How can small nonprofits build a truly engaged following on digital channels? Do we need a huge team to manage this, and an even bigger budget?  And how can we strategically leverage digital tools to get younger generations involved in our work?

In the latest episode of Nonprofit Nation, I sit down with Santiago Rosales of ActBlue for some real talk on how to build and run a flexible, inexpensive, and empowering digital fundraising program. We cover all things digital - advocacy, email, SMS, and social media. No stone left unturned!  

Santiago Rosales is a queer, disabled Chicano from Houston, Texas who is grounded in the struggle for racial and economic justice. His organizing journey started at the University of Texas where he advocated to improve the experiences of students of color and first-generation students.
 
After college, he worked at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities supporting state advocacy to protect and expand safety net programs. In 2020, he organized bilingual field, digital, and constituency organizing programs for campaigns in Houston and Austin, Texas. Santiago’s focus at ActBlue is on supporting organizations that empower voters and fight voter suppression. Outside of work, he is a stay-at-home dad of several plantitas.  

Here are some of the topics we discussed:

• Why diversity, equity, and inclusion work is not something to check off the To Do list - no matter your nonprofit mission
• The 3 basic principles of digital fundraising (no matter the tool)
• What skills are required to run a successful digital fundraising program 
• How to get younger people involved in your work, and grab their attention on social media

A Santiago Rosales quotable: "Folks who invest in nonprofits who are small dollar donors really care about a lot of things and they view donating as part of their activism as part of their volunteering. And so if you can communicate how your organization is driving an impact, that goes a long way."

Connect with Santiago:
https://twitter.com/santiagorosal
https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiagorosales/

ActBlue:
https://secure.actblue.com/abcharities 

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About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:

Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.

She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. 

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