We’re now a week back into a new semester so we’ll start off slow with some items that have been sitting in my bookmark drawer.

Here are a few quick links on how NGO’s and nonprofits can utilize social media to engage constituent audiences. Nothing too profound but good to browse through in case there’s an item or two that captures the imagination.

• 10 Things Every Nonprofit Should Know About Social Media and Online Communications (via frogloop)
  

  From grassroots advocacy staffers to Hill staffers and PR folks, the same questions arose… what are the top social media tools to use to spread an organizations message and how does an organization effectively use online communications tools.

• Five Simple Ways Nonprofits Can Measure Social Media ROI (via NonProfitOrgs)
  

  Recent studies have revealed that the vast majority of nonprofits do not know how to measure ROI (Return on Investment) from utilizing social media. Below are 5 simple, low-cost ways nonprofits can measure ROI with a minimal time investment of only a couple of hours a month.

• Social Good (via Portfolio.com)
  

  Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and blogging are helping nonprofits get the word out about their causes in ways they never could before. And many initiatives are bringing in valuable cash donations and helping companies find much-needed support among younger people.

• 13 Prominent Social Media Activities Implemented By the Top 200 Non Profits (via Infinity Technologies)
  

  So what are some of the best practices and uses of social media as displayed by the top 200 US NGO’s.