Social media support for NFP

Bankwest Foundation has announced Scitech, Propel Youth Arts and Earbus Foundation of WA are among 10 Western Australian not for profits selected to receive social media development services valued at $10,000.

Marketing group for not for profits, Hancock Creative, will provide the recipients with ongoing media training, mentorship and support to boost visibility and attract a strong volunteer workforce.

Earbus chief executive Paul Higginbotham said he would use the grant to share messages about ear health, the positive impact achieved by Earbus and share stories about inspirational people.

Scitech communications officer Kaylee Martin said Scitech had a number of different audiences to target.

“With a lot of change of the horizon, we can’t wait to see how we grow in the digital world in 2018,” she said.

 Also included in this year’s list of applicants was: fitness support service for the underprivileged, Fair Game; mental health support service, Helping Minds; children’s safety advocate, Kidsafe WA; parenting and early childhood service, Ngala; role model initiative, The Girls Academy; disability support service, VisAbility; and women’s domestic support service, Zonta House.

Hancock creative director, Alecia Hancock, said that while many not for profits were struggling with reduced funding from government and corporate partners, others embracing digital communication were attracting supporters and donors from new audiences online.

“Social media is now used by eight out of ten Australians and not for profits that are not using these channels effectively are missing out on a huge potential audience,” she said.

“Social media has helped previous grant recipients Therapy Focus fill and even oversubscribe its volunteer programs and Lifeline WA to increase their fundraising for a campaign by more than 400 per cent.”

The Bankwest Foundation, in partnership with the Australian Scholarship Foundation, will be offering another ten social media grants worth over $10,000 each, with applications open in October 2018.