As we enter 2025, the digital landscape for nonprofits continues to change rapidly, presenting new opportunities to connect and inspire. At Hook PR & Marketing, we’ve always championed a strategy that marries authenticity with innovation. We’re eager to guide our nonprofit partners through emerging trends that will amplify their stories.
In this blog, we outline six key trends shaping nonprofit social media in 2025 and provide practical examples to help you implement these strategies, enhancing your impact.
- Human stories take center stage.
People connect with people, not faceless entities. This year, storytelling through social media will lean heavily into human narratives. Showcasing people lifted by your work increases involvement and drives home the mission in a way that statistics alone cannot. Expect to see more nonprofits using features such as Instagram Reels and Facebook Stories to share day-in-the-life content that highlights personal journeys and the tangible changes your organization is making.
Example: A community center might create a Facebook series showing testimonials from program participants, highlighting real impact through personal experiences.
- Interactive and immersive content.
Engagement is not just about viewing content, it’s about interacting with it. Platforms are expanding their interactive tools—think polls, quizzes and AR filters—to help organizations create more immersive experiences. For nonprofits, this means opening new ways to educate supporters about their causes through fun content that invites audience participation.
Example: A health charity might create a quiz on Facebook to educate people about diabetes myths with interactive explanations after each answer.
- Ephemeral content for urgent calls to action.
Snapchat pioneered it, but now even Facebook and Instagram have embraced ephemeral content. For nonprofits, temporary posts can create a sense of urgency and increase interest, especially when rallying support for time-sensitive campaigns. This format will be crucial for mobilizing support quickly.
Example: During a fundraising drive, a nonprofit could use Instagram Stories to post hourly updates, showing real-time progress toward a donation goal.
- Tapping micro-influencers.
Influencer marketing continues to evolve and, in 2025, it’s all about authenticity. Micro-influencers with smaller, niche audiences tend to forge deeper connections and trust. Nonprofits are increasingly partnering with these influencers to reach specific groups with tailored messages that touch a more personal level.
Example: A community food bank could collaborate with small food bloggers to create content around the importance of food security and community support.
- Focus on sustainability and transparency.
As digital consumers become more environmentally and socially conscious, they expect the same from brands they support, including nonprofits. This year, showing your nonprofit’s commitment to sustainability and transparency will be pivotal. Social media provides a perfect platform to communicate your organization’s efforts and ethics, building trust and support among your community.
Example: Shift to digital annual reports to demonstrate your nonprofit’s commitment to sustainability. By moving from print to digital formats, you will save on paper and printing costs and expand your report’s reach.
Incorporate digital annual reports. Use the paper piece as fundraising – don’t print the full report. Use the synopsis of the report in the printed piece (2-4 pgs max) to use as a fundraising tool. Make it donor-centric, pull people in.
- Expand video content.
Video remains king in content. For nonprofits, using short-form videos to convey messages and stir emotion will be more important than ever. Platforms such as YouTube Shorts provide great avenues to distribute compelling video stories that can go viral and reach broad audiences.
Example: A cultural organization might produce YouTube Shorts that highlight different artists each week, sharing their stories and the organization’s role in promoting cultural heritage.
At Hook PR & Marketing, we understand that keeping up with these trends is just part of the journey. Blending them into a strategy that stays true to your brand’s voice and mission is where the real magic happens. We’re here to help you craft a narrative that not only tells your story but also invites your audience to be a part of it, creating lasting impact that goes beyond the digital world.
Stay tuned, stay authentic, and let’s make 2025 a landmark year for your nonprofit’s social media presence!