19 May 2024

The Power of A Community-First Digital Platform

in Blog,Resources

If there’s one thing nonprofits and social enterprises should excel at, it’s building connections. But how can you foster genuine relationships in spaces saturated with emails, ads, and cluttered social feeds in today’s increasingly digital world?

The answer: A Community-First Digital Platform

What’s that? 

Think of it as flipping the traditional marketing funnel upside down. Instead of shouting your message into the void and hoping someone hears it, community-first starts with creating a space—an in-person, and virtual gathering spot—where your supporters can thrive, connect, and, most importantly, feel like an integral part of your mission. 

A digital space can take your in-person interactions and multiply them. This is how you can revolutionize your marketing and fundraising strategies to drive engagement, loyalty, and impact.

This does not replace in-person gatherings but allows you to amplify this model for connecting in collaboration with your physical spaces.

Why A Community-First Platform Works

Nonprofits have always been about people—rallying volunteers, engaging donors, and building coalitions to achieve the seemingly impossible. A community-first platform amplifies these efforts by allowing you to take control of your own virtual space and forming it into what your community needs. 

Here is what a community-first platform can do for you:

  • Build Trust: People are more likely to support organizations they feel connected to. By creating a digital space for interaction, nonprofits can foster trust and transparency. 
  • Increase Engagement: A thriving digital community encourages participation, whether through discussions, shared content, or collective action. It is also a launching pad for training, webinars, live streaming, and video conferencing. 
  • Enhance Retention: Supporters who feel part of something bigger than themselves are less likely to churn. It’s easier to retain a donor who feels seen and valued, and a dedicated digital space can help you do that.
  • Create Advocates: Active community members become your biggest advocates, spreading your mission far and wide.

The Role of Digital Community Platforms

Gone are the days when community-building was limited to in-person gatherings. Today’s tech landscape offers nonprofits and social impact ventures many tools to create meaningful online spaces. Let’s explore two standout platforms:

1. Mighty Networks

Mighty Networks is a one-stop shop for creating a branded, all-in-one community. It allows nonprofits to build vibrant hubs where supporters can:

  • Participate in discussion groups.
  • Access exclusive content like videos, articles, and resources.
  • Attend live events or webinars.

Why it’s great for nonprofits: Mighty Networks lets you focus on connection and engagement without needing multiple tools. Imagine a donor logging into your community, sharing their thoughts in a forum about your latest campaign, and attending a virtual fundraiser—all in one place.

2. Circle

Circle is another powerhouse platform, especially for nonprofits looking to create intimate and interactive spaces. With features like member directories, event calendars, and integrations with other tools (like Zoom and Slack), Circle allows you to:

  • Host workshops or Q&A sessions with your team.
  • Recognize top contributors and build member profiles.
  • Use private channels to tailor content to specific groups (e.g., major donors or volunteers).

Why it’s great for nonprofits: Circle’s clean interface and versatility make it ideal for fostering smaller, niche communities. For example, you could create separate spaces for your youth programs, donor networks, or advocacy campaigns while keeping everyone connected.

Examples of How You Can Use a Community-First Digital Platform

Bolster A Movement:

A nonprofit focused on food security could bring together local farmers, volunteers, and donors. Members could share gardening tips, host cooking classes, and participate in live webinars about food policy. The results could be increased recurring donations and a vibrant, engaged community advocating for change.

Inspire Advocacy Through Education:

A human rights nonprofit could launch an online course about refugee rights. They could offer the course to supporters as a membership perk, then add a “donation ask” at the end of the course creating a revenue stream while educating members about critical issues. A course can spark discussions and inspire participants to volunteer and become recurring donors.  

Create an Alumni Group:

A youth-focused nonprofit could build a community, where alumni from their mentorship programs could stay connected. By keeping members engaged, they can foster lifelong advocates who regularly donate and volunteer to mentor the next generation.

From Transactions to Transformations

A Community-first digital strategy is a shift in how nonprofits think about engagement. It moves the focus from transactional asks (“Please donate”) to transformational relationships (“Join us in making a difference”).

By investing in a community-first platform, nonprofits can create spaces that are more than just hubs for information and donations—they become ecosystems of change. And in a world that often feels divided, building spaces where people come together for good might just be the most important work we can do.

A real-life example of this is Beyond Type 1:

This nonprofit organization focuses on diabetes advocacy and has built a vibrant community using Mighty Networks. Their platform allows individuals with Type 1 diabetes to connect, share experiences, access resources, and engage in events.

Sources: