SAN BRUNO, CA -- 09/27/07 --
Hundreds of nonprofits currently leverage
YouTube, the leader in online video, to raise awareness of their causes.
Today at the Clinton Global Initiative, YouTube announced the YouTube
Nonprofit Program, a way to make it even easier for people to find, watch
and engage with nonprofit video content on the site.
YouTube's 2007/2008 Clinton Global Initiative commitment enables nonprofit
organizations (in the U.S. those with 501c3 tax filing status) that
register for the program to receive a free nonprofit specific YouTube
channel where they can upload footage of their work, public service
announcements, calls to action and more. The channel will also allow them
to collect donations with no processing costs using the newly launched
Google Checkout for Non-Profits. YouTube's global platform enables
nonprofits to deliver their message, showcase their impact and needs, and
encourage supporters to take action.
"Video, unlike any other medium, allows nonprofits to give a tangible
demonstration of their efforts, connect with people and exponentially widen
their reach," said Douglas Staples, Senior Vice President, Strategic
Marketing & Communications from the March of Dimes. "We are excited to be
an initial participant in the program. We'll use our YouTube channel to
reach out to an audience of all ages and engage them in our mission, which
is to give every baby a healthy start, and we encourage other nonprofits to
do the same."
YouTube Nonprofit Program participants will receive:
-- A premium channel on YouTube that serves as a nonprofit's hub for
their uploaded videos. Through the channel, people can connect with a
nonprofit via messages, subscriptions, comments and more. Nonprofits will
also receive enhanced channel branding features and increased upload
capacity.
-- Designation as a "Nonprofit" on YouTube that clearly identifies
organizations as a nonprofit for YouTube community.
-- The ability to embed a Google Checkout donation button on their
channel and video watch pages, allowing people to quickly and securely make
a contribution directly from YouTube. Starting today, nonprofits who offer
Google Checkout for Non-Profits as a donation option -- whether through
YouTube or on their own sites -- will receive 100 percent of donated funds,
as Google has committed to processing all donations for free through at
least the end of 2008.
-- In the coming months, nonprofit channels will have a centralized area
on YouTube, making them and their videos more easily discoverable.
"When YouTube was founded we dreamed that people would someday leverage the
site to make the world a better place," said YouTube co-founder Chad
Hurley. "It is an honor to have great organizations and individuals
utilizing the YouTube to raise awareness of noble causes and we are
thrilled to offer a program that helps them thrive and inspire change."
At launch there will be a thirteen organizations participating in the
YouTube Nonprofit Program including:
24 Hours for Darfur * American Cancer Society * Autism Speaks * 92nd Street
Y * Asia Society * Strong American Schools' ED in '08 * Friends of the
Earth * International Rescue Committee * March of Dimes * YouthNoise * The
ONE Campaign * The Clinton Global Initiative * World Vision Australia
Application Process
Nonprofits can apply for a nonprofit channel type by going to
youtube.com/nonprofits and filling out a short application, which will be
processed by our grants team. This page will also contain information on
how to take advantage of this new channel type, as well as some tips for
how to use YouTube effectively for advocacy and fundraising.
About YouTube
Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the leading video community on the
Internet and the premier destination to watch and share original videos
worldwide through a Web experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload
and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through
websites, blogs, and e-mail. YouTube has quickly become the leading
destination on the Internet for video entertainment. YouTube is a
subsidiary of Google, Inc.
About the Clinton Global Initiative
President Clinton started the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in 2005. A
non-partisan catalyst for action, CGI brings together a community of global
leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some
of the world's most pressing challenges. CGI consists of approximately
1,000 members from all over the world who commit to create or support
projects within one or more of CGI's annual areas of focus. In
2007, the areas of focus are education, energy & climate change, global
health, and poverty alleviation. For further information, please contact
Jove Oliver, Director of Marketing and Communications, Clinton Global
Initiative, (212) 710-4416. jove.oliver@clintonglobalinitiative.org.
