Setting up your charity’s social media

The 501(c)(3) application requires a charity Facebook Page and a charity LinkedIn Page. Instagram, X and YouTube are optional. You don’t need to be everywhere: a couple of well-kept, organization-owned Pages do more for donor trust than many empty ones.

Pages, not personal profiles

Facebook and LinkedIn both let you create a free organization Page from a personal account. Your personal account is only the login; the Page itself speaks as the charity and is what the public sees. The application needs the link to the Page. A link to someone’s personal profile can’t be accepted.

Set up your Facebook Page

1. Log in to Facebook and open the Pages section of the menu.
2. Create a new Page using your charity’s name and a nonprofit category.
3. Add your logo, a cover image, a short description and your contact details.
4. Publish at least one post so visitors can see the Page is active.

Detailed steps: Run your charity’s Facebook Page (opens in a new tab).

Set up your LinkedIn Page

1. Log in to LinkedIn and choose to create a Company Page (under the For Business menu).
2. Enter your charity’s name, choose its public LinkedIn address, and pick an industry.
3. Add your logo and a one-line tagline, then publish the Page.
4. Ask your officers to list their role at the charity so they show up on the Page.

Detailed steps: Run your charity’s LinkedIn Page (opens in a new tab).

Good habits

• Add a second admin to every Page, so access never depends on one person.
• Use the same name, logo and website link everywhere, so supporters can tell they’ve found the real you.
• Post now and then. A Page with no posts in years looks abandoned.

Copy the right link

Open the Page (not your profile) and copy the address from the browser bar. A Facebook Page link usually looks like facebook.com/YourCharity, and a LinkedIn Page link like linkedin.com/company/your-charity. Paste each link into a private or incognito browser window to check it opens for someone who isn’t logged in.

Optional: Instagram, X and YouTube

If you already use these, paste their full links and we’ll link them from your website. Add Instagram if your work is visual; skip any channel you don’t keep up. Instagram tips: Run your charity’s Instagram (opens in a new tab).