Google for Nonprofits Blog

Capturing the beauty and wonder of the Galapagos on Google Maps

2013-05-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

(Cross posted from the Official Google Blog)

The Galapagos Islands are some of the most biologically unique ecosystems in the world. Explorers and scientists alike have long studied and marveled at these islands—made famous by Charles Darwin. The Ecuadorean Government, local conservation groups and scientists are working to protect the Galapagos from threats posed by invasive species, climate change and other human impacts.

It’s critical that we share images with the world of this place in order to continue to study and preserve the islands’ unique biodiversity. Today we’re honored to announce, in partnership with Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galapagos National Parks Directorate (GNPD), that we’ve collected panoramic imagery of the islands with the Street View Trekker. These stunning images will be available on Google Maps later this year so people around the world can experience this remote archipelago.

Daniel Orellana of Charles Darwin Foundation crossing a field of ferns to reach Minas de Azufre (naturally-occurring sulfur mines) on the top of Sierra Negra, an active volcano on Isabela Island. The Google Maps team traveled for more than 3 hours, hiking and on horseback, to reach this remote location.

Images, like the one you see above, are also an important visual record that the CDF and GNPD will use to study and protect the islands by showing the world how these delicate environments have changed over time.

Daniel Orellana of the Charles Darwin Foundation climbs out of a lava tunnel where he was collecting imagery. The dramatic lava landscapes found on Isabela island tell the story of the formation of the Galapagos Islands.

Our 10-day adventure in the Galapagos was full of hiking, boating and diving around the islands (in hot and humid conditions) to capture 360-degree images of the unique wildlife and geological features of the islands with the Trekker. We captured imagery from 10 locations that were hand-selected by CDF and GNPD. We walked past giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies, navigated through steep trails and lava fields, and picked our way down the crater of an active volcano called Sierra Negra.

A Galapagos giant tortoise crawls along the path near Googler Karin Tuxen-Bettman while she collects imagery with the Street View Trekker in Galapaguera, a tortoise breeding center, which is managed by the Galapagos National Park Service.

Life underwater in the Galapagos is just as diverse as life on land. We knew our map of the islands wouldn’t be comprehensive without exploring the ocean that surrounds them. So for the second time we teamed up with the folks at the Catlin Seaview Survey to collect underwater panoramic imagery of areas being studied by CDF and GNPD. This imagery will be used by Catlin Seaview Survey to create a visual and scientific baseline record of the marine environment surrounding the islands, allowing for any future changes to be measured and evaluated by scientists around the world.

Christophe Bailhache navigates the SVII camera through a large group of Sea Lions at Champion Island in Galapagos. Image courtesy of the Catlin Seaview Survey.

We truly believe that in order to protect these Galapagos Islands, we must understand them. As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” We hope this Street View imagery not only advances the important scientific research, but also inspires you to learn more about this special place. Stay tuned for updates on this collection—the first time we’ve captured imagery from both land and sea! We can’t wait to share this amazing imagery with you later this year.

Posted by Raleigh Seamster, Project Lead, Google Maps

New mapping tools for nonprofits in Google Earth Pro 7.1

2013-05-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Do you use Google Earth to visualize your data or tell your stories? Do you need to create more professional and informative maps for printing, or want to know if that new construction site will be visible from your hilltop park? Now you can do all of these things quickly and easily using Google Earth Pro 7.1.

A few weeks ago on Earth Day, we announced the latest update to Google Earth Pro. The update includes new tools that will help with the incredible work you do. To get started using the new features, check out the information and examples below.

Advanced Map Making & Printing

Add cartographic features to the maps you make in Google Earth Pro, including legends, titles, scale bars, north-arrows and text boxes. You can use these features when saving your map as an image or PDF for sharing with your colleagues and supporters, or when printing your map for use in the field. They will help make your maps more professional looking and informative. See this video for details.

Viewshed Analysis
Need to find out whether your field camp is within line-of-sight of the cell phone tower? Just use the viewshed tool in Google Earth Pro. All you need to do is create a placemark, give it an appropriate altitude relative to the ground, and select “Show Viewshed” to see what’s visible from that spot. Find out more here.

I made the map above in less than 5 minutes, and it’s ready to send to my colleagues. Try it out for yourself. If you don’t already have Google Earth Pro, you can find out more here, or if you’re a nonprofit, you can get it for free.

Happy mapping!

Posted by Christiaan Adams, Developer Advocate, Google Earth Outreach

New Learn with Google webinars to help you become a smarter digital marketer

2013-05-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

At Google, one of our goals is to help make the web work for you. Today we’re announcing a new series of Learn with Google webinars, which will teach you how to use digital to build brand awareness and give you the tools you need to drive sales and grow loyalty and retention. Each of our sessions gives you deep-dive educational content, across a breadth of products and marketing objectives, in a format that’s convenient for you. Every webinar is led by Google product experts and includes time for audience Q&A. Sign up to start becoming a smarter digital marketer now.

Upcoming live webinars:

May

[YouTube] Driving Direct Response with Video
[Shopping] Google Shopping 101: Google Shopping for Beginners
[Research] New Research: How US Shoppers use Smartphones in Stores
[Mobile] Driving Deeper Engagement with your App Users
[Mobile] Driving Brand Engagement with Mobile Rich Media
[Analytics] Measuring Success in a Multi-Device World

June
[Mobile] Understanding Mobile Ads Across Marketing Objectives
[Shopping] Google Shopping 201: Merchant Center Deep Dive
[YouTube] Building your Business with YouTube Video Ads
[Analytics] Metrics for the Mobile App Ecosystem
[Search] What's New & Next in AdWords
[Analytics] Unleashing the Combined Power of Google Analytics & AdWords
[Social] Growing your Business & Engaging your Audience with Google+
[Shopping] Google Shopping 301: Creating & Optimizing Product Listing Ads
[Social] Launching & Amplifying your Impact Across Social Channels
[Display] Reaching the Right Audience with Remarketing
[Research] Creating Custom Infographics with the New Google Databoard

Webinars are held Tuesdays through Thursdays at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern.

Visit our webinar site to register for any of the live sessions and to access our large library of recorded content. You can also stay up-to-date on the schedule by adding our Learn with Google calendar to your own Google calendar to automatically see upcoming webinars.

During our last series of webinars, attendees had the chance to win a Nexus 7. Clint Wilson was our lucky winner and he’ll soon be enjoying all of the tablet’s cool features. Check out our upcoming webinars for another chance to win!

Learn with Google is a program to help businesses succeed through winning moments that matter, enabling better decisions and constantly innovating. We hope that you’ll use these best practices and how-to’s to maximize the impact of digital and grow your business. We’re looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming session!

Posted by Erin Molnar, Marketing Coordinator, Learn with Google

Nonprofits on YouTube: Five quick wins that make a big impact

2013-05-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how YouTube can help you reach and engage new supporters, long term volunteers and donors on our Google+ page. We’ve shared tips on how to maximize the effect of existing videos, ideas for creating new ones and organizations who are already inspiring action with their Youtube channels and playlists. If you missed it, here are five ways your nonprofit can make the most of YouTube today.

Reach goals with your viewers using the Campaigns feature. The Campaigns feature on YouTube encourages viewers to contribute towards goals that you set, such as increasing views or subscribers. We recently launched the ability to set the goal of number views for your whole channel. With the help of Campaigns, Sesame Street became the first nonprofit organization to reach over a billion viewers of videos on their channel. Learn how to create your campaign and begin using the feature here.

Become a regular. Just as it's important for you to maintain a consistent fundraising schedule, the same rule applies to how you program content on YouTube. Stick to a consistent schedule and regularly produce and share timely and relevant videos. Making video a regular part of your fundraising activities can help extend the impact of your campaign. Looking for inspiration? Rainforest Action Network and Oxfam GB create regular thematic content and then organize the videos into featured playlists on their channels.

Turn video views into dollars raised with the Google Wallet “Donate” Button. All registered YouTube nonprofit partners can use a Google Wallet “Donate” button. Once you sign up as a nonprofit, go to your Google Wallet Options, enter your ID and Merchant Key, and choose donation amounts. When you’ve filled in the information, the button will appear on your public profile and on your video pages. You can find the Google Wallet options in the upper right-hand corner of “My Channel” and click on the “Add Donation Module” button. The button appears on both your channel page and the watch video pages.

Let your viewers drive with Annotations. If you want to be really creative about how you get your message across, try using Annotations to create an interactive, “choose-your-own-adventure” style video. This video from Droptheweapons.org for the “Drop the Weapons” campaign lets the viewer decide what to do in a series of life or death decisions. It’s intended to educate kids about the consequences of making the wrong decisions.

Don’t let your shoestring budget keep you from making great videos. You don’t need fancy equipment and years of experience to tell a compelling story on YouTube. In fact, many nonprofits make the biggest impact with YouTube by posting authentic and scrappy videos on a regular schedule. You can hear these nonprofits’ stories (and more tips) by watching this Hangout:

If you want to learn more about how you can use YouTube to tell your story, your first step is to make sure you’re registered with Google for Nonprofits. If you’ve been accepted into the program, you can start using YouTube for Nonprofits. Then, check out our ‘Playbook for Good’ which is full of best practices and handy tips. We can’t wait to watch the stories you tell!

Posted by Jessica Mason, YouTube Nonprofit team

Anaheim Ballet performs on a global stage

2013-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

If you’re a local nonprofit, how do you tell your story outside of your community? When Anaheim Ballet was looking to expand their message and audience, they turned to YouTube. Traditionally, ballet was only available live on stage and at a cost. Anaheim Ballet reduced those typical barriers of entry and made ballet accessible to a global audience by creating YouTube videos that could be seen anytime, anywhere and for free.

Using video allowed them to not only share their stories, but also build an engaged global online community. In their YouTube videos, Anaheim Ballet created a discussion with their viewers by asking questions and seeing responses in real time. Their weekly videos and connection with their viewers has helped this local nonprofit hit more than 46 million video views from all around the world. To hear more of their story, check out the video below.

To learn more about how you can use YouTube to tell your story, visit the YouTube Nonprofit Program site or check out our Google+ page. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be sharing tips and ideas on how your nonprofit can get the most out of YouTube.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

And the winners are...

2013-04-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

(Cross posted from the Official YouTube Blog)

Since its inception, organizations and individuals looking to change the world have used YouTube to rally an audience around a cause. Working at YouTube, we love seeing inspiring videos shared around the world everyday. “Good” videos have in turn inspired us to build tools to make it easier to run a campaign on YouTube and turn video views into action. We’ve made a 30-page “Playbook for Good” full of best practices to help you make the most inspiring and impactful cause videos possible and the videos just keep getting better and better.

That is why, for the fourth year in a row, we joined with See3 Communications to run the annual DoGooder Video Awards to recognize the year’s best nonprofit and cause videos. This year there were four different categories. And, for the first time, we accepted videos from creators looking to change the world one view at a time, not just nonprofit organizations.

The finalists chosen in the first round were all excellent examples of how far "cause video" has come since we first launched the YouTube Nonprofit Program in 2007. Nonprofits (and other DoGooders) are becoming increasingly savvy with online video; they're making funny, creative, episodic, and interactive cause-related content. They’re turning video views into awareness, petition signatures, donations, volunteer hours, and more. The four winners were chosen from more than a dozen finalists by public voting. Here they are:

Best Nonprofit Video Award: Follow the Frog

The Rainforest Alliance’s “Follow the Frog” is a humorous tale of a well-intentioned epic misadventure, showing that sustainability-minded consumer choices can be more effective for change than vigilante conservation.

Change Agent Award: 350km message for women with ovarian cancer

After losing his mother to cancer, Raf Bauer set out on a 350-kilometer walk across Scotland to raise awareness and funds for Target Ovarian Cancer.

Funny for Good: No Joke. Choice Matters. Everywhere.

Pathfinder International’s “No Joke. Choice Matters. Everywhere.” comically portrays the difficulties many women face when trying to access reproductive health care. While presented in a comical light, the video outlines actions to help women for whom a lack of access to health care is no joke.

ImpactX Award: END7: How to Shock a Celebrity

The Sabin Vaccine Institute’s “How to Shock a Celebrity” successfully brought attention to seven Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) and helped generate funds to end these diseases by 2020. The campaign used video to, first, grab attention and then present a solution that donors could easily fund. The video translated into donations that averaged 20 cents per view. At more than 220,000 views, that’s quite a few vaccines, considering it only takes 50 cents to provide one person with treatment and protection against all seven NTDs for up to one year.

You can check out all of the 2013 finalists here.

Posted by Jessica Mason, YouTube for Good, recently watched African Men. Hollywood Stereotypes. [mamahope.org]

Get started with Google Earth through step-by-step tutorials

2013-04-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

Using maps is a powerful way to visually share data and truly make your story come alive. Our partners at Google Earth Outreach are constantly helping nonprofits share those stories. For the last two weeks, they’ve joined us and shared how your nonprofit can get the most from Google Earth Outreach through tips, stories and Hangouts on our Google+ page. In case you missed any of that information, check out the tutorials below to learn step-by-step how to build, not only maps on Google Earth, but also presentations and movies.

1. Create your own interactive map on Google Earth. Follow the tutorial below to show your users and donors the impact you’re making in a particular area. Enhance your map by adding placemarks, paths, polygons, photos and YouTube videos.

2. Overlay an existing map in Google Earth. If you have a map image such as a trail map or political map that you’d like to bring into Google Earth, check out this Hangout to learn how to overlay your map in Google Earth and customize it to better tell your story.

3. Build powerful presentations using Google Earth. Google Earth can help you make compelling presentations by adding unique views and perspectives to your locations. Check out this video to see how you can visually walk stakeholders or the public through your story.

4. Make your own movie with Google Earth. Guide your viewers through an issue or project by creating an animated movie in Google Earth. This Hangout will show you how to record your movie and share it with your users.

Need a few more examples to help you get started? We hosted a fifth Hangout with previous recipients of Earth Outreach Developer Grants. The grantees discussed the work their organizations do and how they're each using Google Earth and Maps for good. To learn more about how they are using these products, watch the Hangout. To find out more about the Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants, visit this site.

If you want to see more Google Earth Outreach tutorials, visit the Google Earth Outreach site. And if you have questions as you use Google Earth, check out the Google Earth User Forum and post your question there.

Posted by Kousha Navidar, Google for Nonprofits team

Happy 10th birthday, Google Grants!

2013-04-02T06:30:00.001-07:00

This week marks a milestone for the Google Grants program. What began as the brainstorm of philanthropic minded Googlers ten years ago has evolved into a full-scale program spanning across 28 countries and supporting over 14,000 nonprofits. To commemorate the program’s 10th birthday, we’d like to celebrate the nonprofits that have made it all possible.

Google Grants launched with its very first nonprofit, March of Dimes, on April 1, 2003. By the end of year one, 139 nonprofits were thriving in the beta program, and we decided to extend the opportunity to as many organizations and countries as possible.

So what have these Google Grantees been able to accomplish with their advertising grants? Let’s hear from the nonprofits themselves on how they’ve enlisted new volunteers and donors, reached new constituents, raised awareness about important issues, and so much more!

GreaterGood.org "This valuable, targeted traffic source continues to be our main source for new donors and subscribers. Approximately 70% of our 2012 web traffic came directly from Google Grants clicks, but we believe closer to 90% of our total site visitors came as a direct result of the overall program. The Google Grants program has truly been a game changer for GreaterGood.org! "

- Rian Cool, Online Campaigns Manager, GreaterGood.org

MitoAction “Mitochondrial disease is a rare disease. When we received our Google Grant in 2008, our average site traffic was about 6,000 visitors per month. We began a targeted awareness campaign using our Google Grant with hopes of reaching more families suffering from Mito. By 2012, our monthly traffic had grown more than 400%, to 26,000 visitors per month. We know from following our statistics that 35% of those visitors are directly from our Google ads, and even better, we know that more than 10% of those come back as repeat visitors who are now either volunteering, receiving support from us, or participating in our events.”
- Cristy Balcells, Executive Director, MitoAction

WOLA "Adwords has helped us double our web traffic in the last year--from 20,000 unique visitors per month in 2012 to 40,000 this year on average. Adwords helps us to get our messages to the right audience and for the right reason—to promote human rights in Latin America."
- Kristel Mucino, Communications Director, WOLA

As we blow out the candle on our 10th birthday cake this week, we’d like to thank all of our Google Grantees who are dedicated to making the world a better place. Cheers to the next 10 years!

Posted by Nikki Lopez, Google Grants team

Google Maps shows Amazon funds at work

2013-03-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

(Cross posted from the Lat Long Blog)

Editor’s Note: Today’s guest author is Gabriel Ribenboim from Ritual, on behalf of Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS), a nonprofit organization implementing a large-scale social and environmental program in the Amazon. FAS was the recipient of a Google Earth Outreach Grant for Google Maps Engine, which they used to develop an accountability map for their investments in conservation and poverty alleviation. We are excited to showcase the Bolsa Floresta Platform. Our work with FAS is an example of how non-profits all over the world are using comprehensive, accurate and easy-to use Google Maps, Earth and geo tools to tell their story and help their audiences visualize their cause.

Since 2011, I’ve been working with the Brazilian nonprofit organization Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS) and Google to collect Street View for the Amazon. One FAS’s most significative initiatives is the administration of the Bolsa Floresta -- Brazil’s first internationally-certified incentive program for the preservation of traditional communities and environment in the Amazon rainforest. As the largest payment for environmental services program in the world, Bolsa Floresta serves over 35,000 people, 15 state-protected reserve territories and covers an area of more than 10 million hectares.

Today, I’m excited to announce FAS’ latest project with Google: the Bolsa Floresta Platform - an online tool that allows you to explore and visualize a mix of social, environmental and economical map datasets for 15 protected areas in the Amazon.

Institutional transparency is a challenge for NGOs across the world. Tools that help track the impact of our efforts and present them in an accessible way are rare and normally require a significant investment. The Bolsa Floresta platform, built on Google technologies such as Google Maps Engine, Google Drive, YouTube and Street View helped us organize this kind of dataset in a way that is easy to visualize, understand and share with little in the way of programming complexity or investment.

Now, anyone can dive into the mapping visualizations of the State of Amazonas, navigate the rivers, forest, and communities through Google Street View imagery, or even browse 3D buildings inside protected areas. Most importantly, partners, government agencies and those who live within the benefited state-protected areas, can explore all kinds of informational map layers, enhancing institutional transparency, global awareness, exchange of sustainability practices and poverty alleviation solutions and improving internal planning capabilities.

The new platform is just one of the many ways FAS is using Google’s technologies to work towards a sustainable future on behalf of the communities of Brazil’s Amazon. Explore the map now or find out more about us at fas-amazonas.org.

Posted by Gabriel Ribenboim from Ritual, on behalf of Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS)

Celebrating World Water Day 2013

2013-03-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today, we hosted a Google+ hangout celebration in honor of World Water Day. This year we are focused on raising awareness for the 780 million people that do not have access to clean water -- and what we can do together to solve the water crisis.

The hangout featured representatives from charity: water, Water.org, Water For People, WaterAid, People Water, Whole World Water and was moderated by YouTube star ijustine. Check out the entire hangout below to learn more about the world water crisis and how you can take action.

If you have questions or want to join the conversation, share them with us. Post your thoughts as comments on the event page for the hangout.

Posted by Alina Kim and Elliot Polokoff, Google+ Community Partnerships team

Here’s To You: Two years of Google for Nonprofits

2013-03-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Two years ago this week, we launched Google for Nonprofits to support the many nonprofit organizations that are changing the world. In that time, we’ve been privileged to support amazing organizations and witness the meaningful work you do every day. Reaching our second birthday would not have been possible without this fantastic community of nonprofits.

So, yesterday we hosted a day of celebration asking our community to share what they were celebrating whether it be hitting a milestone, an act of service or just being together.

The Google for Nonprofits team celebrating two years of working

with meaningful and innovative nonprofits.

We saw so many fun and inspiring examples. Check out all the photos and posts on our Google+ page and feel free to add your own picture. Just make sure to +mention us (+Google for Nonprofits), include a caption about what you’re celebrating, and include the hashtag #Heres2You.

Thank you to everyone who made these two years so special!

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

Make a map that will change the world with Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants

2013-03-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

For the third year, I’m excited to announce the call for 2013 Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants applications is now open. Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants provide funding to nonprofit organizations ranging between $10,000 and $20,000 on average to build a map that will help them accomplish their mission, be it around environmental issues, humanitarian causes, disaster relief prevention, or health issues. If your nonprofit has a great idea for a map that can change the world, apply for a 2013 Google Earth Outreach Developer Grant today. This year, we checked in with our 2011 Developer Grantees to learn about the impact their maps had on each nonprofit’s overall mission one year after the launch of the map. We were proud of the many achievements of the nonprofits’ work. Here are some of my favorite examples:

WWF & Eyes on the Forest mapped deforestation rates and wildlife habitat in Sumatra.

WWF & Eyes on the Forest created a map to showcase deforestation in Sumatra. With the Google Maps Engine map as part of their “Don’t Flush Tiger Forests” campaign, they convinced 17 out of 20 US retailers to stop buying toilet paper from companies cutting down intact hardwood rainforests and critical tiger habitat in Sumatra.

The HALO Trust mapped their minefield clearance work in a Google Earth Tour

The HALO Trust clears minefields in previously war-torn regions around the world, including Angola, Afghanistan and Cambodia. Upon the launch of their Google Earth tours designed to raise awareness about their work, they saw the most traffic to their website over the entire calendar year.

iNaturalist taps into citizen scientists who submit research-grade species observations to a global map using Android devices and iPhones

iNaturalist.org’s Android app, designed to collect species observations from around the world from citizen scientists, has been installed on over 2000 Android devices. The number of scientific-grade research observations has more than quadrupled. We look forward to hearing about the impacts of our 2012 Developer Grantees’ maps as they are launched in coming months. Good luck to nonprofits who apply to our 2013 Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants, and if you are a nonprofit with a great idea for a map, apply for a grant!

Posted by Tanya Birch, Google Earth Outreach

Five ways to use Google Apps for Nonprofits for your nonprofit

2013-03-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

As we continue to dive into how Google for Nonprofits can work for your organization, we’ve met some great product experts who have shared insightful ways specifically for nonprofits to use Google products. Last week, we met two Google Apps experts, Asha Toulmin and Marianna Kerppola, who walked us through different uses of tools like Google Calendar, Gmail and Docs. If you couldn’t make it, here are five tips we learned to help you take advantage of Google Apps. You can also watch the full video below.

1. Use labels and filters to organize your Gmail. If you have a specific event or team you’re working with, you can create custom labels and filters and assign them to groups of emails. When you need to access information, you can simply sort by labels and filters and find all the related emails.

2. Connect with your team instantly through Gmail. Need to collaborate with someone immediately? You can use Gmail to chat, video chat or make a phone call directly to a colleague - allowing immediate interaction without ever leaving your inbox.

3. Schedule meetings easily using shared calendars. Using shared calendars in Google Calendar, you can view coworkers’ calendars and see when each team member is available. You can quickly find times that work for everyone and eliminate the back and forth that often comes with scheduling.

4. Keep everyone on the same page in meetings by attaching files. Google Calendar allows you to attach documents from your computer and your Drive directly to the meeting invitation. Make sure all your meeting invitees are looking at the same information by sharing an agenda and background resources in your meeting invite.

5. Organize your documents and access them anywhere. With Google Drive, you can upload, create and share documents in the cloud - allowing you to access them anytime, anywhere. Help your nonprofit take it a step further by organizing materials into shared folders. These automatically updated folders can be accessed both online and offline by anyone who is granted access.

Have questions? Our product experts, Asha and Marianna, have answered the top questions from the Hangout with short video responses. Check out their full set of video responses on our YouTube channel.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

The 2013 DoGooder Video Awards open for nominations

2013-03-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

(Cross posted from the Official YouTube Blog)

Awards season is upon us. And for the fourth year, YouTube is teaming up with See3 Communications to present the DoGooder Video Awards, a celebration of the best nonprofit videos of the year. If you’re a nonprofit who made a video in 2012, you’re eligible and encouraged to submit your video.

But wait, there’s more! For the first time ever, we’re opening up the awards for submissions from individuals who are making videos to change their communities or the world. So if you’re a YouTube creator trying to save the whales one video at a time, or if you made a video on behalf of your favorite nonprofit this year, visit YouTube.com/DoGooder to nominate your video.

There are four separate categories in this year’s DoGooder Awards: the ImpactX Award for videos that drove clear real-world impact; Best Nonprofit Video; Funny for Good, recognizing effective use of comedy; and the Change Agent Award, for individuals who’ve gotten involved and produced their own cause-focused video.

We’ll award prizes like $3,500 grants, free admission to the Nonprofit Technology Conference, and special promotion on YouTube.

The deadline to enter is March 22, 2013. Official rules are available here.

Posted by Jessica Mason, YouTube for Good, recently watched “YouTubers Support Matt Damon's Strike!”

Google Apps for Nonprofits is now free for all nonprofits

2013-02-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

Good news! As of today, any nonprofit organization that is part of Google for Nonprofits can get Google Apps for Nonprofits for free. Previously, the free version of this program was only available to nonprofits with fewer than 3,000 users. Now, whether your nonprofit is 10 people or 10,000, you are eligible to start using Gmail, Calendar, Drive and more.

Google Apps for Nonprofits allows your organization to reduce IT costs and helps your team collaborate more effectively. The suite of tools uses cloud computing to securely store and update documents, calendars and email in real-time - meaning you can access data anywhere, anytime. Google manages all of the updating and maintenance in the cloud, so you’ll never be required to install hardware or update software. And if you need help, we have a 24/7 support team available.

If your organization is ready to begin using Google Apps for Nonprofits and is already in the program, just enroll with the instructions in your acceptance email. If you’re new to Google for Nonprofits, start by joining the program. Once accepted, we’ll send you instructions on how to enroll in Google Apps for Nonprofits and other great products.

Need help getting started? Check out our step-by-step getting started guides that can help you get up and running successfully. And, don’t forget to join us tomorrow as we learn best practices for nonprofits from Google Apps experts in a Hangout on Air.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

Samasource improves international operations with Google Apps for Nonprofit

2013-02-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here at Google for Nonprofits we’re always looking for ways to help your organization thrive. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas with Docs, minimizing costs through cloud based storage or managing international teams with Hangouts, we want to help make our tools work for you.

One nonprofit, Samasource, has done just that. Samasource is a social business dedicated to reducing poverty by connecting women, youth and refugees to meaningful work over the Internet. They employ thousands of workers internationally and, since 2008, they’ve delivered over $2 million in wages.

Samasource uses the suite of Google for Nonprofits products, specifically Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms and Calendars, to manage workers in multiple countries. By using Google Apps, they are able to efficiently run their operations at a low cost. See more of their story below.

Want to learn more about how you can use Google Apps in your nonprofit? Join us Tuesday, February 26th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on our Google+ page as we hear from Google Apps experts.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

Going above and beyond with Google Apps for Nonprofits

2013-02-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

Last week, we walked through the tools available in the Google for Nonprofits program and heard some great stories of organizations using those products in effective and exciting ways. As part of our new series, we want to share specifically how you can use this suite of products to go above and beyond for your nonprofit.

So next up, we’re meeting two product experts who will show us how Google Apps can be used for nonprofits. They’ll share best practices with Google Calendar, Gmail and Docs, discuss real life examples and walk through how you can use Google Apps to organize a fundraiser.

Join us Tuesday, February 26th at 10 am PT/ 1pm ET on Google+. Don’t forget to RSVP on our Google+ event. If you have any questions about Google Apps for our experts, leave them as a comment in the event.

Posted by Asha Toulmin, Agency team

RISE Awards 2013: A global effort

2013-02-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

“I am standing in a partial enclosure made of sticks and plant fronds. This is the school for roughly 35 students, ranging in age from three to about 20 years old. There are no desks. There is only a single shared chalkboard, and it has gaping holes.” — David Rathmann-Bloch from the 21st Century Chalkboard Project, writing from rural Haiti.

These are just some of the many challenges faced by education organizations who applied for this year’s Google RISE Awards. The RISE (Roots in Science and Engineering) Awards program funds and supports organizations around the world that provide science and technology education at a grassroots level.

This year we’re delighted to give awards to 30 new organizations from 18 different countries. Combined they will reach more than 90,000 children in 2013, helping inspire and teach the scientists and engineers of the future.

Some, such as Haiti’s 21st Century Chalkboard Project and the Uniristii Association (site in Romanian) in Romania, help those from underserved communities gain access to computing resources.
Others, like the U.K.’s Code Club and the U.S.’s CodeNow, offer extracurricular activities that help interested children, especially those from underrepresented minority backgrounds, to learn programming.
A few, such as the Middle East’s MEET and iLab Liberia, seek to use technology education as a platform to bridge wider social and cultural divides.
Some, like Girlstart in the U.S. and New Zealand’s Programming Challenge 4 Girls, aim to empower girls to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In addition to receiving funding and support to continue their outreach, RISE Award recipients will be brought together for a global summit this June in London. To paraphrase an old saying, from small seeds, great things can grow. The recipients of the 2013 RISE Awards have already made a difference. Connecting with other like-minded organizations will help spread valuable and practical expertise, and spark opportunities for global collaboration and expansion.

Posted by Roxana Shirkhoda, Education Outreach Specialist

Intro to Google for Nonprofits Hangout

2013-02-12T14:45:00.000-08:00

Over the next few months, we’re focusing on how you can get the most out of Google for Nonprofits. We’ll be inviting a variety of experts to do deep dives into a number of products available through the Google for Nonprofits program.

Today, we kicked off our series with an intro to the Google for Nonprofits program, walking through the Google tools that are available to nonprofits through the program. If you missed it, check out the full video:

If you’re interested using these products at your nonprofit, your first step is to visit us on the Google for Nonprofits site. Click on the 'Join the program' button. Review the eligibility guidelines and then apply. If you’re organization is accepted, you can then choose what products you want to enroll in.

Once enrolled, check out our learning resources to get the most out of these tools. You can also stay connected through our Google+ community. For the most up-to-date information, add us to your circle on Google+ and continue to follow us here on the blog. We’ll continue to share stories, tips and interviews with more Google product experts.

Posted by Leslie Hernandez Dinneen, Google for Nonprofits team

Getting the most out of Google for Nonprofits in 2013

2013-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

What are your organization’s goals this year? To get more organized? To increase awareness? This year, our goal is to help you get the most from Google for Nonprofits. We’re going to start by getting back to basics and share trainings, stories and ways for you to master the core products available through Google for Nonprofits. Over the next several months, we’ll explore Google Apps, Google Earth Outreach, YouTube, Google+, Google Analytics and more.

We’re kicking off our series with a Hangout on our Google+ page featuring Leslie Hernandez Dinneen from the Google for Nonprofits team. She’ll be sharing an overview of our program, what we offer and how you can get involved. Interested in attending? Join us Tuesday, February 12th at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET. Don’t forget to RSVP on our Google+ event. If you have any questions for Leslie, leave them as a comment there.

Not able attend the Hangout? Don’t worry. We’ll post a recording on our YouTube channel.

We can’t wait to see you all there.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team

Win moments that matter in 2013 with Learn with Google webinars

2013-01-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

(Cross posted from the Inside AdWords blog)

What was your business’ New Year’s resolution, and how do you plan to keep it? At Google, ours is to help make the web work for you. Our new series of Learn with Google webinars will teach you how to use digital to build brand awareness, and they’ll give you the tools you need to drive sales. By tapping into technology that works together across your business needs, you can resolve to win moments that matter in 2013.

Check out our upcoming live webinars:

Build Awareness

02/12 [Multiscreen] Brand Building in a Multiscreen World
02/20 [YouTube] How to Build your Business with YouTube Video Ads
03/05 [Social] How to Use Google+ and Make Social Work for You
03/12 [Mobile] Understanding Mobile Ads Across Marketing Objectives
03/27 [Wildfire by Google] The Call for Converged Media

Drive Sales

01/29 [Analytics] Google Tag Manager: Technical Implementation *today*
02/07 [Search] Your Shelf Space on Google: Get Started with Google Shopping
02/26 [YouTube] From Awareness to Sales: Making the Most of Video Remarketing
02/27 [Search] What's New and Next in AdWords
03/06 [Display] Biggest Loser: Digital Ad Spend Edition
03/13 [Mobile] The Full Value of Mobile
03/20 [Display] Getting Started with Dynamic Remarketing

Visit our webinar site to register for any of the sessions and to access past webinars on-demand. You can also stay up-to-date on the schedule by adding our Learn with Google Webinar calendar to your own Google calendar to automatically see upcoming webinars.

During our last series of webinars, attendees had the chance to win a Nexus 7. Our lucky winner was Donella Cohen, who is happily enjoying her new tablet. Check out our upcoming webinars for another chance to win!

Learn with Google is a program to help businesses succeed through winning moments that matter, enabling better decisions and constantly innovating. We hope that you’ll use these best practices and how-to’s to maximize the impact of digital and grow your business. We’re looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming session!

Posted by Erin Molnar, Marketing Coordinator, Learn with Google

Responding to the severe flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia

2013-01-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

(Cross posted from the official Google.org blog)

The Google Crisis Response team has assembled a resource page to help track affected areas and provide updated emergency information for the millions affected by flooding in Jakarta. We also have a mobile page with emergency contact numbers and lists of shelters, and enhanced search results on google.co.id to provide information directly when people search. We’ve also included this information in our FreeZone service to reach affected users on feature phones.

On both the page and map, which are available in English and Bahasa Indonesia, you'll see an update on flood locations and related data such as traffic conditions in areas affected by the flooding.

To share the page or embed these maps on your own site, click "Share" at the top of the page.

We’ll update the content as more information becomes available.

Posted by Alice Bonhomme-Biais, Software Engineer, Google Crisis Response

How mapping technology is helping Chief Almir and the Surui Tribe protect their culture and environment

2013-01-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

We are always excited to see how nonprofits use Google products to help change the world. One story that we think is especially inspiring is that of Chief Almir and the Surui Tribe.

The Surui people of the Brazilian Amazon had their first contact with outsiders in 1969. While the first encounter brought disease and deforestation, later contact helped bring about cultural preservation and environmental protection.

Their tribal leader, Chief Almir, first came across Google Earth in 2007 in an internet cafe. He recognized its potential for conserving the heritage and traditions of his people that were being threatened by the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest.

He has embraced the mapping technology as a way to protect the rainforest and preserve his people's way of living. Check out their story below or read more here.

Want to learn more about how other nonprofits are using Google for Nonprofits? Check out this full case study and others on the Google for Nonprofits site. If you’re interested in sharing your story, we’d love to hear it. Share it with us on our Google+ page.

Posted by Raleigh Seamster, Google Earth Outreach team

Advanced Power Searching with Google -- Registration Opens Today

2013-01-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

(Cross posted from the Inside Search blog)

What historic cafe inspired a poem by a Nobel Laureate? In the last three barista world championships, which winners did not use beans from their home country? If you were preparing a blog post on “Curious Trivia of Coffee Culture,” how would you find the answers to these questions? What else would you discover? Now you can sign up for our Advanced Power Searching with Google online course and find out.

Building on Power Searching with Google, Advanced Power Searching with Google helps you gain a deeper understanding of how to become a better researcher. You will solve complex search challenges similar to those I posed in my blog, or a Google a Day, and explore Google’s advanced search tools not covered in the first class.

Oftentimes the most intriguing questions invite you to explore beyond the initial answer, and there’s no single correct path to get there. When looking for questions that can’t be solved with a single query, “search” can quickly turn into “research.” Google Search offers a palette of tools to help you dive deeper into the web of knowledge.

Visit www.powersearchingwithgoogle.com to learn more about our online search courses, and review our search tips on the Power Searching with Google Quick Reference Guide. Advanced Power Searching begins on January 23 and ends on February 8th.

Posted by Dan Russell, Über Tech Lead for Search Quality and User Happiness

#OurImpact: charity: water channels clean water issues to you using Google tools

2012-12-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

1 out of every 9 people, nearly 800 million people worldwide, live without potable water. charity: water is devoted to bringing clean, safe drinking water to developing nations and ending the gap in water access.

charity: water proves that nonprofits can make a giant impact with limited resources and the help of Google tools. Starting with a GPS device, a video camera and the Google for Nonprofits tools suite, charity: water has stretched their impact: increasing site traffic over 350%, exceeding fundraising goals, gathering celebrity support from people like Justin Bieber and using this success to complete almost 7,000 clean water projects in impoverished communities around the world.

Photo from charity:water
How do they do it? charity: water engages their supporters by infusing meaning, demonstrating efficiency and showing rather than telling. When donors make a contribution, whether $5 or $5,000, they’re sent a set of GPS coordinates and photos on Google Maps. Donors can easily click to see the difference they are making (tour of all their current projects here).
Their site explains how the idea got its start: “We walked into an electronics store and bought a handheld GPS device for $100. We took it to Uganda, went to each project and plotted six points on Google Maps™. Then we made the information public on our website along with the photos for everyone to see. We’ve been doing that ever since.”
charity: water also has a creative approach to fundraising, including the introduction of the birthday pledge which has attracted celebrity sponsors like Justin Bieber.
Since they started using Google tools 2 years again, charity: water has been able to raise over $15 million through its fundraising site. The September Campaign alone exceeded its $2.4 million goal by $280,000, covering the purchase and shipment of two large drilling rigs and building multiple water projects. “In one year alone, Google for Nonprofits and our overall digital marketing strategy helped us realize a 350% increase in site traffic, a 300% increase in total number of visitors, and a 333% increase in video views,” says Paull Young, director of digital engagement, charity: water.
charity: water is not done yet; their impact keeps expanding. This month they received a Global Impact Award from Google, which is designed to support organizations using technology and innovative solutions to make the world a better place. They’ll use their $5 million dollar award to develop remote sensors technology that will allow them to know whether water is flowing at any of their projects, at any time, anywhere in the world. This is the next step in transparency and data-driven solutions for the entire water sector.
Want to learn more about charity: water or other groups in Google for Nonprofits? Check out this full case study and others on the Google for Nonprofits site here. If you’re interested in sharing your story, tell us here and, of course, share it with us on our Google+ page using #OurImpact in your post.
Posted by Jes Marquardt, Google for Nonprofits team