Broadcast your cause: YouTube Nonprofit Program now in Aus

Editor's Note: This is a cross post from the YouTube Australia blog.

Thousands of organisations have joined the YouTube Nonprofit Program since it first launched in the US in 2007 to raise awareness for a range of issues - from kids in need to people with disabilities, animal welfare to ending poverty. Some have even raised tens of thousands of dollars in a single day by urging the community to donate with a call-to-action overlay.

Now nonprofits in Australia can join as well! Starting today, eligible Australian organisations can apply to receive a free brand channel, increased upload capacity, placement on the Nonprofit Channels page, and the ability to add a call-to-action overlay to their videos. These organisations can also join YouTube Video Volunteers to find a skilled YouTube user to create a video for their cause.

Aussie organisations that join the YouTube Nonprofit Program by March 12 can also be eligible for the global DoGooder NonProfit Video Awards to honour the best nonprofit videos of 2009. YouTube has partnered with See3 Communications and the Nonprofit Technology conference to make these awards possible, and will feature the winning videos on the YouTube homepage, as well as award $2500 to each winner and recognise them at NTEN, the world's largest nonprofit technology conference, in the US. Visit the Nonprofit Video Awards channel to find out more.

Want to know how to get started? We worked with three great nonprofits in Australia already using YouTube - Plan Australia, AIME - Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience and NAPCAN National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect - to create a video about their experiences. Check it out below and visit the YouTube Nonprofit Program's homepage to learn more.



Posted by Leticia Lentini, Nonprofit Lead in Australia