Online social networking is starting to take on a larger role in nonprofit development and it looks like YouTube is working to plug into that growing niche market with the release of the YouTube Nonprofit Program. Sharing videos is a great way to engage your site's viewers. Let's face it, pictures are nice, but moving pictures are even better. At least when you are trying to convey a message that can't fully be captured with proper lighting. The ability to share videos not just on your organization's site, but also throughout the already massive YouTube social networking scene could provide huge for getting more people involved in campaigns. Here's what YouTube has to say about their program:

Does your organization have a compelling story to tell? Do you want to connect with your supporters, volunteers, and donors but don't have the funds to launch expensive outreach campaigns? YouTube can help. Video is a powerful way to show your organization's impact and needs, and with a designated "Nonprofit" channel on YouTube, you can deliver your message to the world's largest online video community.

The program is free, but you do have to have 501(c)3 status. All nonprofits that sign up get branding capabilities and increased uploading capacity, rotation of their videos in the "Promoted Videos" areas throughout the site, the option to drive fundraising through a Google Checkout "Donate" button, and the first 300 nonprofits get a free video camera. Not a bad deal.

The internet is an invaluable tool for non-profits and community organizations who want to raise money, recruit volunteers, engage their constituency, or expand their advocacy work. The Internet Advocacy Book by Michael Organ is a free online resource that is dedicated to helping these groups gain a more effective presence on the internet. Organ states:

The online version of The Internet Advocacy Book is a free resource for non-profits and socially-progressive political organizations who use the internet to advocate for their cause. While "techies" may benefit from The Internet Advocacy Book, the intended audience is non-profit executives, cause marketing consultants, and political campaign professionals.

Topics include internet press release, advocacy blogging, and email alerts. [hat tip to Idealist.org]

One of the most frequent requests I get in the beginning stages of a project is to create a splash page. I'm not completely anti-splash page, I'm just a big fan of usability. For this reason, I've turned down so many such requests that I've been thinking of writing up a post explaining why its usually not a good idea. Well, Smashing Magazine has done just that and included some examples of when splash pages can work.

Not every visitor is patient, in most cases the page will be closed right away. Or the visitors land on the Adobe-page where they are asked to download the latest version of Flash plug-in. Or they are directed to some design-award web-site where they can observe dozens of beautifully designed web-sites. You can be sure that they won’t get back. Here you go - an optimal way to lose a visitor in few seconds.

The article is really well written. It starts with 12 Common Reasons For Using Splash Pages and then goes into two case studies about 'how to lose your visitors'. The article ends with a showcase of splash pages from each of the twelve common uses. Read the full Smashing Magazine article