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Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

  • 1.  Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-07-2026 09:46 PM

    Updated 4/13/26 at 1:18 pm - Recording now available to watch on-demand!

    Enter here for a chance to win the April Community Conversations giveaway after watching live or on-demand.

    Please note: All views expressed on these calls are not necessarily endorsed by Maddie’s Fund. 

    We hope to see you on the next Maddie's Community Conversation on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 11am PT / 2pm ET  for "Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack," a conversation with @Arpisara Hangtagool, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications for Operation Kindness.

    Building a social media presence from scratch can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. This hands-on session will equip you with the tools and confidence to launch and grow an engaging online community, regardless of budget or experience.

    You will explore profile optimization, content strategy and scheduling tools designed to streamline team collaboration. The session also features a practical Canva walkthrough. Guiding participants on using the easy tools and templates to create eye-catching graphics that amplify their organization's mission and connect with supporters.

    This session is ideal for those ready to build a purposeful social media presence, no prior experience required. Leave with a clear, actionable starter pack and the know-how to post with purpose and make a lasting impact online.

    This session is ideal for marketing & communications staff, shelter operations staff, and anyone promoting content and programs - but all are welcome. 

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    • How to build your social media toolkit from the ground up, no experience necessary
    • Learn tools, tips, and creative strategies
    • Compare the difference between free vs paid versions

    Don't forget! Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter for a chance to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the monthly giveaway drawing entry form. 

    Register for Community Conversations hosted via Zoom. 

    🧠 Got Topic or Speaker Suggestions?
    We want to hear your ideas! If there's a topic you're curious about or a speaker you'd love to hear from, please share your suggestions with us on our Community Conversations Suggestions thread. 

    Looking forward to being in community with you! 


    #EducationandTraining
    #MarketingandSocialMedia

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    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:16 PM

    Thanks to our speaker, @Arpisara Hangtagool - and everyone who joined us today! 

    We would love to hear from you in response to today's reflection question: What is one specific action you can take in the next 48 hours to move your organization's social media presence forward - and what has been the biggest barrier stopping you from taking that step until now?



    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:41 PM

    Thank you so much for having me! It was such an honor to be a part of this conversation and share some insight into making everyone's digital presence more effective so we can all continue impacting more lives!



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    Arpisara Hangtagool
    Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
    Operation Kindness Humane Society
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 08:40 PM

    One specific action I can take in the next 48 hours:


    I can create and post a short, impactful video highlighting the mission of LC'S Foundation, showcasing our partnership work, community impact, and vision for expanding grooming education and animal welfare support locally and globally. This can include a clear call-to-action for support, whether through donations, partnerships, or awareness.  


    Biggest barrier until now:


    The biggest barrier has been time and structure. Between running LC'S Detroit Pet Salon, mentoring, and building partnerships, social media has not had a consistent strategy or dedicated focus. I've been doing the work, but not always capturing and sharing it in a way that reflects the full impact of what LC'S Foundation is doing.

    I have to do better or being someone on to possibly help, but I'm not sure where to look, maybe a volunteer? Any ideas?.



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    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-15-2026 08:16 AM

    Hi Latoya! Time is always the most precious resource, isn't it? :)

    One thing that has helped with the various times I supported social media work for shelters or other orgs is to constantly take pictures! We all have our phones on us and even just random snaps here and there can help you build a library of pics to choose from. You don't have to use them all, you don't need to capture anything especially amazing other than pics of animals and people (who are ok with it!) who are supporting or doing something fun/work related. That way if an idea for a post comes to mind you can grab a pic of your team or animals and add more info in the context/text part of the post. 

    Another idea is keeping a running brainstorm email or note app on your phone and write down ANYTHING that you think might be a good idea or something to post later. Again, building a library of future ideas to pull from.  

    Hopefully having backlogs of ideas when you do have a chance to sit down and engage in social media, content is not something you need to come up with in the moment and instead you can focus more on engaging with social media and/or implementing some of the other tools Arpisara mentioned. 

    Maria DeLeon 



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    Maria DeLeon
    Dog Behavior Consultant
    NJ
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-16-2026 08:27 PM

    Hi , that is a great idea!!! 



    ------------------------------
    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-15-2026 08:27 AM

    Hi LaTonya! 

    I loved everything that you shared! Volunteers are a GREAT resource to use when you're feeling stretched thin! I have seen many organizations who utilize volunteers are their dedicated social media team! They can help brainstorm ideas for content, gather the content, edit and post so that you don't have to worry about that. 

    Something else you could do too is set up a tri pod when you're working and simply let your phone record the work. That helps you get content without having to think about it and also gives the audience a full view of the work you're doing. I love making timelapse videos and those perform really well on our socials. People love to see all the work being done in a sped up version. 



    ------------------------------
    Arpisara Hangtagool
    Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
    Operation Kindness Humane Society
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-16-2026 08:28 PM

    Omg that is an amazing idea!! So simple! How come I did not think of that!! 



    ------------------------------
    Tonya Smith
    Founder
    LC'S Foundation
    Michigan
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:19 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "What are your suggestions on how frequently to post? How many times a day/week?" - Shelley Joaquin



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:41 PM

    At minimum, I suggest at least 3 times a week, once per day! You don't want to oversaturate your page because things get lost. Sometimes we post a couple times a day if we need to get more information out that has more of an urgent time frame. Posting everyday is not necessary for a successful platform, it's consistency that is the most important! As you grow, you may find that you have to post more often and that's great! But 3 times a week is a good rule of thumb. Instagram and Facebook stories are also incredible for community engagement! We post daily on our stories. There's no limit to how many stories you can post. 



    ------------------------------
    Arpisara Hangtagool
    Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
    Operation Kindness Humane Society
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:19 PM

    Unanswered question from the chat: 

    "How do you balance staying fun and playful such as through trends but also maintaining the urgency of needing donations, fosters, adopters? We worry that we will seem all over the place and not authentic by the mixture of types of content." - @Katheryn White



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    Community Conversations
    Community Conversations Committee
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
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  • 12.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-13-2026 12:42 PM

    For us, we have found that posting 2 fun TikTok/Reels a week is a great balance to any other posts we may need to get out. The real key is making sure that your brand voice is consistent, do what feels authentic to you! A mixture is great because it allows for those that support your work follow along and respond to any urgent pleas, while also giving those who prefer more light hearted things to enjoy. Our audience stays engaged with our fun and silly content, but also respond just the same when we post about more urgent needs because they know what to expect from us through our consistent presence. 



    ------------------------------
    Arpisara Hangtagool
    Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications
    Operation Kindness Humane Society
    TX
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Community Conversations - 04/13/2026 - Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack

    Posted 04-14-2026 10:38 AM
      |   view attached

    Thanks to the 118+ people and paws who joined us on today's Community Conversations call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand. Below you'll find a recap of today's call and the resources shared. 

    Call Recap

    Welcome from hosts


    Question of the Day:      What's your favorite social media platform and why?

    Grant Giveaway Winners

    • March Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway Winners of $2,500 each
      • Jasmine Torralba, Freckles and Tomcat Rescue, Billings, MT
      • @Kirstin Tanner, Humane Society of Marion County, Ocala, FL
        • "Thank you for this opportunity! This past year alone, our volunteers & fosters contributed over 25000 hours which has made a huge impact on the level of care, and enrichment we're able to provide. <3 https://www.facebook.com/HumaneMarion#" - Kirstin Tanner
      • @K. D. Thompson, The FIDO Foundation, Omaha, NE
        • "The Fido Foundation exists to preserve and strengthen the bond between people and their dogs. Our mission is to ensure that individuals-regardless of background, circumstance, or resources-are able to keep, care for, and be reunited with their dogs. We are committed to eliminating barriers and biases that prevent families from staying together with their pets. We're more than an animal organization-we're a community movement dedicated to breaking down barriers in pet ownership, reuniting lost dogs with their families, and providing resources that create equity and care. By restoring bonds and building connections, we empower people and protect pets,  ensuring that love and loyalty never have to be left behind." - K.D. Thompson
      • @Susan Morris, Friends of Wilson County Animal Control, Lebanon, TN
        • "On behalf of the Friends of Wilson County Animal Control, we would like to thank Maddie's Fund for this generous grant. We were established in Q4-2025 and is located 25 miles east of Nashville in Lebanon, which is home to Cracker Barrel HQ. As a new organization these funds provide us a great jump start to a very important program for our community.  In addition to supporting our local animal shelter, we also focus on our community's animals and humans who care about them. These funds will allow us to provide medical care to dogs from low-income families or those needing short-term financial assistance."  - Susan Morris
    • March Maddie's Pet Forum Giveaway Winners of $3,000 
    • Maddie's Pet Forum 30th Anniversary Giveaway Winner of $1,000
      • @DEBORAH olivas, Elle's House, Bakersfield, CA
        • "Thank you so much! we really appreciate it" - Deborah Olivas
    • Maddie's Pet Forum Quarterly Grant Winner of $1,000
      • @Laurel Wilton (She/Her), Nebraska Humane Society, Omaha, NE
        • "Nebraska Humane Society has a pretty robust following if you want to check us out for social media inspo! We have 179K facebook followers, 47.6K instagram followers, and 208.7K tiktok followers. If you're looking for inspiration for your own shelter/rescue's social media I would highly recommend checking out our sites!
          Thank you so much for awarding me this grant! I am the Feline and Critter Welfare Supervisor at the Nebraska Humane Society (NHS). We are a 501(c)3 shelter with a government contract to bring in strays and operate animal control. NHS is now in its 151st year of operation as the fourth oldest shelter in the nation, bringing in 15,000+ animals a year. In 2024 we achieved a 90+% save rate and became recognized as a touchstone shelter by Best Friends for the largest increase in lives saved in the nation while achieving No-Kill status. We were able to keep that save rate up for 2025 as well. My goals for this year are to share what I have learned with others as much as I can and to continue to learn and grow myself. Part of this grant will go towards my IAABC credentialing exam, and the rest I am hoping to use to even further improve our cat behavior and enrichment resources." - Laurel Wilton


    National Updates

    • Maddie's Insights webcast this Thursday, 4/16: Fur-ever starts now! Supporting dogs and adopters' post-adoption with Drs. Eleanor Jordan and Lauren Samet. Sign up here. 
    • From Human Animal Support Services: In honor of ACO Appreciation month, just a reminder that HASS teamed up with NACA to develop 11 toolkits to support community work with your field service teams! Check them out here. 
    • From Community Cats Central: Our 2026 Feline Behavior Summit is this Saturday, April 18th! Join us virtually for a full day of expert sessions on cat behavior with Tabitha Kucera, Arden Moore, and Dr. Rachel Geller - plus live Q&A and cat trivia. Just $25, and the recording is available if you can't make it live. Register here. 
    • Maddie's Community Conversations Giveaway: Now you can enter for a chance to win up to  $10,000!  Enter here for a chance to win.  Open to all who are watching live or on-demand! Be sure to enter each week you attend! You must be registered in Maddie's Pet Forum to enter. 
    • Maddie's Pet Forum Monthly Giveaway: Maddie's Fund® is giving away a $3,000 grant each month to one lucky Maddie's® Pet Forum member. You'll automatically be entered to win each month when you start a new discussion, reply to a new post. Learn more here. 
    • We would love to hear from you! Have an idea for Maddie's Community Conversations? Interested in hosting? Have a topic or speaker you would like to hear from? Let us know on Maddie's Pet Forum via the Community Conversations Suggestions discussion thread. Or, you can contact us directly by emailing CommunityConversations@maddiesfund.org.


    Presentation:     Scroll, Post, Repeat: Your Social Media Starter Pack


    Highlights from the Chat

    • "Yes! Knowing your audience is a priority for success. 😻" - Heather Livingston
    • "Social listening allows you to see what folks are saying about you/your organization on all social platforms, including blog sites, and gauge if the feelings are positive, neutral, or negative. I check our org name daily just to make sure I know the conversations that are happening and if it's helpful for me to join the convo as our org :)" - Jenna Riedi
    • "Having a response library is a lifesaver!" - Katheryn White
    • "Thank you!! Our organization needs a resource library, but not sure where to start on that. Yours looked great! - Kimbra @Beaumont Pets Alive
    • "Anything you purchase or are thinking of purchasing...apps, supplies, web products, and so on, always ask about a discount for nonprofits.  Money saved there is more money towards your organization's mission." - Heather Livingston
    • "I am so grateful for this zoom call. I was just looking into all of these great online sources. So thank you for discussing." - Debi Olivas
    • "Asana, Monday.com,  or Google Calendar are very useful for projects and grants management. Claude is free to individuals for up to 40 touches of AI content help or inquiries each day. Much better than Chat GPT." - Lisa Pearce
    • "A little overwhelming since I haven't heard of many of these social media tools but will do some research!" - Diane Atherton
    • "Our TNR group posts videos of our cat trappings and our viewers love it.  I want to post more stories after hearing today's presentation.  Thank you!" - Bonnie Clark


    ------------------------------
    Sheila Kouhkan
    Senior Education Specialist
    Maddie's Fund
    CA
    ------------------------------



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