Here’s yet another Google foray into the world online advocacy: the company is allowing nonprofits to create special channels within YouTube that should help them spread the word about their issues. Some details about what advocacy groups can get by joining the YouTube Nonprofit Program:
- Premium branding capabilities and increased uploading capacity
- Rotation of your videos in the “Promoted Videos” areas throughout the site
- The option to drive fundraising through a Google Checkout “Donate” button
The fundraising angle is an interesting addition and quite possibly a new threat for competing online donations schemes. More from the main Google Checkout page on what the program offers:
- Increase donations to your organization
With a streamlined checkout process and a single login, it’s easy for your supporters to make an online donation and do it again and again. - Process online donations for free
Get free donation processing until 2009 and pay no monthly, setup or gateway fees. - Enhance data security for your organization and donors
Google Checkout lowers the cost and risks associated with managing sensitive data for your non-profit organization by concealing the donor’s credit card number and providing a secure online donation alternative.
With Google’s “trusted brand” status attached to the fundraising process, will organizations that join the program see an increase in donations, or are we comfortable enough now with online transactions that it won’t matter? Also, how will other online fundraising providers counter the no-fees-through-2008 offer? And, at what point will Google finally just hire us all and take over running the entire online economy for real?
– cpd