Why do most nonprofit PSAs suck?

I sometimes wonder how much more effective nonprofit PSAs (Public Service Announcements) would be if they didn't take themselves so seriously.

Here is a nice example of a lo-fi commercial that spends more time laughing at itself than selling its product. The result? Something very viral that already has nearly a quarter-million views.

Sure, it's for a Cuban gynecologist who is now an American autosalesman... but why couldn't the neighborhood food pantry or city animal shelter have a similar tongue-in-cheek approach to fundraising? Why must philanthropy be so serious all the time?

Consider ways that you can help your donors to have a little fun. At a time like this, maybe that would go a lot further with them than the typical heavy-handed nonprofit doomsday message.

I'm just sayin'.

Enjoy:

How would Jesus raise money?

Powerful fundraising training from Mission Increase

Regardless of whether or not you are a person of faith, I think that you will respond to the powerful messages of Mission Increase.

I love the idea of moving from "Subtractional Giving" to "Transactional Giving" and then culminating with "Transformational Giving."

More here:
http://www.missionincrease.org/index.cfm?action=general.dspVideoTraining

Please take a few moments to watch.

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2 days left .... Payless Giving Shoes for Kids

2 more days to apply for free shoes for your clients:

The 2008 Holiday Giving Campaign was established by Payless ShoeSource to provide new shoes to children in need throughout the United States. Payless will be awarding up to a total of $1 million in merchandise gift coupons to nonprofit organizations in order for its clients to receive new shoes for the holiday season. Coupons will be worth $15 each and allotments to each selected organization will be based on the size of their client base, their local/regional coverage area and the ratio of Payless ShoeSource stores within that coverage area.

Learn more, and apply for a grant, here:
http://www.paylessgives.com/

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The Other Side of Tina Fey

Who has not seen Tina Fey lambaste would-be VP Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live?

We're all familiar with the brilliantly comedic side of Tina Fey, but Mercy Corps introduces us to another side of this amazing actress in their latest video here:

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VIDEO: Launching an artists' enclave in Dallas

You want a shot of inspiration?

Watch this video about the emergence of la reunion tx, an artists' residency in Oak Cliff that I think is going to forever change the face of the Dallas art scene:

La ReUnion


Thank God that Catherine Cuellar has decided to make Dallas her home. The girl could be Queen of whichever city she called home, and for some reason she has decided to stick it out and stay here.

Please support her:
http://www.lareuniontx.org/

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VIDEO: The Next Obama???

A week ago I posted about an amazing young man from the Dallas Independent School District who delivered the keynote address at the District's Back-to-School Kickoff event. At the time, the video was not available on YouTube.

Now, thanks to CDM's Director of Education Janet Morrison, it is. Check it out here:

Easy ways to get more "Google Juice"

Thanks to Matt Cutts for this great video with a Google Engineer, "Free search engine optimization tips for beginners":

Latest JibJab Film: TIME FOR SOME CAMPAIGNIN'!

I love www.jibjab.com. This is brilliant:

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

T. Boone Pickens' new video blog

This campaign that Boone Pickens is leading is just remarkable. The man is a stinkin' genius.

I love the raw feel of these videos... feels like you're right there with the billionaire himself
PickensPlan » VIDEO : A Big Day of Meetings

Video: Just released trailer for "Undocumented: The Movie"

My friend Justin Malone recently out this link to the trailer for his upcoming film, "Undocumented." I encourage you to spend 5 minutes watching this incredible compelling piece:


Undocumented: the Trailer from Undocumented the Movie on Vimeo.

You can see more here:
http://www.TheUndocumentedProject.com

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VIDEO: Ways You Should Not Raise Money

Ok, so this is pretty bad... gimme a break. It's Monday.

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Grab the Key to Your Destination . . . Home

Thanks to the wonderful team at The Pursuant Group for putting together another powerful email campaign for Central Dallas Ministries!

Here is the Web version of the campaign (please click below):

Must-see video with Robert Egger

Robert Egger -- who founded the DC Central Kitchen that I blogged about a moment ago -- continues to prove why he is the one of the smartest thinkers in the non-profit sector ... may his words inspire you to join the revolution.

Watch the video below, or visit:
http://www.robertegger.org/blog/?p=326

DoGooderTV is about to get... gooder

I received this announcement from DoGooderTV:

DoGooderTV is excited to announce that we're switching to a new web video provider beginning June 1st... This new and improved platform increases our ability to provide metrics and better services to everyone who is registered with DGTV.

It's been a long time since I posted CDM's videos, but the process was fairly easy from what I recall (no more difficult than doing so through YouTube).

See CDM's DoGooderTV page here:
http://www.dogooder.tv/Orgs/cdm/default.aspx

See CDM's YouTube page here:
http://www.youtube.com/cendalmin

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VIDEO: Destination Home (Remix)

Thanks to our friends at the Pursuant Group for quickly re-editing our Destination Home video for today's deadline for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' "Portraits of Compassion" video story contest.

I cannot praise their work enough. The original video was a very tight 4:36, but I had to cut it down to under 3:30 for this competition. I gave them 24 hours notice... and they still pulled it off. I hope that you enjoy their work, and consider contacting them. Let them know that you saw their work for CDM!




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VIDEO: She without arm, he without leg - ballet - Hand in Hand

I could think of no other way to introduce this amazing video than a poem by the master himself.

A Dedication
by James Merrill

Hans, there are moments when the mind
Resolves itself into a pair of brimming eyes, or lips
Parting to drink from the deep spring of a death
That freshness they do not yet need to understand.
These are the moments, if ever, an angel steps
Into the mind, like kings into the dress of a
Poor goatherd, for their acts of charity.
There are moments when speech is but a mouth pressed
Lightly and humbly against the angel's hand.



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Press conference announcing no-cost prescriptions for uninsured

Thank you to Channel 8 for posting your coverage of Central Dallas Ministries' press conference online here:


http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=232336&shu=1

WHO:
Central Dallas Ministries, CommuniCare; Baylor Health Care System; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Merck, and Novartis.

WHAT:
News conference announcing partnership that will provide no-cost prescription drug program for uninsured families in Dallas.

WHEN:
April 2, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Central Dallas Ministries’ Health Clinic, 801 N. Peak Street, Dallas TX

The news conference will announce the partnership between Central Dallas Ministries (www.CentralDallasMinistries.org) and CommuniCare (www.CommuniCare.us), including how the two will work together to serve working uninsured patients in the next year in the Dallas area. This is the first time CommuniCare is moving outside the borders of South Carolina to bring its no-cost prescription drug program to the working uninsured in other states.

Several patients will be available for interviews, as well as the following speakers:

• Central Dallas Ministries President/CEO Larry James
• Dr. Jim Walton, Baylor Health Care System Vice President, Chief Health Equity Officer
• CommuniCare CEO Ken Trogdon
• Representatives from the initial group of pharmaceutical companies providing free prescription medications for this initiative – Abbott, AstraZeneca, Merck, and Novartis

About Central Dallas Ministries
Celebrating its 20th year of service to the community, Central Dallas Ministries is one of the largest, most effective faith-based organizations in North Texas. CDM operates a network of hunger relief, healthcare, housing, legal service, employment training and educational programs serving more than 30,000 people throughout the Greater Dallas area. CDM's health programs alone distributed over 17,000 prescriptions to 2,024 uninsured patients during 2007.

About CommuniCare
CommuniCare is an innovative model of non-governmental healthcare intervention serving more than 14,000 patients in 46 South Carolina counties. This safety net of care provides needed medical information, treatment and medications at no cost to the working uninsured in our state who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or VA insurance. CommuniCare also operates Smiles, five pediatric dental care programs caring for more than 5,000 children from limited income families who would not otherwise have access to oral healthcare. CommuniCare works through a unique network of 2500 volunteer physicians, 11 pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and hospitals that donate their services and prescription drugs to approved patients.

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Destination Home: VIDEO

Featuring the stories of some of our formerly homeless neighbors who now have housing through Central Dallas Ministries. This video debuted at the Urban Ministries Prayer Breakfast with Tom Leppert, the Mayor of Dallas.



This is the second year that we've presented a video at the Prayer Breakfast related to homelessness. Last year, when we were joined by the candidates for Mayor (including Tom Leppert), we presented this video that includes interviews of people who are still living on the streets.


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The funny folk at PegasusNews.com

Thank you -- I think... -- to pegasusnews.com for their rather interesting coverage of Central Dallas Ministries' annual prayer breakfast.

The article contains some videos from the event, including a rather odd shot at the Mayor (see the "money shot" they included at the bottom).

Ahh, the press. What funny folk.
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