How Nonprofits Can Create or Find Images for Social Media
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 5:36 am
Images are the heart of social media. They capture attention, tell stories, and drive engagement. But for nonprofits with limited budgets and resources, finding high-quality images can be a challenge.
The good news? You don’t need a big budget, or a professional photographer, to get amazing images. Here’s how your nonprofit can create or source images that resonate with your audience.
Create your own images (no design skills required!)
If you think you need a degree in graphic design to create amazing images, buy bulk sms service think again! Here are some simple ways to make your own visuals:
???? Use your smartphone
Capture behind-the-scenes moments, volunteer events, or impactful stories.
Natural light and a steady hand can make a huge difference.
Experiment with different angles to make things more interesting.
Use free design tools
Canva – Drag-and-drop templates make it easy to design posts, even without experience.
Adobe Express – A free alternative with tons of templates and customization options.
Pixlr – Great for quick edits without installing software.
️ Turn quotes into shareable graphics
Tools like Canva and Buffer’s Pablo let you overlay quotes on beautiful backgrounds.
Share inspiring messages from donors, volunteers, or beneficiaries.
Find free, high-quality images (legally!)
If you don’t have time to create your own images, don’t worry! There are many sites that offer free, high-quality images for nonprofits. Here are the best ones:
???? Royalty-free image sites
Unsplash – Stunning, high-resolution photos, no attribution required.
Pexels – A mix of professional and user-generated images.
Pixabay – Over 2 million free images, illustrations and videos.
️ Nonprofit-specific image resources
NPO Images – Free images designed specifically for nonprofit causes.
Digital Charity – A collection of free visuals designed for fundraising and awareness campaigns.
???? Tip: Avoid generic stock photos. Choose images that feel authentic and create an emotional connection with your audience.
Leverage User Generated Content (UGC)
Want content that looks real? Ask your community to share their photos!
How to encourage UGC:
Run a photo contest (for example, "Share your volunteer experience with us!").
Create a hashtag for supporters to tag their posts.
feature spotlights on donors or volunteers using their own images.
This approach not only saves you time, but also allows you to build stronger bonds with your supporters.
Using AI to generate personalized images
If you need unique images that don't exist yet, AI tools can help:
StoryLab.ai – Use their Social Media Image Generator .
DALL · E – Generate unique images from text descriptions.
Pista ML – AI-powered video design and editing.
Google – Use their Imagen 3 Key
Deep Dream Generator – Transform simple images into artistic images.
Use AI-generated images to:
Blog banner
Event Promotions
Social Media Story
Resize and optimize images for social media
Once you have your images, make sure they are the right size for each platform:
Ideal Image Sizes for Social Media
Instagram Post: 1080 × 1080 px
Facebook Post: 1200 × 630 px
Post on Twitter/X: 1600 × 900 px
LinkedIn Posts: 1200 × 627 px
Use TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress images so they load faster without losing quality.
Creating or sourcing images for social media doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Whether you take photos with your phone, use free stock images, or use artificial intelligence, you can create visuals that tell your nonprofit's story and drive engagement.
Need help designing social media graphics? Start with free tools like Canva , Explore user-generated content , and use images that evoke emotion Your audience will love it, and your cause will benefit.
The good news? You don’t need a big budget, or a professional photographer, to get amazing images. Here’s how your nonprofit can create or source images that resonate with your audience.
Create your own images (no design skills required!)
If you think you need a degree in graphic design to create amazing images, buy bulk sms service think again! Here are some simple ways to make your own visuals:
???? Use your smartphone
Capture behind-the-scenes moments, volunteer events, or impactful stories.
Natural light and a steady hand can make a huge difference.
Experiment with different angles to make things more interesting.
Use free design tools
Canva – Drag-and-drop templates make it easy to design posts, even without experience.
Adobe Express – A free alternative with tons of templates and customization options.
Pixlr – Great for quick edits without installing software.
️ Turn quotes into shareable graphics
Tools like Canva and Buffer’s Pablo let you overlay quotes on beautiful backgrounds.
Share inspiring messages from donors, volunteers, or beneficiaries.
Find free, high-quality images (legally!)
If you don’t have time to create your own images, don’t worry! There are many sites that offer free, high-quality images for nonprofits. Here are the best ones:
???? Royalty-free image sites
Unsplash – Stunning, high-resolution photos, no attribution required.
Pexels – A mix of professional and user-generated images.
Pixabay – Over 2 million free images, illustrations and videos.
️ Nonprofit-specific image resources
NPO Images – Free images designed specifically for nonprofit causes.
Digital Charity – A collection of free visuals designed for fundraising and awareness campaigns.
???? Tip: Avoid generic stock photos. Choose images that feel authentic and create an emotional connection with your audience.
Leverage User Generated Content (UGC)
Want content that looks real? Ask your community to share their photos!
How to encourage UGC:
Run a photo contest (for example, "Share your volunteer experience with us!").
Create a hashtag for supporters to tag their posts.
feature spotlights on donors or volunteers using their own images.
This approach not only saves you time, but also allows you to build stronger bonds with your supporters.
Using AI to generate personalized images
If you need unique images that don't exist yet, AI tools can help:
StoryLab.ai – Use their Social Media Image Generator .
DALL · E – Generate unique images from text descriptions.
Pista ML – AI-powered video design and editing.
Google – Use their Imagen 3 Key
Deep Dream Generator – Transform simple images into artistic images.
Use AI-generated images to:
Blog banner
Event Promotions
Social Media Story
Resize and optimize images for social media
Once you have your images, make sure they are the right size for each platform:
Ideal Image Sizes for Social Media
Instagram Post: 1080 × 1080 px
Facebook Post: 1200 × 630 px
Post on Twitter/X: 1600 × 900 px
LinkedIn Posts: 1200 × 627 px
Use TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress images so they load faster without losing quality.
Creating or sourcing images for social media doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Whether you take photos with your phone, use free stock images, or use artificial intelligence, you can create visuals that tell your nonprofit's story and drive engagement.
Need help designing social media graphics? Start with free tools like Canva , Explore user-generated content , and use images that evoke emotion Your audience will love it, and your cause will benefit.