America’s Giving Challenge is an amazing program from The Case Foundation that See3 had the opportunity to support this year. It is a program that encourages nonprofits, large and small, to use the web to engage people in their work, and to encourage small donations. They make this happen through a competition that rewards nonprofits daily during the contest period and overall at the end. Today they just announced that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation added another $75,000 to the pot to give away.

Check it out right now at America’s Giving Challenge

Here’s the press release:

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant to America’s Giving Challenge Significantly Increases Number of Overall and Daily Awards Offered to Nonprofit Causes

Challenge Has Already Raised $1.1 million from More Than 50K Donations in Three Weeks;
Runs through November 6

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 30, 2009) – America’s Giving Challenge, a 30-day, national online competition that encourages people to leverage their social networks to recruit supporters and win cash awards for nonprofit organizations, today announced that it has received a $75,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan to help mobilize participation in the last week of the Challenge.

The grant increases the total amount of award dollars in the Challenge to $245,000 for nonprofit causes that net the highest number of donations. America’s Giving Challenge, presented by the Case Foundation, Causes and PARADE Publications, launched on October 7, 2009. To date more than 50,000 donations have raised $1.1 million for nonprofit causes.

“America’s Giving Challenge offers a tremendous opportunity to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations at a time when the communities we care about, including children and families, have never been in greater need of their services,” said Anne Mosle, vice president for programs at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “We hope that collaborating with our colleagues in these efforts will not only encourage more innovation by all the participants in their fundraising efforts, but ultimately spark a larger movement of nonprofits leveraging technology to reach new audiences and inspire civic action.”

The $75,000 contribution from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will enable the creation of five additional overall awards, including one $25,000 and four $10,000 prizes for the causes that garner the most unique daily donations over the 30 days of the Challenge. In addition, a $1,500 daily prize will be added for the last seven days of the Challenge beginning at 3 p.m. ET today. With the additional contribution, America’s Giving Challenge now offers 12 overall awards: one $50,000 prize, two $25,000 prizes and nine $10,000 prizes, and three daily awards of $1,500, $1,000 and $500.

Individuals and nonprofits can still get involved in America’s Giving Challenge. From now until November 6 at 3 p.m. ET, participants can compete for daily and overall awards – ranging from $500 to $50,000 – based on the number of donations to their cause using the Causes application on Facebook. Those who wish to participate in the Challenge can get involved in one of two ways:
• Champion a cause – Individuals can become “cause champions,” who are passionate about a specific cause and will compete to obtain the most donations for their cause through the Causes application on Facebook.
• Promote, donate or join a cause – all individuals are encouraged to take part in America’s Giving Challenge by joining, promoting and donating to the causes they care about. Facebook membership is not required to donate to a Giving Challenge cause.

Participants can register to compete in the Giving Challenge, view details and donate to a cause they care about at www.americasgivingchallenge.com.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Established in 1930, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin American and the Caribbean, and southern Africa.

About the Presenting Partners:

The Case Foundation
The Case Foundation, created by Steve and Jean Case in 1997, invests in people and ideas that can change the world. The Foundation champions initiatives that connect people, increase giving, and catalyze civic action. For more information, visit www.casefoundation.org.

Causes
Causes empowers anyone with a good idea or passion for change to impact the world. Using our platform, individuals mobilize their network of friends to grow lasting social and political movements. To date, over 85 million Facebook users have installed the application and created and joined more than 300,000 grassroots causes that benefit more than 60,000 nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit the Causes Application (www.causes.com) and Causes Exchange (www.exchange.causes.com).

PARADE
PARADE, the most widely read magazine in America, is distributed in more than 500 of the nation’s top newspapers. The magazine, which launched in 1941, now has a circulation of 32 million and a readership of 73 million. Each Sunday in PARADE and every day at Parade.com, our mission is to entertain, inspire and inform Americans about the issues they care most about and move them to action. For more information, visit www.parade.com.

YouTube is doing some cool things for nonprofits. One of those things is to leverage the YouTube community to make videos for nonprofits. They have a program called Video Volunteers, which encourages YouTube video makers to make videos about nonprofit issues.

They launched the program and I didn’t see much activity. It was all kind of vague. But they just started to pick issues and create contests to encourage people to make videos on that issue. The first issue was animal welfare. The next issue is hunger.

Seems to be working. Over 100 users made animal welfare videos and they have the results sitting on YouTube’s home page today, driving traffic to the videos and raising awareness for the issues. Way to go YouTube!

Here you can read YouTube’s blog post on the subject.

And go to Video Volunteers page and see if you can get YouTube video makers talking about your issues.

In the past year we have gotten quite a few calls from existing and new clients asking to make a “girl effect” video. For those of you have yet to see “The Girl Effect” you can scroll below and see it.

This style of storytelling using simple graphics, sometime just words, together with a moving sound track (mostly piano) has be copied and knocked off so many times that even we at See3 were tempted and spoofed it in our last years holiday card.

Because it has been so overdone, we generally steer clients away from this approach towards something that will stand out from the crowd.

But last week, after yet another request to “girl effect,” I went back to watch the original and, even after all this time, I was impressed at its effectiveness. Let’s not forget that this clip has been seen by hundreds of thousands and generated tons of buzz and awareness about the issue—not to mention donations.

So what is it that I think makes this work?

Its frighteningly simple: It practices what it preaches. This is a video about the empowerment of girl and it makes the viewer feel empowered. So many nonprofit messages get mired in the weeds—in the complex issues, the sobering realities of our world or the organizational services. This is what the org wants the viewer to know. More important than what you want them to know is what you (the org) want the viewer to do. At See3, this what we focus on—moving the audience for passive viewer to active participant.

This is why the “girl effect” is so effective. In the first 13 seconds it tells us that the world is a mess and asks so what? It then pivots to the positive: “What if there is an unexpected solution?” and then spends the rest of the clip (2 minutes) visualizing what girls, if empowered, can do for themselves, their communities and for us, the viewer. By the end, we are moved by the solution (what they want us to know), but also moved to feel that our participation in the campaign can mean something (what they want us to do).

This is the effect that, as nonprofit communicators, we should learn from.

Girl Effect Video

Our Holiday Parody: The Regift Effect

Shirley Sexton, our Director of Interactive Marketing & Fundraising, recently hosted a webinar, “What Donors Want This End of Year Season”.

Below is the slidedeck to the presentation, which you should feel free to share within your networks. We will be adding the audio portion shortly, and in the meantime, feel free to send an email to info (at) see3 (dot) net with your questions.

I recently put together a webinar about how nonprofits can use YouTube effectively. This issue has become much more important than it once was. When YouTube first started, all of 4 years ago, the quality of the video was bad, the audience wasn’t so huge and messages about changing the world just seemed totally out of place amid the poor amateur video that was appearing on the site.

My, how the world changes quickly. YouTube has improved so much in the past few years that looking at the early version would be hardly recognizable. The changes are too numerous to mention but the quality has improved, user control has improved and what people expect to find on YouTube and how they interact with it has also changed.

I have pasted my entire 1-hour webinar below. It has both audio and the slidedeck and I was told it was quite packed with useful info.

If I had to choose a few key takeaways, this is what I would tell you:

1. Search is critical. Not only are YouTube videos showing up in Google first-page results, but YouTube itself has become a top destination for searches. So if you don’t have YouTube videos for your key search terms you are missing out. YouTube is now a CENTRAL part of an effective SEO strategy.

2. The YouTube Nonprofit Program is The Bomb. If you are a US or UK registered nonprofit, and you are not religious or political in nature, apply for the YouTube Nonprofit Program, today. Right now. It gives amazing benefits to nonprofits in terms of branding and functionality.

3. The best part of the YouTube Nonprofit Program is linkable annotations—the ability to put links, anywhere in a video, that actually go to your website. “Donate Now”, or “Sign the Petition” become links that really work. Finally, YouTube has the potential to drive engagement. (You can watch how this works here).

4. No excuses. Even if you don’t have a budget and are stressed for time you can create a channel on YouTube and put videos in it. You can use existing video assets, repurposed video assets and make simple videos using a Flip Video camera or other low-cost consumer product.

5. Spend some time browsing nonprofit videos for ideas about what you can do. Most likely you will come across something with a style or tone that you think is perfectly appropriate for your message. Flatter them and copy their approach.

6. Fill your YouTube Channel with Favorites from complimentary organizations. There are great videos already online that speak to your message. Leverage those also. With the new YouTube channel designs, you can use these as a playlist on your channel.

Here’s the complete webinar. We are collecting questions about YouTube for future posts, so if you have questions, send them to info@see3.net

Once again the Jewish Television Network let people remotely watch Kol Nidre (Jewish High Holiday) service from their home via live webcast. And, for the second year in a row it was a hit.

Now I don’t think the point was that people should stay home and experience religious services that way. But there is real demand for this among people who don’t have a choice, because of their location, or illness, etc. You can read more about this at the Jewish Television Network’s website.

Here are some of the comments people made this year about it:

KOL NIDRE COMMENTS
September, 2009

I live in Colima Mexico, the smallest state of Mexico, no congregation here so you make me be part of my Jewish world. Peace and health to all. – Alix Ronay

I am unable to afford a ticket to a service this year since I am going to school; so happy to find this online. May everyone around the world have a happy New Year and a safe and easy fast. Thank you for having this online. – Melissa Pappert

This is truly a wonderful option for those of us without access to live services. I am watching in Japan, the nearest synagogue is in a different city. Thanks for sharing the warmth and blessings of Yom Kippur with the world. – Adam Greenberg

I am in Austin. TX and via Skype and Yuuguu, watching the service with my 95-year old father who is in NY!! – Karen

Bless You !!! I live in an area where the nearest shul is 3 hours away. This is truly a blessing. Thank you for inviting us in. – Lee Ann

From Colombia, South America…. we are very far from a synagogue. My husband and I are very happy for this online streaming service… more than a Kol Nidre, you are making a mitzvah with us. – Mayel & Bram Levin

I am from Desoto, Texas and the shuls are all at least 45 minutes to an hour away. When I found that this service was on the internet, I was excited to be able to attend via internet. Thank you for this opportunity. – Carolyn Lawley

I have not attended services for years – this is a wonderful opportunity and a beautiful service – thank you I am in Orange County, California. – Joel Meltze

Although I belong to a Synagogue, I am stuck at home recovering from cancer treatments. It is a blessing to be able to participate in services from home. Thank you so much for doing this. – Bruce

Hello, I’m from Northern NJ. I wanted to attend services, but am all alone and single. I really love this idea. Thank you so very much. – Monica

For the first time in nearly 50 years I was unable to be at Kol Nidre Service in Temple, and needless to say I was so happy to attend a service from my own home. This has brought me happiness and peace. Thank you Jewish TV Network. – Sondra L. Cohen

I am the only Jew in Richmond County Virginia…one of 9 000…I usually do my own services as I live over 1 hour away from a shul…I am so glad you are doing this…such a mitzvah…Thank you. – T. L. Neuman

We are watching from San Antonio with 2 of our children having the Swine Flu. Thank you for allowing us to participate. – Mark

I am an American, living in Mexico, and I am just beginning the conversion process. My “official” classes begin in 6 weeks with the Rabbi in Miami, Florida. Thank-you so much for having this! My FIRST Yom Kippur!!! – Maria Lisette

Hi. I am a single mom who has not been to a synagogue in many years and have missed it very much. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I live in Wiggins Co. Sincerely – Sharon

My son died last year and if I went to services, here in Boca Raton, FL, I am afraid that I wouldn’t be able to stop crying. Thank you for giving me this comfort and blessing. May G-d give us another year. Amen – Eileen

I’m recovering from a motorcycle accident and unable to attend services at my local synagogue. I’m very thankful I received the email notifying me of this opportunity to partake in Kol Nidre services. It’s been a very rough year for me and my family. Thank you for this chance to observe. – Steve Youngerman

I am 61 years old, have lived alone since my sons moved out and, considering myself an Agnostic, have not attended a service in years. When I came across your service, I decided to listen, and as I listened, I participated. This is the first time in years that, as I sat at home, I felt like I was reaching out to the Universe of which we are all a part. Some call it God, others call it by other names, but I felt good on Yom Kippur for the first time in years. Thank you for bringing me back. – Eric Shore

I am watching instead of being in my synagogue because I am with a terminally ill young family member. This is where I belong tonight, but is the first time in my life that I am not in shul. You are making me feel part of a greater community, thank you. – Fred Garver

I am a student at Bowling Green State University and cannot make it home for services, this is a great way for me to participate in a service while at school. This is a very nice service, and I really enjoyed the songs. – David

I could not attend Kol Nidre yesterday due to the rains in Manila. Thanks for Jewish TV Network! Shana Tova – Fernando Brodeschi

I am living in a small town in ND. Nearest congregation is 5 hours by car. This is a great service that you are providing. Thank you. – David Belluck

What a beautiful service you have brought to people like myself who did not have tickets for services this year. Loved the singing and joy that it brought to all the congregants there and on the web. Thank you for this again. – Roslyn

Being disabled means I haven’t been able to attend HHD services at my own shul for several years. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your services with the world. Not to mention that this service was a total knockout of amazing musical performances, prayers and wisdom. … – Eliana

We are currently not members of a synagogue. This is the first year in many years that we are not attending services, so tried your service on-line. It was truly unique, and a spiritual experience for my wife and I. I don’t think either of us have enjoyed a High Holiday service this much in many years. The sermon was also very powerful. – Alan Rosen, Boca Raton, FL

Thank you to Nashuva and Rabbi Levy. I am not affiliated with any congregation and, being unemployed, couldn’t buy a ticket to a local shul. I am surprised at how immediate and effecting this service was. The downloadable prayer book so I could follow along was terrific. Blessings on a prosperous and healthy year for us all. – Nancy Blostein

Thank you Rabbi Levy and your amazing Nashuva band. My mother, who is 93, did not feel well enough to attend services (for the first time in her life). I set up your service at her bedside and watched along with her. I was skeptical, as she is used to traditional/orthodox services. I was so elated to hear her say that this is the first time in a LONG time that she truly enjoyed the services!! Thank you again, so much for lifting our spirits in prayer and song! I hope that one day we can actually join you at the live service. You are fabulous. Todah Rabah and Shana Tovah! – Patty

From the sunny island of Jamaica in the Caribbean. Came online because the only synagogue on the island is far away. The atmosphere for worship here, the fusion of people, music and the message is something that is lacking at the synagogue. This was a good experience for me, and a long sought after one. Thank you. – Paulette

I was alone tonight. Just moved to Seattle, didn’t have a synagogue. After being recently divorced, my family, two grown beautiful children, with their wonderful mother, were in shul this evening in NYC. You saved me. Thank you for being here. – RMW

Thank you for broadcasting live!!!! We live in Maui, Hawaii. My wife is in her last couple of weeks of pregnancy with our fourth child. She was unable to attend and I was not able to bring my three kids down to our synagogue in Kihei. I t was amazing watching rabbi Naomi. We used to live in Brentwood (Los Angeles), and actually filmed Naomi in our doctoral project called Healers of the Soul (Rabbi’s and Psychologists). We were so happy to see her leading the service and performing so gracefully. Thank you. – David Wittenberg

I have no family and no congregation. I really wanted to hear Kol Nidre and was happy to find your link. I watched the service twice. Thank you. I hope the rabbi feels better quickly. She was pretty amazing, considering how she must have been feeling after her enlightening encounter. Gmar chatimah tova. – From Montreal

I was unable to attend services here in Alaska this Erev Yom Kippur and found my way to this site. WOW! In all my years I have never been so moved by a service. How very beautiful… Thanks so much for what you do…This is what religion should be. Moving, powerful, relevant, beautiful!!! – David

This is the second year I follow you all on internet, I live in Bahrain (M.East). I am a student of Kabbalah and this service is simply beautiful, I am so thankful for the year I had and also so thankful for having internet and being able to see you all! This is beautiful! – Ricardo

I cannot describe how grateful I am for finding you on the internet. This experience is incredible – just what I needed. Lots of love from South Africa! Am Yisrael Chai – Danielle

I tuned in last year because i was in the hospital for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I’ve spent almost all of the time since last Rosh Hashanah and this year’s, I just came out of the hospital Friday night and am currently now wheelchair and house bound and so physically unable to attend services. I normally sing in my temple’s choir and miss that dearly, I didn’t know all of the prayers, but very much appreciate your webcast. Thank you for all you are doing to be completely inclusive…and liked being able to use the same prayer book this year. L’Shana Tova! – Leah

No shuls or public services anywhere near here in my remote location in central Italy. Thank you for lifting my spirits and helping me through the services on this Yom ha-Kippurim. I look forward to Neilah… hope it is still online, and not just Kol Nidre. – Martha

Thanks for bringing the Yom Kippur office to a small French village ( in Western France), far from any large city. Toda Raba and Shalom to you and your community. – Robert Ezraty

I live in the mountains of Kentucky, many hours from the nearest Jewish community, and often find it difficult to travel for services. Thank you for providing this on the internet. – Sue Greer-Pitt

I find myself for the first time unable to spend the holidays with my family who are out of the country. I clicked on your service and I was transformed by how heartfelt it was. Sometimes you can find a treasure when you least expect it. Peace to you all…. – Laurel

I live in suburban Toronto and was too tired to watch the service last night, so am watching it at 11am EST on Monday. I don’t belong to a synagogue and my husband isn’t Jewish, but would come to services (and has) if I asked. I decided to do this holiday “on my own” this year and I am so thankful for Rabbi Levi and the Jewish TV Network for bringing Yom Kippur to me. The spiritual content and music has touched me. Have an easy fast and healthy new year. – Randi

My husband isn’t Jewish and we have a young daughter which makes it impossible to attend services. We can’t afford to belong to a Temple and I didn’t want to miss the music, the tradition and the tears of hope and happiness. Thank you for this wonderful service. – Robin Goldberg

I find myself alone on this Yom Kippur, and in emotional pain. Your service warmed my heart and uplifted my spirit when I thought nothing could. Thank you so very much! – James Unger
Thank you so much for webcasting this service. I have always celebrated Yom Kippur at home alone since I have been married to a non-Jew….so it has been a very long time since I have heard the prayers and music in Hebrew. It has made me remember the times I spent with my father as a child going to High-Holiday services – he was always in search of place to feel at peace – under G-d. It seems to me, that Rabbi Levy has helped to create just such a place. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. – Laura

I’m undergoing medical treatments three times a week that require me to be put under general anesthesia. I can’t drive for 24 hours after undergoing the treatments. My local rabbi told me that the medical treatments were more important to my well being than the services. He suggested I check this site out as an alternative. Thanks for giving me an alternative. – Trina

A most energizing and uplifting service. Due to illness I could not attend Kol Nidre services in the temple in which I am a 23-year member and past president, Temple Beth Emeth of Mt. Sinai, NY. – Kenneth Leeds