More and more people are searching for businesses and organizations (like yours!) on Google Maps, so it’s important to take a few minutes to customize how your nonprofit is listed... using Google Places!

Your organization’s Google Places page is its listing where you can correct basic information, such as the physical address, website, or email of your organization. You can also enhance your Google Places page by adding images and videos of the work you do, which can allow viewers to link to your photo albums and your YouTube Nonprofit Channel. You can even encourage viewers to “Join Now!” or “Donate Now!” and link to your website to drive membership, donations, or to guide people on how they can help your cause.

For example, GreenInfo Network, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, has added images of the maps they have created for their nonprofit partners to their Google Places page:


Here’s how you can get started:
  1. Go to google.com/places, and click “Get Started” and then “List your business”. Another way is to search for your nonprofit on Google Maps, click on the result, and then click on “Business Owner?”
  2. You may need to verify that you are, in fact, the owner, and this can be checked with either a phone call or a snail-mail postcard to the organization's address. Once verified, you can start enhancing the Places page for your organization.
  3. Add or edit (if necessary) the physical location of your organization. You can also move the marker to the correct location on the map. (Remember: these aren't individual projects or field locations where you work; this is the location of your organization’s headquarters or regional branches.)
  4. Add photos, images, and videos of the work that you do. If applicable, add a description, encouraging people to “Join Now!” or “Donate Now!” with a link to your website.
  5. Confirm the other details for your listing, make any changes as necessary, and click “Submit”.
That’s all there is to it! Google Places is available in numerous countries, and is free, so get started now at google.com/places! Google Places is even available on your Android or iPhone device, so people can find your nonprofit on-the-go.

After you’ve updated the Places page for your organization, do you feel ready to get creative with more mapmaking? You can build custom maps of your work with our Google Maps and Google Earth tutorials, such as Creating Maps using My Maps - specifically designed for nonprofits!

Posted by Karin Tuxen-Bettman, Google Earth Outreach Team