Getting your message out in a comprehensive and cost effective way is vital to the running of every not for profit organisation. Identifying communications goals is important.

Knowing whether your emphasis is on retaining supporters, or attracting new ones, will impact how your media presence is managed. Especially since the internet has entered homes, and people’s pockets, every year there are subtle shifts in the best was to reach your audience. Let’s take a look at how 2015 is shaping up.

According to Kivi Leroux Miller’s annual NonProfit Communications Trends Report, organisation websites, email and Facebook pages are the top ways for NFPs to reach supporters, both new and old. In terms of time spent, Facebook, e-newsletters and outside media engagements are where most of it is invested.

Social media is certainly here to stay, with 96% of organisations having a Facebook page, and more than four in five NFPs finding their Facebook presence useful. Twitter comes a close second for reported usefulness, and is used by 76% of those interviewed. Facebook and e-newsletters are the cornerstone of many organisations’ communications plan, with over 60% sending an e-newsletter once a month.

Retaining current donors is an emphasis for more than half of NFPs in 2015, with more organisations sending monthly newsletters and monthly email appeals than in previous years.

While most Communications Directors feel supported by their organisations and are willing to experiment and try new methods, there are several challenges people in the role can anticipate. When interviewed, many Community Directors reported they face a lack in budget and a lack of time to produce quality content for their various media platforms.

Staying in touch with supporters is essential to the running of any NFP, and keeping up with the trends will keep you up and running strong in 2015.