Working for a nonprofit organization is a meaningful and fulfilling experience, but it’s not without its caveats. As many can attest, most nonprofits put startups to shame with their pace and demands, regardless of one’s level of experience or background. 

I can vouch for the communications side of working in a nonprofit, specifically, managing social media platforms for legacy organizations with a myriad of needs from brand awareness to development and programs. More often than not, those lucky enough to land at successful nonprofits in a communications role see their capacity stretched to the absolute limit. Between managing email, web, advertising and logistics, social media has a tendency to fall to the back burner, resulting in lackluster performance on the communications platform that has eclipsed television. 

In my role at Momentum Communications Group, I’ve seen firsthand how hiring an agency to manage social media channels frees up time and energy for nonprofits and gives them new resources and capabilities. 

Here are five ways that agencies give nonprofits agency:

1. Strategic expertise — From analytics to idea creation and execution, agencies deploy their knowledge of the best practices across platforms, adapt to your workflow and take creative and methodical tasks off your plate, so you can focus on the mission. We constantly adapt to the changing landscape of communications technologies, especially in social media, so you won’t be left behind. 
2. Integration with PR — Agencies have the capacity to make a story stand out in a crowded media landscape and push it even further into the daunting world of social media networks. Agencies also have an expert understanding of crisis communications and can step in on every level to mitigate any public-facing disaster. 
3. Perspective — Work in enough nonprofits, and you’re likely to be a part of a team in which no one has experienced life outside of the tightly knit nonprofit world. Agencies aren’t siloed by the nonprofit status quo. Professionals from across industries, career paths and ideological inclinations lead agencies, and give them a diverse set of valuable skills. We’ve worked in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and can bring innovative ideas to organizations known for playing it safe. 
4. Adaptiveness — The diversity of our agency offerings — from social media strategy to graphic design to video editing and event promotion — means that whatever your needs are, we can step in and create a seamless transition to consistent growth, however you define it. Every client is different; some want to relinquish creative control while others seek strategic consulting. Whatever an organization’s needs are, agencies can fill in the gap and even cover a few things you hadn’t thought of yet. 
5. Scalable Support — Here’s the best part — agencies want to see you grow! A growing organization means more opportunities to collaborate, build and expand our working relationships. Agencies don’t just measure success in billable hours — we compete for awards, achieve word of mouth, build our professional reputation and lead conversations everywhere from the media to your Instagram feed. 

Behind every successful nonprofit is a crucial, urgent mission, and effective communication — especially through social media — is imperative to activating the next generation of volunteers, supporters and employees. By collaborating with an agency, nonprofits stretched to the limit can channel their resources away from the strategic and creative demands of social media and into the lifeblood of their mission.