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Beyond the Donation Ep. 27 with Sarah Suarez on building strong digital communities

Ep. 27 | Building strong digital communities, an interview with Sarah Suarez

In the 'Beyond the Donation' podcast hosted by Matt Bitzegaio, he is joined by guest Sarah Suarez, a digital community strategist for nonprofits. They cover key strategies for nonprofits to enhance their fundraising activities by building digital communities, understanding audiences, and creating engaging content. Suarez provides practical recommendations for an effective social media presence, including frequency of posting, using scheduling tools, and turning followers into active supporters. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of measuring social media engagement to ensure the strategies align with their organizational goals. Suarez encourages nonprofits not to neglect their digital community as it extends their reach beyond their immediate networks and can significantly amplify their impact.

00:04 Introduction to Beyond the Donation

00:26 Meet the Guest: Sarah Suarez

01:46 Understanding Digital Communities

02:57 Creating a Social Media Strategy

04:08 Identifying and Engaging Your Target Audience

06:32 Creating Engaging Content

08:10 Posting Frequency and Tools for Scheduling

10:15 Converting Social Media Followers into Supporters

12:12 Measuring Social Media Success

13:41 Final Advice and Conclusion

To Connect with Sarah Suarez:

Instagram | Website

To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:

BTD Podcast | DonorDock LinkedIn | Matt LinkedIn

How do nonprofits build trust with donors?

Trust comes from clarity in mission, consistency across channels, and proof of impact. Independent Sector reports 57% of Americans have high trust in nonprofits — strong relative to other sectors but not universal. Build it with one clear message reused everywhere, donor-facing materials that match in tone and promise, and concrete proof formats (one stat, one story, one quote, one photo) that show your work delivers.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

What does brand mean for a nonprofit?

A nonprofit brand isn't your logo — it's the experience people have of you. It's what donors believe about your organization after they read your email, glance at your website, see your event photos, get a receipt, or hear a board member describe your work. A clear brand builds trust through three things: clarity (mission feels real), consistency (you sound credible), and proof (the promise feels believable).

Last updated

April 25, 2026

What is ethical nonprofit marketing?

Ethical nonprofit marketing is communication grounded in clarity and trust, not hype. It reduces confusion for busy donors, connects mission to a real person's values, sets honest expectations for how giving helps, and reinforces credibility through consistency and proof. It treats giving as part of an ongoing relationship instead of a one-time transaction extraction.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

How do nonprofits engage donors across generations?

Engage multiple generations by matching the channel and message style to each cohort while keeping the mission consistent. Silent and Boomer donors respond to direct mail, phone calls, and stewardship letters. Gen X prefers email plus occasional video. Millennials and Gen Z respond to mobile-first giving, peer-to-peer, recurring monthly programs, and social storytelling. Track preferred channel in your CRM and let the donor's behavior, not their birth year, drive the next touchpoint.

Last updated

April 28, 2026

Author

Elisha Ford

Content Writer

Last updated:

April 29, 2026

Written by

Elisha Ford

Content Writer

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