YouTube and Nonprofits

Like many of you, I've been spending more and more of my time sampling the eclectic delights of YouTube. And if I didn't before, I'm starting to appreciate what the fuss is all about. Sure, as a platform for serious discussion YouTube is a mile wide and an inch deep. But for nonprofits with a story to tell and limited resources to devote to the telling, it's an increasingly cost-effective way to get the word out.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I got an e-mail last week from Ramya Raghavan, YouTube's new Nonprofits and Activism Manager. YouTube launched a Nonprofit Program last September, and it's Ramya's job to let nonprofits know how they can use the site to raise awareness about their causes, engage their supporters, and fundraise. Organizations that sign up for the program receive a listing on YouTube's nonprofit channel and video pages, increased video uploading capacity, the chance to be featured in one of the "promoted videos" areas on the site, and the option to embed a Google Checkout gadget on their channel to drive fundraising. And there's more.

But why don't I let Ramya tell you:

-- Mitch Nauffts

Comments

[frank]

I just came accross you post on YouTube for Nonprofits. Good info and something i've been looking into more and more lately. They just came out with an even newer feature: http://budurl.com/youtubenonprofit

You can embed a call to action withing the video!! Very cool.

Charity:water recently raised over 10K using the new feature.