Guidelines for LF Energy Social Media Channels Tied to Projects or SIGs

Summary

LF Energy maintains branded Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube channels for the foundation. Some project communities and special interest groups (SIGs) may also wish to create additional channels for their communities specifically. Generally this is acceptable as long as the channels are primarily community managed, follow the LF Energy brand guidelines, do not promote any single member organization or product, and LF Energy staff are given administrative access to the channels. Detailed guidelines follow below.

What Channels Can My Community Leverage?

Any project or SIG can utilize any social media network it feels would be beneficial for its community, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Mastodon, X, YouTube, and others. 

How Can I Set Up a Channel?

Each project TSC or SIG chair can authorize creation of a social media channel. They may designate a community member to be responsible for the setup of the channel. As soon as a channel is created, an email should be sent to pr@lfenergy.org notifying LF Energy staff that the channel was created, and providing login information. Refer to the TAC Project Account guidelines for how these credentials are managed. 

Will LF Energy Set Up and Manage a Channel for Me?

Project and SIG-specific channels should be set up and primarily maintained by the communities themselves. The one exception is for SIGs that would like a Spotlight page on LinkedIn under the main LF Energy account; contact pr@lfenergy.org for assistance with that. For general management of these channels, LF Energy staff can provide guidance and assistance on a case-by-case basis, but will not be responsible for daily management of these channels. On occasion, LF Energy may decide to post relevant information using these channels. 

Why Does LF Energy Staff Need Access to Our Channel?

Most importantly, if anything in violation of the LF Energy brand guidelines is posted to the channel, the staff needs the ability to remove that content. On occasion, LF Energy may also decide to post relevant information using these channels, however this will be rare.

Will LF Energy Pay for a Premium Channel Subscription?

No, if members of the community wish to upgrade to a paid account, they may do so themselves, but LF Energy will not reimburse these costs.

Why Would My Community Want its Own Channel?

There are many reasons why a community may decide it makes sense to launch a social media channel. Primary LF Energy channels are more general, so some individuals may prefer not to follow them if they are only interested in a single project or subject area. Additionally, LF Energy channels cannot share every community update as there is so much activity across our communities. Managing a social media channel can also create a sense of ownership within the community, which may drive the creation of more content than would otherwise be created.

What if I Have Other Questions?

Contact pr@lfenergy.org and we’ll be happy to answer them!