YouTube Opens "Nonprofit Program"

Online video sharing megalith YouTube is opening a program that offers advantages to nonprofits using their site. From AP via Ohio dot com:

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.

Participating nonprofits get:

-- A premium channel on YouTube that serves as a nonprofit's hub fortheir 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.

I also noticed checking out one of the channels that the page is ad-free. Parent Google is sweetening the deal by allowing nonprofits to collect donations without poundage. From the Google blog:

One other thing the YouTube Non-Profit Program offers: the ability to collect donations directly from these channels using the new Google Checkout for Non-Profits. Checkout for Non-Profits -- which can also be integrated directly into a non-profit's site -- helps drive more donations for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) groups by making it possible for supporters to contribute quickly and securely. It also offers supporters the satisfaction of knowing that 100 percent of their contributions will be sent to the non-profit, as Google has committed to processing donations through Checkout for free through at least the end of 2008. This functionality is particularly exciting, as today's fund-raising is increasingly moving online -- and Checkout for Non-Profits makes the entire process even easier. You can learn more here.

Also the program page announces that the first 300 nonprofits that sign up get a free video camera.