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ADAMS COUNTY, ILL. -- Social media is everywhere these days.

Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In are just a few ways to stay connected with the world.

Today, charities and not for profit agencies are jumping on the social networking bandwagon, and they're liking what they're seeing.

Barb Hicks is the Executive Director of the Madonna House in Quincy. Seven or eight months ago she decided to set up a Facebook page for the agency.

"Personally, I see everything that comes through on my own Facebook and it really brings my attention to things I need to be doing, supporting, and caring about. When I noticed how much I was paying attention to that, I figured that's the way to go for the Madonna House," says Hicks.

Just the other night, a local restaurant donated a percentage of its profits to the Madonna House, and word was spread quite a bit through Facebook. Another avenue of fundraising for agencies like the Madonna House, remember the Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant. It wasn't until the very end of the competition that the Madonna House starting publicizing the grant on Facebook, but the agency did see a last minute push to land it $250,000. In the end, the Madonna House didn't get the money, but has the chance to re-enter next month.

Another agency big on the social networking scene is the American Red Cross. In 2008, it started collecting ten dollars for every text it got to the number 90999. It wasn't overly successful at first, but the Haiti earthquake changed all that. In about 30 days, the American Red Cross raised $33 million for relief efforts.

"It's a different group of donors perhaps than what have traditionally given to the Red Cross," says Lisa Kugler with the Adams County Chapter.

In December, the American Red Cross announced, you can still text REDCROSS to 90999, and the donations will go to the Red Cross to use for other disasters. Local chapters of the Red Cross are also starting Facebook pages.

"It's a way that we can let people know the events that are coming up in our chapter areas and communicate. We can share pictures of our events," says Kugler.

You can also share videos through Facebook, so the possibilities for organizations are becoming limitless.

"We will be able to use our Facebook pages as long as there is internet and electricity to communicate where our shelters are and where people can go to get to a warming center or make a donation," says Kugler.

Facebook and texting aren't the only social mediums being used by not for profits.

Barb Hicks with Madonna House told us she just signed the agency up for a Twitter account and there are videos about the agency on You Tube.