YouTube's Nonprofit Program Videos

By now, you should be well aware that your organization needs to engage site visitors and constituents with video. YouTube's Nonprofit Program is very good resource for displaying video on your site and using their social networking tools to create your own branded channel.

YouTube has also created two new channel resources to help nonprofits use YouTube in their communications strategies. YouTube's Agent Change examines activism and video, while Google For Nonprofits provides instructions and great case studies for using Google's nonprofit resources. Both are worth bookmarking for future reference.

Here are two videos to explain how these resources can help your organization:

YouTube's Agent Change

Google 101 Implementation

"Dancing": Four Million Views on YouTube

Two weeks ago, a guy named Matt Harding posted a YouTube video of him dancing with people throughout the world. "Dancing" has become a cultural phenomenon with more than four million views on YouTube. This sequel video to his original 2004 and 2006 "Where the Hell is Matt?" videos has caught fire worldwide (the 2006 original itself has ten million views in two years).

This reminds us that simple ideas can be the most effective. Learn more about Matt and his efforts in the recent New York Times article and be sure to watch all of this inspiring video.

Video: Burma, it can't wait

The devastation from a recent cyclone in Burma has been on the news for almost 2 months, but regrettably the devastation continues every day. Burma is currently ruled by a brutal military dictator who, among other committed atrocities, has recruited upwards of 70,000 children (starting from age 11) into the army for war against neighboring minorities, villages and even citizens. Currently the rightful leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, is on house arrest, illegally, according to UN interanational law.

At the website, Burma: It Can't Wait (burmaitcantwait.org), celebrity shorts with Will Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, Tila Tequila, and 10's of others, call attention to the various complexities of the situation, but bring to the attention  the realistic change of hope for Burma- by helping add your voice to the cause.

Add you voice, and join the campaign here.

Crossing Cultures, Crossing Boundaries - Pangea Day

On May 10th, at 18:00GMT, a live broadcast of 24 short films from all over the country will be broadcast in public areas and online in an powerful move to bridge cultures from over the world using media.

Pangea Day "is a global event bringing the world together through film... In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.

For more information about Pangea Day, as well as a list of venues, visit www.pangeaday.org. To learn about the idea's history, check out the most recent post on Pogue's Post in the NYTimes.

This event will be culturally historic- and a example of the power of change new media can have on all people, not matter where in the world you are watching television, or browsing YouTube channels.

Video: Starbucks to Honor Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

With the help of various supporters, Oxfam America and Starbucks have ended their long battle to allow  Ethiopia's coffee sector to brand their own coffees, which would in turn give Ethiopians more rights to control their brands.

"Starbucks is one of the first in the coffee industry committing to sign a licensing agreement with Ethiopia. With these agreements in place, Ethiopians could build the value of of their coffees and capture a greater share of the retail price for their farmers." - Oxfam America

The video below features a 'thank you' from Oxfam America President Raymond C. Offenheiser as well as an Ethiopian coffee producer, bringing home the point of this great new opportunity as well as the benefits it provides to both the producer and consumer.

Video: DoGooderTV - 2nd Annual Non-Profit Video Awards

Following the successful turn out from last year's contest, DoGooderTV is once again holding their Nonprofit Video Contest (presented by NTEN and See3 Communications).

The premise of the contest is to highlight nonprofit organizations using technology to inspire and promote their cause. New technologies have created several compelling mediums to reach people, DoGooderTV is out to make sure we all see it.

Below is last year's winner from the organization Avazz, titled "Stop the Clash of Civilizations".

Submit your video here.

View this year's entries here.

Podcast: Tracy Gary's Podcast "On Inspired Philanthropy"

Amy Looper, interviews Tracy Gary, the author of Inspired Philanthropy: Creating A Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy.  Looper's purpose in the podcast is to bring donors, advisors, and nonprofits together in for a common purpose.  Within the interview, Gary discusses the various free resources available on the Inspired Philanthropy website.

Broadcast Your Cause

Founded in 1995, the Rainbow Network is a Christian ministry working in rural Nicaragua with some of the poorest people in the world. They focus on four areas: healthcare, education, housing, and micro-loans.

In order to further awareness of their mission and highlight some of their work, they've developed a YouTube Channel where they post several related video.

Seems small, but channels like this one exemplify the far-reaching uses of Web 2.0 that are being use to benefit non-widely known foundations.

Video: Grassroots Can Change the World

In this videoblog, Anand Pillai of Innovatorz tells the story of an individual who makes a difference with his dedication and the web.

Click To Play