1 out of every 9 people, nearly 800 million people worldwide, live without potable water. charity: water  is devoted to bringing clean, safe drinking water to developing nations and ending the gap in water access.
1 out of every 9 people, nearly 800 million people worldwide, live without potable water. charity: water  is devoted to bringing clean, safe drinking water to developing nations and ending the gap in water access.
charity: water proves that nonprofits can make a giant impact with limited resources and the help of Google tools. Starting with a GPS device, a video camera and the Google for Nonprofits tools suite, charity: water has stretched their impact: increasing site traffic over 350%, exceeding fundraising goals, gathering celebrity support from people like Justin Bieber and using this success to complete almost 7,000 clean water projects in impoverished communities around the world. 
Photo from charity:water
How do they do it? charity: water engages their supporters by infusing meaning, demonstrating efficiency and showing rather than telling. When donors make a contribution, whether $5 or $5,000, they’re sent a set of GPS coordinates and photos on Google Maps. Donors can easily click to see the difference they are making (tour of all their current projects here).
Their site explains how the idea got its start: “We walked into an electronics store and bought a handheld GPS device for $100. We took it to Uganda, went to each project and plotted six points on Google Maps™. Then we made the information public on our website along with the photos for everyone to see. We’ve been doing that ever since.”
charity: water also has a creative approach to fundraising, including the introduction of the birthday pledge which has attracted celebrity sponsors like Justin Bieber.
Since they started using Google tools 2 years again, charity: water has been able to raise over $15 million through its fundraising site. The September Campaign alone exceeded its $2.4 million goal by $280,000, covering the purchase and shipment of two large drilling rigs and building multiple water projects. “In one year alone, Google for Nonprofits and our overall digital marketing strategy helped us realize a 350% increase in site traffic, a 300% increase in total number of visitors, and a 333% increase in video views,” says Paull Young, director of digital engagement, charity: water.
charity: water is not done yet; their impact keeps expanding. This month they received a Global Impact Award from Google, which is designed to support organizations using technology and innovative solutions to make the world a better place. They’ll use their $5 million dollar award to develop remote sensors technology that will allow them to know whether water is flowing at any of their projects, at any time, anywhere in the world. This is the next step in transparency and data-driven solutions for the entire water sector.
Want to learn more about charity: water or other groups in Google for Nonprofits? Check out this full case study and others on the Google for Nonprofits site here. If you’re interested in sharing your story, tell us here and, of course, share it with us on our Google+ page using #OurImpact in your post.
Posted by Jes Marquardt, Google for Nonprofits team
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From our team to yours, happy holidays! We hope all your celebrations are filled with friends, family and lots of fun. 


Like our holiday card? We were having a Google+ Hangout. Check out how you can use them to catch up face-to-face with family and friends and, of course, wear cool hats.
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A great way to share the impact you’ve made with your donors and advocates is through an impact report that quantifies the difference you’ve made in your field over the past quarter or a year. To help you showcase that impact, our team has created this impact report template. Make sure to make a copy before using it and then customize it fit your needs. 

Do you already use an impact report? We’d love for you to share it with us on our Google+ page.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team
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We’re already in the midst of the holidays and soon we’ll be counting down the seconds until the start of 2013. While we’re preparing our toasts, another countdown impacting nonprofits is simultaneously underway: the deadline for individuals to make
We’re already in the midst of the holidays and soon we’ll be counting down the seconds until the start of 2013. While we’re preparing our toasts, another countdown impacting nonprofits is simultaneously underway: the deadline for individuals to make tax-deductible donations for the 2012 tax year is December 31st at midnight.

With that deadline people are searching now for charities and causes that they’d like to donate to. To help you prepare, we want to share two strategies that help maximize donations and your impact.

1. AdWords targeting now: Reach individuals who are looking to make end of year donations with relevant ads on Google. Start by creating AdWords campaigns targeting keywords related to end of year donations and tax deductible donations. If you need help finding keyword, make sure to check out Google Trends to see what and how much people are searching for keywords.
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In celebrating the way nonprofits have made an impact, we’d like to spotlight another nonprofit in our program that’s changing lives in Africa.  Nuru International is a social venture committed  to ending extreme poverty in remote, rural areas by offering locally-led training in agriculture, personal finance, healthcare, water sanitation and education. Beginning in Kuria, Kenya in September 2008, Nuru uses Google for Nonprofits products to help them show their impact and function as a virtual organization.


   Courtesy of Nuru International 

Nuru demonstrates how they equip people with tools and knowledge to lead their communities out of extreme poverty to their donors through videos and their YouTube channel.  Kim Do, Nuru’s Marketing and Mobilization Director says “YouTube gives us the ability to seamlessly deliver our latest video updates in a meaningful, dynamic way as our donors are on the go.”

Beyond using Google tools to raise awareness, the organization also uses Google Apps to help eliminate overhead costs so that funds raised are equipping people with tools and knowledge to lead their communities out of poverty.

“We are a virtual organization with employees communicating across twelve time zones,” says Do. “Our strategic decision to forgo a central office in the US enables us to invest a greater percentage of our funding in our work in Kuria, Kenya. The array of tools that Google provides-specifically Gmail, Gchat, Calendar, Google Docs and Sites -- is integral to our work and success as a virtual organization. We love the ‘real-time’ nature of Google Docs and have used them to create dynamic campaigns, administrate internal staff surveys, maintain a shared communications calendar, create directories of social media and fundraising sites and do so much more.”

If you’d like to learn more about Nuru and how they make their impact, check out our full case study on Nuru International. And if using YouTube and Google Apps is a good fit for your organization, you can continue learning with our video tutorials and get started guides.

Posted by Katie Kellogg and the Google for Nonprofits team
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(Cross posted from the Google Developers blog)

 Our Women Techmakers series is back for round two on Google Developers Live (GDL)! In the spirit of the holidays, hosts Megan Smith of Google[x], Lacy Caruthers (Google.org), Angela Lin (YouTube EDU), and Pavni Diwanji (Google+), sit down with women who are using their technical backgrounds to effect social change and make an impact. Join us in-studio Tuesday through Friday of this week at 2:30 pm PST to learn more about how Women Techmakers are giving back in big ways.
(Cross posted from the Google Developers blog)

 Our Women Techmakers series is back for round two on Google Developers Live (GDL)! In the spirit of the holidays, hosts Megan Smith of Google[x], Lacy Caruthers (Google.org), Angela Lin (YouTube EDU), and Pavni Diwanji (Google+), sit down with women who are using their technical backgrounds to effect social change and make an impact. Join us in-studio Tuesday through Friday of this week at 2:30 pm PST to learn more about how Women Techmakers are giving back in big ways.

Tuesday, 12/11: WTM & Julie Hanna - Board of Directors, Kiva.org | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC | Watch live | Add to calendar

As a repeat entrepreneur, board director of Kiva, startup and venture advisor, and angel investor, Julie Hanna knows about giving back. Her work at Kiva, a crowdfunding pioneer leading the micro-lending marketplace, has been integral in touching over 800,000 low-income entrepreneurs in over 60 countries, adding up to more than $350M loans delivered. Radhika Malpani, Bridgette Sexton of Google Ventures,  and Anita Yuen of Google.org dive into Julie’s experience using her technical skills to make social change.

Wednesday, 12/12: WTM & Jennifer Pahlka - Code for America | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC | Watch live | Add to calendar

Code for America is a new kind of public service. Join hosts Chris DiBona and Lacy Caruthers in the GDL studio, as they sit down with Code for America founder and executive director Jennifer Pahlka to discuss how she is working on the technical side with web professionals and cities nationwide to promote public service and reboot government.

Thursday, 12/13: WTM & Sasha Laundy - Codecademy | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC | Watch live | Add to calendar

Codecademy makes learning code easy and collaborative.  From Women Who Code and Codecademy, Sasha Laundy joins Amanda Surya and Angela Lin for a discussion of how Codecademy makes learning code interactive, iterative, and fun. More minds are better than one!

Friday, 12/14: WTM & Kim Polese - ClearStreet Inc., Sun Microsystems | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC | Watch live | Add to calendar

ClearStreet Inc., a social finance startup, is focused on helping people eliminate debt and achieve long-term financial health. Chairwoman and original Java Project Manager at Sun, Kim Polese, speaks with Megan Smith and Pavni Diwanji about her experience as a leading Silicon Valley entrepreneur and technology executive, and how her work with ClearStreet is impacting users’ daily lives.

Catch up on the first WTM series while you're getting ready for this week's lineup.  Visit the Google+ events to RSVP, add the episodes to your Google calendar, tune in live on GDL, and ask questions of our on-air guests. And, most importantly, become part of the conversation by hashtagging #WTM posts on Google+.

Connect with us at developers.google.com/live. Tune in to live programming, check out the latest in Google tools and technologies, and learn how to make great apps.

 Posted by Phoebe Peronto, Developer Marketing
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We know that the impact you and other nonprofits make on the world didn’t happen just in 2012. Reaching a single goal or milestone can sometimes take years.  That is why we’re so excited to share in your journey and milestones -- milestones like WITNESS, reaching 20 years of bringing human rights violations to the world’s eyes.

WITNESS, an organization that uses video and storytelling to open the world’s eyes to human rights violations, spurring public engagement and policy change, began in 1992. Musician and human rights advocate Peter Gabriel joined together with Human Rights First and Rebook Human Rights Foundation to co-found WITNESS.

Since the organization’s creation, they have operated at the nexus of human rights and technology, helping millions of ordinary citizens around the world speak the truth to those in power through tools like video cameras and the Internet. In that goal, WITNESS has partnered with more than 300 human rights groups in 80-plus countries, trained over 3,000 human rights defenders, developed widely used training materials and tools for video creation and safety, created the first dedicated online platform for human rights media (the HUB), and included video in over 100 campaigns.

And how did they do it? Using Google products has helped them stay organized and generate awareness. For years, Google Apps have helped traveling staff stay updated and coordinated with Gmail and Google calendar. Google Docs has enabled them to coordinate on everything from blog posts to media lists.

Among other awareness initiatives, WITNESS has also created a branded YouTube channel with millions of views and thousands of subscribers. They created an extensive new channel on YouTube dedicated to Human Rights, with partner Storyful.


Other Google products like AdWords, Maps, Analytics and Google+ have connected WITNESS with people around the world and streamline their operations. Communication manager at WITNESS, Matisse Bustos Hawkes put it like this “Google for Nonprofits has helped us distribute compelling content while also streamlining our day-to-day business operations, all at no charge, that kind of contribution really can’t be underestimated.”

Want to learn more about WITNESS? Check out the full case study on the Google for Nonprofits site here or join them on their Google+ Page. They’re hosting a series of Hangouts to celebrate their 20 year anniversary.

Want more case studies? They’re one of our favorite resources to share how nonprofits are using Google for Nonprofits to increase their reach and impact. Check out all of them here. If you’re interested in sharing your story, tell us here and, of course, share it with us on our Google+ page using #OurImpact in your post.

Posted by Katie Kellogg and the Google for Nonprofits team
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Google just launched a new Google+ page, Google Giving to discuss topics related to social entrepreneurs, technology for social good and philanthropy. Check out Google Giving's website and their newly announced Global Impact Awards. If you are passionate about making the world a better place, add them to your circles!
Google just launched a new Google+ page, Google Giving to discuss topics related to social entrepreneurs, technology for social good and philanthropy. Check out Google Giving's website and their newly announced Global Impact Awards. If you are passionate about making the world a better place, add them to your circles!


 Posted by Kate Parker, Google Giving team
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  • H&M -- The retail clothing company, with more than 2 million Google+ followers, uses tailored content, images and video to bring its fashions and lifestyle to life on the platform. They’ve also utilized Ripples to identify their trendsetters and saw a 22% clickthrough rate boost after implementing social extensions in AdWords.
The Google+ platform provides a fresh canvas for building and strengthening your digital brand, tying into all the marketing you already do with Google. From launching a new product using Google+ pages to engaging with your community of enthusiasts over Hangouts, join our Learn with Google webinar this Thursday for a look at ways your company can build its brand using social. Sign up on our webinar page to attend: Building a Digital Brand with Google+ (Thurs, Dec 6, 10am PT / 1pm ET)

After the Hangout, we’ll host a live Q&A with members of the Google+ team to answer questions about building a brand with Google+. RSVP on the Google+ Event page and add your questions as comments on that page.

With more than 100 monthly million active Google+ users, the time is right to focus on building your digital brand presence via the platform. Google+ has seen a wealth of brands engaging with users in creative, interactive ways. In fact, brands created more than 1 million Google+ pages in just a few months. For instance:

  • H&M -- The retail clothing company, with more than 2 million Google+ followers, uses tailored content, images and video to bring its fashions and lifestyle to life on the platform. They’ve also utilized Ripples to identify their trendsetters and saw a 22% clickthrough rate boost after implementing social extensions in AdWords.

  • Cadbury -- The chocolate maker has reached a following of nearly 3 million users with a combination of creative posts, Hangouts on Air and even the launch of their Dairy Milk Bubbly bar. They’ve also installed the Google+ badge on the company’s web homepage, making it easy as chocolate to follow the brand.

Like the ideas here? Log on Thursday to learn more about how to create, capture and sustain demand for your brand using Google+. And if you’re going to miss this while you’re at SMX Social in Las Vegas next week, check back at the webinars page later for a recording of the webinar.
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It’s hard to believe 2012 is coming to a close.  It’s been quite a year. We’ve cheered on our favorite athletes in the Olympics, watched the highest skydive ever and danced our way to making “Gangnam Style” the most watched YouTube video of all time.  Before we jump into 2013, let’s take a look back on the impact you and the entire nonprofit community have made over the last year.

Throughout December, we’ll share incredible stories of nonprofits making a difference. We’ll also provide some new templates and information to help you continue to make an impact. Most of all, we’d love for you to share your experience with us, so please join us on our Google+ page and tell us about the impact you’ve made in 2012 using the hashtag #OurImpact. Together you are making the world a better place and we can’t wait to hear more.

Posted by Katie Kellogg, Google for Nonprofits team
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