Social sites are very popular and Facebook is an attractive option to market your fundraiser. If you’ve decided you’re ready to take the plunge, here are the steps to creating a Facebook Page for your non-profit.

Set up a Page (not a Group) on Facebook:

The easiest way to do a Page on Facebook is, first of all, to log out of your personal account. Although you will need to use your details later on, it’s easiest to start while logged out. Go to Facebook.com (without logging in first) and click on “Create a Page” near the bottom of the page, right below “Sign up”. Clicking on the “Create Page Link” will take you to the page where you will choose between creating a Page for a business, creating a community Page to support your cause, or creating a Group.

Click on “Create a Page for…” and fill in the name of your organization. For non-profits, there is a special subcategory under “Brand, product, or organization” and when you click on that, it will open up a dialog box. Scroll down until you find “Non-profit,” then enter the name of the page you’re going to create. Next, click the check box next to “I’m the official representative…,” then click on “Create Official Page”.

Now here’s where it helps to already have a Facebook account. You have to choose between “I already have a Facebook account” and “I do not have a Facebook account”. It’s got you on “I do not have…” because you’re logged out, so you can click on “I already have…” and it will just give you two boxes to log in with your Email and Password. Log in and voila! your Page is now created. (If you don’t have a personal account yet, you will have to create one now.)

Creating a Page as opposed to a Group will give you a lot more options once it comes to customization and branding of your non-profit. A Page will let you use apps, customize your Page and user experience, but a Group will not.

Keep in mind that a Facebook Page is not transferable, so make sure that the personal account it is linked to won’t change, or will be accessible by others if necessary. That means to not let just anyone set up your Page, but as the head of your organization, it’s best to do it yourself. Facebook continuously changes and updates its rules, so make sure you do read all the fine print when crating your Page, or if you give anyone else admin access to it.

Raise money through your Facebook Page with Causes:

Great! That was easy, right? Well…yes, and no. You still can’t raise money on your site, at least not directly. The best way to do that is go back and add your non-profit as a “Cause” (you can search “Causes” on Facebook, or just go here. ). Since “Causes” is a Facebook application or app, you will have give it permission, etc. Once you’re there, fill out the necessary details and click on “Continue”.

Once you’ve created a Cause, you can designate a non-profit to receive the funds that you raise on your website. If you are registered with GuideStar, your name should come up when you type it in the box. If not, you might consider getting registered with them, because most online fundraising organizations require you to be registered with GuideStar.

Once your Page is set up, you’ll have to let people know about your new Facebook Page, and consistently update it. Link to it from your website, add a link to it in each e-mail you send out and also post the link in your office, and any printed materials you have.

What else can you use your Facebook Page for?

- give consistent updates about your activities as a non-profit
- reiterate details about your mission
- ‘listen’ to your supporters: answer their questions and get new ideas
- study who your supporters are on Facebook
- announce events
- announce new fundraising projects
- post links to your website about latest news or articles
- add your blog feed
- use it as a branding tool for your organization (In contrast, if you create a Facebook Group, all Group pages look alike. Groups are meant to support an idea or a cause, but not a brand.)

…and the list goes on!

A Facebook Page is not only useful as a fundraising tool in itself, but also to create awareness and as a branding tool for your group. Make sure you assign someone to be in charge of your Page, post updates and keep track on the activities on the Page. In time you will notice how having a Page on Facebook is a great tool to complement your other marketing and fundraising efforts online.

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