YouTube has always been a safe haven for piano-playing
cats and would-be singers. But lately the Google-owned site has been rolling
out quite a few upgrades
aimed specifically at nonprofits.
In case you’re new to the YouTube trend, it was founded
in February 2005 and allows billions of people all over the world to watch and
share originally-created videos. Within the last month the video sharing site
announced several new features geared to help nonprofits turn their video views
into action. To start, YouTube will be holding monthly online training
sessions, “YouTube 101” using Google Hangouts for members of its YouTube Nonprofit Program (a
great program that provides free tools such as streaming video and fundraising
capabilities). The training
sessions, taking place the last Tuesday of every month, kick off July 31st
at 9pm and are geared toward nonprofits new to the service. Think of them like
massive videoconferencing and brainstorming sessions.
The site also announced
the implementation of annotations that can link to donation websites:
Change.org, DonorsChoose.org, RocketHub.com and Causes.com. An annotation is a
small dialogue box that pops up in a video and allows video creators to convey
messages. Videos used to only link to other videos, channels and search results.
Two other annotation options were also added in April, allowing video creators
to link to crowdsourcing platforms Kickstarter and Indiegogo. These
annotations offer a great opportunity for nonprofits to lead viewers to sites that
offer a place to donate and get more involved with the organization.
YouTube has also released a new
tool that blurs faces. The feature provides “visual anonymity” to those
filmed allowing video creators to share sensitive footage without exposing
those involved. One of the first of its kind, this trailblazing addition comes
only a couple of months after the YouTube
Human Rights channel launch. In a statement shared with Mashable YouTube
said they see this as a tool to protect protesters and advocates, as well as
the identities of children.
With all of the exciting opportunities available to
nonprofits on YouTube, it’s no wonder their nonprofit program boasts an
impressive 17,000
organizations already. Will your organization be number 17,001? Let us know
what you think about YouTube’s social good efforts in your comments below.
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