There is no denying that social media’s importance to businesses and organizations, including not-for-profit organizations (NPOs), is growing exponentially. Just this past year, Facebook hit 2 billion monthly users, and this number continues to grow (Tech Crunch, 2017). This makes Facebook the largest social platform.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and many other social media platforms offer NPOs a range of benefits, such as increasing brand awareness, educating others, recruiting volunteers, and connecting with other NPOs. Social media is such a powerful tool, and when used properly, it can be a huge asset for charities and NPOs. Although there are many advantages of using social media, there are certain risks associated as well.

Photo Sharing

Your team should be aware of the risks of posting photos – especially photos with children. Make sure you have a policy around sharing photos on such a public forum. If you’re hosting an event, be sure to let people know photos are being taken and consider using photo release forms to ensure you have consent to share the photos. Online platforms will constantly update their privacy policies, so make sure you stay informed on how your photos could be circulated.

Social Media and the CRA

Did you know that a CRA audit could also include your charity or NPO’s social presence? Our friends over at Miller Thomson wrote an incredibly valuable article on social media’s legal considerations. These issues revolve around the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), privacy issues, and issues around posting photos. Read their blog here to learn more about each of these concerns and how to protect your organization online.

RLB has a specialized NPO team is here to help! We understand the issues unique to Not-for-Profit organizations and can support your needs year-round, not just at year-end. Contact one of us today at 1-866-822-9992.

 

References:

http://www.carters.ca/pub/seminar/charity/2018/cpa/Legal-Issues-in-Social-Media.pdf

https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/27/facebook-2-billion-users/