I never imagined humour could highlight crucial issues. But one day, someone left a comment on one of my LinkedIn posts: “These memes capture more than humour. They talk about real issues in the social sector.”
Maybe they saw what I didn’t at first—the way funny Bollywood scenes paired with serious nonprofit struggles could say something real.
It started with a Facebook friend sharing funny posts. My initial reaction was that this is such a waste of time. But unknowingly, I had started liking it. I would often wait for his next post. His memes were silly but hard to ignore.
That’s when it hit me. If something so simple and irrational could grab my attention, why not use this format to talk about important social issues? From then on, memes became my way of telling stories. Stories of nonprofits, their struggles, and the work they do.
Memes That Highlight Realities: From Funding Gaps to Field Visits
At Simit Bhagat Studios (SBS), our focus is on nonprofits. We make memes about funding gaps, volunteer burnout, and even societal indifference. These memes help nonprofits feel, seen and understood.
Take our post about CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) donors visiting grassroots NGOs. One meme shows a Bollywood-inspired scene where two characters are hanging in the air.
The text reads: “Thoda neeche, thoda neeche bolke kitna neeche leke aagaya” (“I asked you to bring me down a bit, but you’ve brought me way too low”). The caption: “When a CSR donor visits a field site of a grassroots NGO.”
These memes help nonprofits feel, seen and understood.
It’s a funny but honest take on the contrast between donors’ air-conditioned offices and the harsh realities of field visits. These visits aren’t glamorous. They’re hot, dusty, and exhausting. But they’re also where real connections happen—where donors see the heart of the work being done.
Another post shows a Bollywood character with a confident smirk and the line: “Kaleja thanda ho gaya” (“My heart feels satisfied”). The caption reads: “When a nonprofit gets positive feedback from auditors.”
For nonprofits, a clean audit is more than a formality. It’s proof of trust. It shows donors and partners that funds are managed well. It opens doors to new support and new possibilities. These memes aren’t just jokes—they’re moments that nonprofit teams live every day. And when someone sees themselves in a meme, they know they’re not alone.
The Role of Memes in Nonprofit Communication
The biggest proof came when a large company hired us. They wanted memes to communicate about their volunteering initiatives. What started as a fun idea turned into real work. If they saw value in memes, I knew I was onto something. Memes weren’t just for laughs anymore. They could teach, inspire, and connect. It’s the small, human moments that matter. If our memes spark a smile—or make someone think—we’ve done our job.
If you wish to include humour in your nonprofit communication, give us a shout here.
