With social distancing in full effect, the power of video has not only allowed organizations to stay connected with their audiences, but also encourage people to give back to their communities.

By utilizing live video, charities have been able to spread more awareness of their cause, reach a wider audience, and gain more donors.

Challenges nonprofits face during this time

As businesses close and people quarantine in their homes, nonprofit organizations have encountered their own obstacles during COVID-19.

Fundraising has become more difficult than ever, resulting in declining revenues. The nonprofits that have been hit the hardest are those that rely on peer-to-peer fundraisers such as walkathons, bike races, or galas. These in-person events were canceled or postponed.

Many nonprofits that depend on volunteers are facing shortages due to stay-at-home orders, impacting their operations.

Additionally, the pool of donors are likely to shrink as unemployment and economic uncertainty rises.

Why use live video for philanthropy

In the face of the crisis, many fundraisers have transformed in-person events into virtual events through live video.

Live video is an ideal solution for nonprofits because it preserves the in-the-moment experience, simulating an in-person event. It offers a direct way to engage and connect with new and existing audiences around the world because it is a 1-to-many video communication solution.

It also allows for participatory elements such as calls-to-action to drive contributions and donations, while maintaining a human component.

How organizations are using live video

The shift to live video is a growing trend in the nonprofit sector. In the last few months, Socialive has had the exciting opportunity to partner with organizations to distribute live video while supporting great causes.

Below, we have highlighted a few customer examples and use cases that were brought to life with our live stream platform.

1. MARCH OF DIMES

Use case: Educational campaign series to raise awareness on YouTube and Facebook

In honor of Mother’s Day, March of Dimes launched a new educational campaign called “It Starts With Mom,” to raise awareness among mothers on how to stay health and strong during the motherhood journey.

To kick off its launch, The Honest Company and the March of Dimes co-hosted a virtual thought leadership conference on May 7th called “It Starts With Mom Live.” The conference was hosted by actress and The Honest Company founder, Jessica Alba.

2. HIP HOP LOVES NY

Use case: Virtual concert to raise proceeds on YouTube

On April 23, the Universal Hip Hop Museum and Mass Appeal teamed up for the “Hip Hop Loves NY” benefit. The special three-hour simulcast honored healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight in New York.

The virtual event was hosted by Ralph McDaniels, and featured high-profile stars such as Ice-T, Kurtis Blow, Mike Epps, Chuck D, Naughty By Nature and Big Daddy Kane.

Proceeds raised from the Hip Hop Loves NY concert were donated to the Bronx Community Relief Effort.

3. NFL QUARTERBACK CHASE DANIEL

Use case: Live show to raise donations on Facebook and Twitter

NFL Quarterback Chase Daniel, host of the live show “Chase Chats,” partnered with University of Missouri and The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri to help feed those affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Promoting the virtual event in advance, Chase challenged his audience to donate, and matched every gift up to $25,000. As a result, he raised over $105,000 and had over 10,000 live viewers tune in.