How can you build and keep a social impact community?

1 Define your purpose and values

The first step to building a social impact community is to define your purpose and values. What is the problem you are trying to solve, the opportunity you are pursuing, or the vision you are aspiring to? What are the principles, beliefs, or standards that guide your actions and decisions? Your purpose and values should be clear, compelling, and aligned with your target audience and stakeholders. They should also be communicated consistently and authentically across your platforms, channels, and interactions. Your purpose and values will help you attract and retain people who share your passion and commitment, and who can contribute to your goals.

2 Create a safe and inclusive space

The second step to building a social impact community is to create a safe and inclusive space where people can connect, communicate, and collaborate. A safe and inclusive space is one that respects and values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and that fosters trust, openness, and feedback. You can create such a space by setting clear norms and expectations, moderating and facilitating discussions, encouraging and acknowledging contributions, and addressing conflicts and issues promptly and constructively. You can also use tools and platforms that enable accessibility, engagement, and interaction, such as online forums, social media, newsletters, webinars, podcasts, or events.

3 Provide value and support

The third step to building a social impact community is to provide value and support to your members. Value and support can take many forms, such as information, education, inspiration, recognition, mentorship, networking, or resources. You can provide value and support by curating and sharing relevant and useful content, creating and delivering quality and impactful programs or services, highlighting and celebrating success stories and best practices, connecting and introducing members to each other or to opportunities, or offering and soliciting feedback or advice. You can also ask your members what they need and want, and how you can help them achieve their goals.

4 Foster engagement and participation

The fourth step to building a social impact community is to foster engagement and participation among your members. Engagement and participation are essential for building relationships, generating ideas, creating value, and achieving impact. You can foster engagement and participation by designing and implementing activities, projects, or campaigns that invite and involve your members, such as challenges, surveys, polls, quizzes, contests, or calls to action. You can also leverage gamification, incentives, or rewards to motivate and recognize your members, such as badges, points, leaderboards, certificates, or prizes.

5 Nurture leadership and ownership

The fifth step to building a social impact community is to nurture leadership and ownership among your members. Leadership and ownership are key for sustaining and growing your community, as they empower and enable your members to take initiative, responsibility, and action. You can nurture leadership and ownership by identifying and developing potential or existing leaders, such as ambassadors, advocates, or influencers, who can represent, promote, or support your community. You can also delegate and distribute tasks, roles, or decisions to your members, and give them autonomy, authority, and accountability. You can also encourage and support your members to create or join subgroups, networks, or alliances that align with their interests, skills, or goals.

6 Measure and improve your impact

The sixth and final step to building and keeping a social impact community is to measure and improve your impact. Impact is the ultimate goal and outcome of your community, as it reflects the change or difference you are making in the world. You can measure and improve your impact by defining and tracking indicators, metrics, or outcomes that relate to your purpose and goals, such as reach, engagement, satisfaction, retention, or conversion. You can also collect and analyze data, feedback, or testimonials from your members, partners, or beneficiaries, and use them to evaluate and improve your performance, quality, or effectiveness. You can also report and communicate your impact to your community and beyond, and use it to celebrate, learn, or iterate.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?