DoGooder 2012 Nonprofit Video Awards Contest

It’s always great to see large corporations supporting nonprofits and contributing to nonprofit fundraising. Many find innovative CSR business ways to not only support nonprofits financially but also via in-kind service/product donations, volunteering and promoting of the nonprofit brand. This is certainly true of YouTube who is teaming up with See 3 Communications, NTEN, Cisco Systems and the Case Foundation in the 6th annual 2012 Nonprofit Video Awards. Past winners of this contest have included organizations like Darius Goes West, The Wooden Floor, The Canadian Cancer Society and Rock for Equality.

Open to nonprofits in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia, charitable organizations of all sizes and from all sectors can participate to win one of four top prizes, each valued at approximately $5,000 ($3,500 of which is a grant and $1,500 in donated products). 16 finalists will be chosen by judges and these will be subject to a public vote from March 14th to March 28th with prizes awarded to those with the highest score. First place prizes will be awarded to highest vote getters in four main categories, and by organization size (small, medium and large), as well as the special category of “Storytelling”. Winners will be announced on April 5th at the Nonprofit Technology Conference.

To enter, you must submit a video that is no longer than 10 minutes, be a legally registered nonprofit or charity and also be a member of the YouTube Nonprofit Member Program. The YouTube Nonprofit Member Program gives nonprofits the opportunity to have premium branding opportunities, increased uploading capacity, they can drive fundraising with a “Donate Now” button, be listed on the nonprofits video page amongst other benefits. This contest should not only inspire nonprofits to create compelling messages through video, but also to use this technology to engage supporters, spread awareness and improve nonprofit fundraising.

Definitely the prizing is an incentive to participate in the competition. However, there are many benefits to creating videos that can be posted on their website and on YouTube. Statistics show that the average person spends about 15 minutes per day on YouTube. Video marketing can be an excellent tool for nonprofits, as it creates a personal connection with the viewer, is a very visual and effective way to convey a message, it builds presence online by increasing visibility and strengthens a nonprofits branding.

The thought of creating videos can be daunting, due to budget restraints and limited human and technological resources. However, nowadays almost anyone can create a video with limited resources, as there are many online and offline tools that can assist with the production of an effective video that delivers a concise yet powerful message about your cause or mission. Sometimes all you need is a creative imagination. I will focus on some of these tools and techniques in future blog posts.

Here is a sampling of winners from last year’s 2011 competition as inspiration to start working towards your submission: Post Carbon Institute; Ronald McDonald House of Austin, Texas; American Jewish World Service; and Watershed Management Group.

The deadline for this year’s contest is Wednesday February 29th, 2012 so if you have created a video in 2011,  I urge you to submit it for consideration. If you are not ready for this year then prepare to do it for next year’s competition. Good luck!

The YouTube Nonprofit Program

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKAtk5C0lM&[/youtube]

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.