to contribute to your organization. As well, eBay users can select a favorite nonprofit which then receives a $1 donation every time they make a transaction: http://www.ebaygivingworks.com/nonprofit-info.html

• GreatNonprofits is an online "Zagat" for nonprofits; folks can find, review, and share information about great nonprofits on the site:  http://greatnonprofits.org/about/

• Yelp has become the place folks look for feedback on local businesses - and the site does indeed include nonprofits. Encourage your supporters to write a laudatory review:  http://www.yelp.com/

• Google for Nonprofits provides access to products and resources to help you expand impact and increase traffic to your website. It also includes a designated nonprofit channel on YouTube:  http://www.google.com/nonprofits/ 

• Google, Bing, and Yahoo are the most-used browsers on the internet. Make sure people can find you there - search for "submit your site" along with the appropriate browser name and follow the directions.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the internet and all it has to offer, but strategic use of its resources can be powerful in increasing outreach and raising dollars for your work.