October 18, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
Two leading Internet companies — Google and YouTube — have announced new efforts to help charities raise money and spread the word about their work online.
Through the end of 2008, nonprofit organizations will be able to use the Google Checkout service to accept online contributions on their Web sites without paying a fee. Starting January 1, 2009, the company will charge its standard 2-percent processing fee, plus 20 cents per transaction.
Charities that sign up for the YouTube Nonprofit Program will receive a free “premium channel” — essentially their own page — on the site where they can upload videos and public-service announcements.
Nonprofit organizations can add a Google Checkout donation button to their YouTube pages, allowing them to collect online donations through them.
The company also plans to create a central area for nonprofit groups on the YouTube site to make charities’ videos easier for viewers to locate.
Google and YouTube said that only American nonprofit organizations classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to participate.
For more information: Go to http://www.google.com/checkout/npo and http://www.youtube.com/nonprofits.
