Each year, See3 Communications, in partnership with YouTube, hosts the DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards.  This year, winners will again have the chance to win one of four $2500 grants generously provided by the Case Foundation, awesome video cameras from Flip Video, a free registration to next year’s Nonprofit Technology Conference provided by NTEN and more. New this year: for small nonprofits that have small funds in the video department, there is a new category for the best “thrifty” videos produced for under $500. On top of all this, the winning videos will be featured on YouTube’s HOME PAGE in March.  Talk about a boost to traffic.

Submissions for Best Small, Medium, and Large nonprofit organization videos must be a video that was made in 2010. Entries for the Best Thrifty Video category can be for videos made any time before the end of the submission period. Each nonprofit can submit as many videos as they would like, but, we encourage only the best work from each organization.

• Entries cannot exceed 10 minutes in length and are limited to nonprofits from the US, the UK, and Australia. See contest rules here.
• All nonprofits are welcome to enter their video. There are no specific categories or missions we are looking for.
• You can submit your videos from February 4, 2011 until March 2, 2011. Tell your friends to submit as well!
• Starting March 7th, voting is open to the public, so be sure to share the word (Email, Facebook, Twitter, carrier pigeon).
• Your organization MUST be a member of the YouTube Nonprofit Program. If you’re not, make sure that’s the next thing you do after you read this post. If you’re picked as a semifinalist, we’ll make sure you’re a member by the time voting begins.

And of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a video.  See, this is why it’s so powerful – I can embed this video in a blog in 10 seconds, and it just brings the text to life, don’t you think?

For more info on the context, visit http://www.youtube.com/nonprofitvideoawards

You might also want to check out our previous posts on online video.

Let’s see some entries from the Jewish community! Got a video to brag about? Post a link in the comments!

1. While I’ve loved Shel’s previous work, I did expect this to be a well written “capitalize on Twitter’s exponential growth” book. In fact, it’s incredibly insightful, with great profiles of people and companies using Twitter in really creative ways.  It stretched me.  It’s also completely accessible to beginners. A fine line that Shel seems to have walked perfectly. I was pleasantly surprised.
2. It challenged some decisions I’ve made – decisions that were strategic and thoughtful when I made them.  For example, using the organization name and logo instead of the person’s name and photo, even when they are tweeting for the company.  I’m still chewing on this one.  In the meantime, I’ve edited @DarimOnline to show that it’s mostly, not entirely, Lisa at the keys.  I’m curious how others think about offering this “human face” and transparency while still promoting the brand and, perhaps most importantly for many small organizations, creating continuity if/when staff turns over.
3. I was reminded that you can start small and casual.  As one guy from Ford is quoted, “Twitter was… the country store, where people came in and out and shared their gossip, and there I was, sitting by the pickle barrel.” (pg. 85)
4. It’s more about listening than about talking.  It’s so counter intuitive to so many of us that it can’t be said enough.
5. One person in the organization can actually lead major change.  So many examples were about one person in a large organization using this little tool in their remote cubicle, and it seeped into company culture because it was so darn useful.

So… that leads us to the question: How is Twitter useful for you?  Alternatively, you can share your best piece of Twitter wisdom, or a Twitter-related question you’re wrestling with.  We’ll choose our winner around Sukkot. And… please leave your Twitter username with your comment so we can check you out!

Beth Kanter was giving away copies Twitterville the other day. I saw it on Facebook (I’m a fan of hers) but it was also on Twitter and her blog.  (She’s a pro at making the most of multiple channels, without leaving me feeling inundated from every direction.  It’s a real art.)

Beth periodically runs contests like this.  She asks people to leave a comment responding to a particular question to enter the contest.  It’s not random — she picks those whom she thinks are most deserving or will make the most of the prize.  What I love about these contests is that by having a public entry process, she creates a forum for interesting people to share their work and ideas.  I always learn something from reading the other entries.

So I left a comment saying how much I appreciate this approach to surfacing great ideas and practices.  And heck, if giving away the book can do it, if I win, I’ll re-give-away the book to surface more good things, specifically in the Jewish community where we work.

She loved the idea and I won the book!  (Well, to be honest, by the time she announced the winners she had about a dozen books – there were so many good responses that the author kicked in some copies, she found more promo copies, and others bought copies to add to the contest!)  You can read about the results here.

And the punchline is …  Shortly we’ll be putting up our own blog post to give away the book (once I get it, and read it).  We’ll be asking about how you’re using Twitter in strategic and goal oriented ways.  So start thinking about it, and experimenting on Twitter so you’ll have something juicy to share when we announce the contest.  And, as always, you’re welcome to share your experiences (what’s working as well as what you’re challenged by) in the comments here.

P.S Another great Beth post on Twitter:  How nonprofits are using hashtags

What you’re favorite Beth Kanter nugget of wisdom? Leave a link in the comments.

As a way to help the Darim community learn about and take advantage of NTEN, Darim and the Jewish Communal Service Association are partnering with NTEN to solicit your best stories. We want to know how you are using social media, and what the outcomes have been.  This contest is open through April 1.  On April 1 we will announce the winners.  Prizes include FREE REGISTRATION FOR THE NTEN CONFERENCE in San Francisco, April 26-28 (winner is responsible for transportation and hotel) – valued at $649; free one year membership with NTEN for your organization – valued up to $200; and a free private tutorial or consultation with Darim staff via phone or webinar – priceless!  (First place winner gets their pick).

Submit your story by posting it in the comments on this blog post by April 1 (or, if you prefer, you can email us). Please make sure to tell us who you are, your role, your organization, what tool you’re using, how you’ve used it, and what the outcomes have been (data, anecdotes and reflections are all welcome).

Let’s hear what you’ve got!