1. Social Media/Networking Guidelines for Volunteers
Purpose of social media/networking and this policy
AGENCY
encourages
staff,
Board
members,
volunteers,
program
participants/clients,
and
other
supporters
to
be
champions
on
behalf
of
the
organization
by
spreading
the
word
about
the
importance
of
AGENCY
MISSION.
We
recognize
that
our
greatest
tool
in
recruiting
new
volunteers
and
attracting
new
supporters
and
donors
is
through
word
of
mouth.
Social
Media/Networking
Sites
The
rapid
growth
of
communication
through
social
media
is
emerging
as
opportunities
for
outreach,
information
sharing,
and
advocacy.
Used
responsibly,
they
provide
an
effective
way
to
stay
connected
to
and
expand
our
community,
be
informed
of
new
trends
and
topics,
and
share
information
and
perspectives.
These
sites
include,
but
are
not
limited
to
• Social
networking
sites
like
Facebook,
Twitter,
LinkedIn,
and
MySpace;
• News
sharing
and
bookmarking
sites
like
Pinterest,
delicious,
and
Digg;
• Photo-­‐
and
video-­‐sharing
sites
like
flickr
and
YouTube;
and
• Other
forms
of
posting
personal
online
content
like
web
sites,
blogs,
vlogs,
podcasts,
chat
rooms,
forums
and
wikis.
Public
and
Private
Boundaries
It
is
more
important
than
ever
that
AGENCY
advocates
who
choose
to
tell
their
story
online
understand
what
is
recommended,
expected,
and
required.
Given
the
reach
of
the
Internet,
it’s
important
that
when
you
use
these
various
media,
you
follow
some
basic
procedures
that
protect
the
privacy
and
confidentiality
of
our
program
participants/clients,
as
well
as
maintain
our
identity
as
a
high-­‐quality
nonprofit
organization.
These
policies
apply
to
AGENCY
staff
when
they
participate
in
social
media
for
work,
but
will
also
be
considered
if
personal
blog
activities
give
the
appearance
of
speaking
for
AGENCY.
Adhering
to
the
following
points
in
either
situation
will
provide
protection
for
you,
our
program
participants/clients,
and
AGENCY.
Goals
for
Using
Social
Media
AGENCY
encourages
staff,
Board
members,
volunteers,
program
participants/clients,
and
other
supporters
to
use
the
Internet
to
share
their
perspectives
about
our
organization,
our
services,
and
our
work.
Our
goals
are
• AGENCY
GOALS
We
strongly
emphasize
the
importance
of
understanding
and
following
guidelines
as
listed
below
to
all
who
participate
in
social
media
on
behalf
of
AGENCY.
These
guidelines
will
continually
evolve
as
new
technologies
and
social
networking
tools
emerge.
Support
for
Using
Social
Media
AGENCY
does
not
intend
to
“police”
the
online
community;
on
the
contrary,
we
want
to
aggregate
all
the
powerful
stories
AGENCY
advocates
are
telling
and
showcase
your
individual
contribution
to
the
overall
mission.
We
encourage
you
to
embrace
social
media
by
providing
you
some
guidelines
without
attempting
to
stifle
your
social
voice.
1

2. Be responsible for what you write • When
confronted
with
a
difference
of
• Be
fair,
ethical,
accurate,
and
honest.
opinion,
stay
calm,
express
your
• Always
pause
and
think
before
points
clearly
and
logically,
and
posting.
correct
mistakes
when
needed.
• Acknowledge
and
correct
mistakes
• Include
links
–
find
out
who
else
is
promptly.
blogging
or
posting
about
the
same
• While
participating
as
an
authorized
topic
and
cite
them
with
a
link
or
spokesperson,
you
represent
make
a
post
on
their
blog
when
it
is
AGENCY
at
all
times.
appropriate.
• All
forms
of
online
dialogue
are
individual
interactions
unless
posted
Respect brand, trademark,
by
authorized
AGENCY
personnel.
copyright, and fair use laws
• For
your
protection,
do
not
post
any
Be authentic material
that
is
copyrighted.
• Write
what
you
know.
• Be
yourself
–
and
be
transparent.
Protect privacy, confidentiality,
and proprietary info
Consider audience • Recognize
that
everything
you
write
• Be
sure
you
won’t
alienate
any
or
receive
on
a
social
media
site
is
groups
of
readers.
public.
• Be
sensitive
about
linking
to
content.
• Respect
and
maintain
the
confidentiality
about
all
aspects
of
Exercise good judgment and AGENCY
that
has
been
entrusted
to
common sense you.
• Post
meaningful
and
respectful
• Don’t
publish
or
cite
personal
details,
comments.
indentifying
information,
or
• If
you
are
unsure
about
the
nature
of
photographs
of
AGENCY
staff,
Board
your
post,
check
with
AGENCY
staff
members,
volunteers,
program
or
representative.
participants/clients,
and
other
supporters
without
their
permission
• Delete
spam
and/or
comments
that
are
off-­‐topic
or
inappropriate.
and,
for
program
participants,
without
a
signed
release.
• Use
professional
language
and
grammar;
check
spelling
prior
to
• Do
not
copy
full
text,
audio,
or
posting.
photographs
from
any
AGENCY
sites
onto
a
personal
site
or
web
page.
• Understand
that
AGENCY
can
and
will
monitor
employee
use
of
social
media/networking
web
sites.
Bring value
• Be
respectful
and
professional
to
• Be
active
and
timely.
fellow
volunteers,
employees,
• Use
social
networking
to
promote
the
business
partners,
competitors,
and
mission
and
vision
of
AGENCY.
clients.
Productivity matters
Appreciate concept of community • Ensure
that
your
social
networking
• Community
is
a
platform
where
your
activities
don’t
interfere
with
your
supporters
or
volunteers
feel
work
or
program
commitments.
comfortable
sharing,
connecting,
and
receiving
help.
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3. Special Social Media Policy for Volunteers
Working with Youth Participants/Clients
This
special
provision
includes
all
other
general
policies
related
to
information
–
writings
and
images
–
you
share
about
your
program
participants/clients
and
AGENCY.
To
protect
the
confidentiality
and
privacy
of
all
participants,
the
basis
for
our
program’s
integrity,
please
follow
the
additional
guidelines
listed
below.
What
is
acceptable
to
share:
• First
names;
• Reflections
on
past
meetings
and
activities
from
your
perspective
(if
it
is
not
confidential);
and
• Anything
program
participants/clients
would
be
comfortable
with
other
people
reading
What
is
NOT
acceptable
to
share:
• Anything
that
would
in
any
way
compromise
the
safety
of
program
participants/clients;
• Confidential
identifying
information
like
last
names,
address,
telephone
number,
or
which
school
he/she
attends;
• Details
about
upcoming
meetings,
including
AGENCY
activities;
• Confidential
referral
information,
including
history
of
your
program
participants/clients’s
family,
educational
experiences,
and
any
physical,
mental,
emotional
health
or
economic
issues;
• Information
that
would
be
hurtful
or
embarrassing
if
program
participants/clients
saw
it
posted;
and
• Photographs
and/or
identifying
information
about
other
volunteers
and
program
participants/clients
from
AGENCY
activities.
If
you
are
not
sure
about
content
you’d
like
to
share,
check
with
your
STAFF
CONTACT.
Inform
AGENCY
if
you
do
include
any
program-­‐related
content
in
your
social
media
use.
By
providing
your
story
to
us
through
one
of
our
sites,
be
aware
that
you
authorize
us
to
use
your
story
in
both
online
and
offline
formats.
We
may
• Choose
to
link
to
your
story
from
social
networking
or
social
media
platforms
to
help
illustrate
the
work
that
we
do
and
share
how
we
accomplish
our
mission;
• Highlight
your
story
in
presentations
to
supporters;
• Use
your
story
in
brochures,
direct
mail,
publications,
etc.;
and
• Use
your
photo,
provided
you
have
signed
your
photo
release.
You
may
find
your
story
linked
from
other
sites
on
the
Internet.
Owners
of
other
sites
do
not
need
to
ask
our
permission
to
link
to
our
website
or
to
specific
pages
in
our
site.
Should
a
conflict
arise,
please
do
not
use
social
media
tools
to
confront
or
criticize
AGENCY,
our
staff,
our
program
participants,
or
our
donors.
If
you
have
a
problem
or
suggestions
for
improvements,
please
state
them
constructively
and
go
through
the
proper
channels
–
first,
by
contacting
your
STAFF
CONTACT
–
to
air
your
concerns
and
share
your
suggestions.
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