For nearly a decade now, the DoGooder Awards have celebrated the most innovative and effective nonprofit videos in the sector, and during that time, the awards have expanded to local regions as well. In fact, nominations for the LA DoGooder Awards are open until June 10, with more regional awards slated for the remainder of the year.
Recently, FundRaising Success spoke with Mona Das of MOXY! and Engage With It founder Dana Weiss, both of whom work with Here's My Chance and See3 Communications on the DoGooder Awards, about the awards and how nonprofits can tackle video in their marketing strategies.
FundRaising Success: How do the regional DoGooder Awards, like the LA DoGooder Awards, differ from the larger DoGooder Awards that were awarded earlier this year, if at all?
Mona Das/Dana Weiss: The DoGooder Awards and Video Hackathon celebrate the good in each city. We highlight social change, environmental action and community engagement at its best. Our DoGooders are the social entrepreneurs, sustainable businesses, nonprofits and filmmakers working to improve their communities — in this case, Los Angeles.
Our community of DoGooders recognizes local champions of social and environmental impact and the brave storytellers that bring their vision to the screen. We honor those that commit to improving Los Angeles through doing good.
For the DoGooder Video Hackathon, we paired 14 filmmaking teams with 14 social enterprises and nonprofits. Each team was given mentorship, training and support to create a two- to three-minute video in just 10 days. They were challenged to tell the story of their organization and compel their audience to take action.
FS: How do organizations submit videos? What are the categories for the LA competition and the deadline for the regional competition?
MD/DW: Organizations in Los Angeles can submit videos that have already been created in the past 12 months until June 10th to: info@ladogooder.com
The organizations must be mission-driven and impacting the city of Los Angeles.
The awards:
- Overall Winner: Decided by crowd between top two judges' selection finalists on final awards night on July 9 at the YouTube Space LA.
- Viewers Choice: Video with the most votes wins! First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize
- Hackathon Winner: Decided by panel of judges . First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize
FS: What makes for a great nonprofit video? What themes do you see the winning videos entail?
MD: I always joke that it's any videos that include puppies or babies and kids. Great videos tell a compelling story. Stories that can show a success story of the organization and stories that pull on the heartstrings. Videos should be between two to five minutes in length. Adding humor to videos is always a plus.
FS: How can fundraisers implement video into their fundraising plans?
MD/DW: Videos can be shown at fundraising events, shared in social media and other marketing publications like newsletters and on their websites.
FS: Why should organizations participate in the DoGooder Awards?
MD/DW: The DoGooder Impact Video Awards highlight the good in each community that we feature. We strive to make the awards nights a celebration of all things good happening in each community. We connect local DoGooders with the people who they want to meet by providing a fun night to celebrate with each other.
FS: What can fundraisers take away from the nominees and winning videos?
MD/DW: Together we are all better. All videos will be featured on the YouTube DoGooder channel. Our hope is that the videos will inspire the next generation of DoGooders, elevate the work that our impact entrepreneurs and nonprofits are doing, and bring more awareness and celebration to all the good work happening in Los Angeles.
Here is what Aldustus Jordan of the Wells Fargo Foundation said about working with Philly DoGooder:
"I have been truly amazed by the level of energy, excitement and much needed capacity building this initiative has generated for so many of our Wells Fargo community partners. The project fully engaged and inspired citizens across race, class, ethnicity and generational lines in a truly unique way and should be replicated in more cities across the country."
FS: Anything you'd like to highlight or add?
MD/DW: Our remaining cities for 2014 are San Francisco in September and New York City in December. We are excited to tell the stories of resilience in Detroit and Cleveland next year — where else we go … that is up to the reader! Contact us about coming to your city at info@ladogooder.com!
- Companies:
- Wells Fargo