14 Instagram Story Ideas for Nonprofits

What Are Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories (also used on Facebook) are photos and videos that disappear from your profile after 24 hours unless you add them to your story highlights. They basically stole the idea from Snapchat, but way more people use Instagram Stories.

Right now, you can only post Stories via the app or using a social media manager like Hootsuite or Buffer.

They appear in vertical format and are a quick and easy way to share moments and experiences. They are also a great way for you to experiment with different content since they will disappear.

You can add stickers, emojis, and filters to it, draw on it, add text to it, share links, and more. You can also mention people or engage your followers through polls and quizzes.

Some Story Stats:

• There are over 500 million active daily Instagram Stories users.
• 70% of Instagram users watch stories daily.
• 86.6% of Instagram users post Stories.
• Instagram Stories are used by 36% of businesses to promote their products.

14 Instagram Story Ideas for Nonprofits

1. List of superlatives (Best or Worst of…)
2. Make the case for action
3. Before the meeting / After the meeting
4. Ask for their reaction to news or ideas
5. Test their knowledge (Poll or Quiz Sticker)
6. Let’s go see what’s happening today with [staff person, ED, volunteer, etc]
7. Tell a story with a middle, beginning or end
8. Give them something to use like wallpaper or a quote/card to share
9. Describe your own creative process
10. Myths vs facts
11. Show teamwork and friendships at work
12. Themed round-up of news
13. Show learning or new skills building
14. Anything funny or quirky in your office – individual staff, members, teams, happenings

Want to learn more about Instagram? Become an All-Access Pass Holder and you can attend our live webinar Stepping Up Your Instagram Content Strategy in the fall as well as download our What Nonprofits Need to Know About Social Media in 2023 E-book and our Instagram Content Strategy Workbook.