Calling all nonprofits that have made kick-ass videos this past year. See3, in partnership with YouTube, has announced that entries are now being accepted for the fifth annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards.

This year winners will again have the chance to win one of four $2,500 grants provided by the Case Foundation, video cameras from Flip Video, a free registration to next year’s Nonprofit Technology Conference provided by NTEN and more. The winning videos will be announced at next month’s Nonprofit Technology Conference and featured on YouTube’s home page in March.

For many nonprofit clients I worked with over the years, we’ve talked about the power of video. Video is a great way to share your mission, messages and goals. The medium educates, makes others aware of issues, progress that’s being made, and the work that still needs to be done. Awards like these recognize nonprofits that see the importance in video and inspire others to try telling their own stories.

Last year there were 750 entries, 17,000 votes by the public and 150,000 views. Wow, right? Now it’s your turn. Here are some details to get you started:

• Submissions for Best Small, Medium and Large nonprofit organization videos must be a video that was made in 2010. Entries for the Best Thrifty Video category can be for videos made any time before the end of the submission period. Each nonprofit can submit as many videos as they would like. No specific categories or missions are needed.
• Entries cannot exceed 10 minutes in length and are limited to nonprofits from the US, the UK and Australia.
• You can submit your videos from now through March 2. Starting March 7, voting is open to the public.
• Your organization must be a member of the YouTube Nonprofit Program.

Good luck! If you enter, let me know so I can help spread the word when voting starts!

The post Enter your nonprofit video for a DoGooder award appeared first on Socialbrite.

By Jessica Haswell
Socialbrite staff

Nonprofits have long known that creating a YouTube channel can help tell your organization’s story. But did you know that YouTube offers a nonprofit program? YouTube’s program gives nonprofits a number of handy features to get your message heard.

One nonprofit that put the program to good use is charity: water, which raised more than $12,000 in one day through the use of an in-video ad overlay on their World Water Day video, shown above.

Features of the YouTube Nonprofit Program

What exactly does YouTube’s Nonprofit Program offer?

• More exposure. Videos will be listed in YouTube’s nonprofit channel and Nonprofit videos pages, and you’ll have your own nonprofit channel, which can be fully branded to suit your organization.
• New outreach and fundraising opportunities. Your organization can add Call-to-action ad overlays on your videos, and a Google Checkout “donate” button can be added to your organization’s YouTube channel to help drive campaigns.
• Volunteer videographers. You can post a video opportunity on the YouTube Video Volunteers platform to find a skilled YouTube user to create a video for your cause.

To us, the most exciting feature of this program is the call-to-action ad overlay. You know how about 10 seconds after you start watching a You Tube video, an ad pops up at the bottom of the video? After joining this program you can now control the content of the ad overlay wording on all of your videos, giving you the ability to include a call to action: Link the viewer to your website, additional content, places to donate or other external sites. Cool, right?

Make your channel count

After you join the Nonprofit Program, you’ll have your own nonprofit channel. You Tube offers some good tips on how to maximize the impact and exposure of your channel. Among them:

• Reach out. Post videos that get YouTube viewers talking — perhaps you’ll want to create a compellng digital story. Then engage in an ongoing conversation with comments and video responses.
• Partner up. Find other organizations on YouTube that complement your mission, and work together to promote each other.
• Keep it fresh. Put up new videos regularly and keep them short — ideally under 5 minutes.
• Spread your message. Embed your video on your own blog, and share the links and embed code with supporters so they can help get the word out.
• Be genuine. YouTube has a wide demographic, so high view counts come from content that’s compelling, rather than what’s hip or trendy.

Videos are still limited to 10 minutes in length, even if your nonprofit is accepted into the program.

How to join

Membership in the nonprofit program is free, and it’s currently only available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

To apply, first make sure you fit the meet the program requirements, and then click apply now to fill out an application.

Has your organization joined the YouTube Nonprofit Program? If so, we’d love to hear to hear your experience — please leave a comment below.

Related

• Guide to shooting better online video (Socialbrite)

• Creating media: a roundup of guide & tips about how to create video & more (Socialbrite)

• Complete guide to creating a video project (Socialbrite)

• Google for nonprofits

The post How to maximize your nonprofit’s impact with YouTube appeared first on Socialbrite.