Do Non Profits Make Video? HELL YES

EDITORS NOTE: Taken from my post here. What’s the top thing you can do this year to engage your constituents? Both online and off? Quick, what springs to mind?

Well I’m here to tell you that it should be video. If you are going to do one new thing in 2010 to help get the word out about your organization’s mission, it should be to create a video.

Lights. Camera. Help.Now sure, as the creator and co-founder of my own nonprofit called Lights. Camera. Help., I may be a little biased! Lights. Camera. Help. is the world’s first nonprofit focused on helping other nonprofits do good through film. We do this through our education programs, volunteer match programs, screenings and our annual film festival. But what I am here today to do is share three tips to help you get your first project up and running.

1. Check out the Flip Video Spotlight from the folks over at Flip Video. This really cool program lets you buy cameras at a two-for-one price break. All you have to do is tell them, in under 500 words, why your nonprofit deserves to be in the program.

2. Now that you are starting to film, check out Creative Commons to find amazing work to build upon—not everything you shoot needs to be video. Find some amazing photos and even music to mix in for free over at http://search.creativecommons.org/. And, they are a nonprofit just like all of us!

3. Now that you are starting to put together your first video, you may be starting to think “Where should it go?” Check out the amazing YouTube Nonprofit Program. I think having your video on the #2 search engine in the world would be a good place to start, right? Just be sure to check out the rules they have for nonprofits and the types of videos they accept.

So what are you waiting for? In the meantime, check out the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival for a little inspiration. Our 2010 submission process is now open. Films are free to submit and we are having cash prizes for the best feature film, the best short film and the best PSA. So if you already know of some great nonprofit and cause-driven films please submit them today, or go out and start shooting your own!

NTC Re-Cap

Hey Gang,
I recently attended the Non Profit Technology Conference (NTC) in Atlanta GA. I had an amazing time learning and growing with my fellow NTC friends. I was also lucky enough to present on two panels.

Results here: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%2310ntc.wives

Results here: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23bestntcpanelever

More personal notes here: http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9VF2B3gqZmZZTVhYzIyYWItYmNmMS00MGI2LTgxNmMtOGZmM2VhZmY0ZGU0&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

NTC truly is one of those conference that can not only change minds (technology, strategy and practices) but can also change hearts (Mission, polar bears, cartwheels and youtube parties). That’s something that is a rare find these days.  My hats off to the NTEN crew who made this all happen. Please leave your thoughts and comments in the comments field below.

SXSW Crowdsourcing Re-Cap

Hey All,

I had an amazing time on a panel yesterday with Kari, Amy Sample, Beth and Holly. This is just a quick post to talk about my top three takeaways from the brilliant crowd that showed up yesterday (we packed the house BTW..yay NPO’s at SXSW!).

1) Start small. Start by crowdsourcing a T-Shirt contest. Use voting for the best shirt and the hybrid model to pick the winner. The next year actually give them your logo and have them design the shirt.

2) Give great value to the community. Yes you are a non profit and you do give back, but make sure you are not just asking for free spec work from folks. Make sure that the prizes are good and people feel appreciated when they enter.

3) Be carefull of crowdfunding vs crowdsourcing. It’s one thing to let the “hive mind” create amazing content for you and colloborate. It’s another to lose focus on your mission because you are chasing an impossible $$ prize with all your resources.

For more check out our hashtag on twitter here: http://hashtags.org/crowdx

Have you EXPERIENCED Austin?

Not until you have taken this class! I was very proud to be in the EXPERIENCE class from one of my new favorite non profits here in Austin: “Leadership Austin” last year. It was an amazing behind the scenes way our city works and lives. From how Barton Springs works to how the Mueller Center got funded and built. If you are interested here is a description of the class:

“Experience Austin is an informative, interactive orientation to the city that introduces participants to Austin´s issues, icons and institutions, and the people actively involved in creating solutions.  The program is presented as a five session survey of Austin, including behind the scenes tours and introductions to leaders in the local government, economic, education, healthcare, and arts and entertainment communities.  The program is ideal for those who are new to town or want to become more deeply engaged with all Austin has to offer.”

Register here.