Social Media in Nonprofit Organizations: Benefits and Legal Restrictions
Similarly to most organizations and companies, social media can be very beneficial for nonprofits. They use Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms as tools for communication, networking, and engagement with their audiences. Social media facilitates fundraising, volunteer recruitment, spreading a message, advocacy and awareness, and transparency about current events and actions. But it is particularly important for employees of nonprofits to take care when posting certain content, as they are subject to the federal tax classification 501(c)(3). But what does this mean and what should paralegals working in these organizations watch out for?
In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, Vicki Voisin interviews Kate Redman, who practices community enterprise law, about organizations that have the 501(c)(3) status and how they can implement an effective social media policy in accordance with the law.
Topics include:
How nonprofits benefit from using social media.
Rules for fundraising, representation, content disbursement, and monitoring
Regulations for organizations with 501(c)(3) status
Restrictions including board member benefits and candidate endorsement
Solicitation rules and being transparent to donors
Avoiding allegations of fraud, defamation, or copyright/intellectual property violations
Creating and implementing an effective social media policy
What to watch out for with investment fundraising
What to do if you are a paralegal or other employee in a nonprofit organization
Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.
Social Media in Nonprofit Organizations: Benefits and Legal Restrictions