5 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Nonprofit Professionals

Your LinkedIn profile is more than just a digital resume. As a nonprofit professional, it’s an opportunity for you to put a friendly face to your organization — helping you connect with potential donors, board members, and supporters, as well as professional opportunities. That’s why it’s worth reviewing your profile to ensure it conveys trust, credibility, and warmth.

Ready for a profile refresh? Here are five top LinkedIn profile tips to help you get started. 

1. Share your story

The “About” section on your LinkedIn profile is your opportunity to tell your professional story. Draw readers in with a compelling narrative that creates an instant connection with your cause. How did you get started in the nonprofit sector? What drew you to your organization? Why are you passionate about your role? Communicate who you are and why you care about your work, then flesh that story out by sharing more details about your role under the “Experience” section. 

2. Weave in details about your cause

In addition to telling your own story, you can use your LinkedIn profile to share details about your nonprofit. This could include mentioning your mission in your headline and including a banner image related to your work. By weaving in details about your nonprofit, you can not only get more eyes on your cause, but make your profile stand out from other professionals. 

3. Show, don’t tell

LinkedIn profiles are often littered with buzzwords like “expert,” “experienced,” and “results-oriented.” These terms might describe you — but are they how you would describe yourself in a face-to-face meeting? Good LinkedIn profile examples tend to show rather than tell — like sharing how they embody creativity and collaboration in their day-to-day work, rather than just telling readers they’re creative and collaborative. You can also feature rich media on your LinkedIn profile, such as videos, articles, and presentations, to showcase your skills and expertise. 

4. Get the conversation started

After people check out your LinkedIn profile, what do you want them to do? Nudge them into action by including clear next steps at the end of your summary section. For example, if you’re involved in volunteer recruitment, you might write: “Interested in setting up a volunteer day for your employees, students, or team? Send me a connection request and let’s chat!”

5. Don’t set it and forget it

These LinkedIn profile tips will only be effective if you keep your profile up to date. Forgetting to add things like a new employer or job title can hurt your credibility when potential donors or partners research you on LinkedIn, so aim to give your profile a quick review every couple of months to ensure it’s still accurate. As your career grows and evolves, you can also replace older information and rich media elements to tell the story you want to tell about who you are today.

Try these LinkedIn profile tips out today

Building a strong LinkedIn profile can help you make a great first impression — unlocking the door to more opportunities for you and your nonprofit. If you’re still feeling uncertain, why not look up peers you admire to see how they tell their story on LinkedIn? Your story is unique, of course, but looking at good LinkedIn profile examples can leave you feeling inspired and energized to make changes to your own.

For more tips about how to use LinkedIn to make connections with people who can help your cause, download our guide, How to connect with major donors and supporters on LinkedIn.