Award-winning not-for-profit ads

Every January, I start thinking about the Super Bowl. Not because I enjoy American football (I don't), but because I enjoy seeing the commercials that run during the Super Bowl broadcast. In the marketing/advertising world, these commercials make a major impact, and it's always smart for those in our business to keep an eye on what runs, and what works on Super Bowl Sunday.

Obviously I don't think commercial advertising during the Super Bowl is a wise idea for not-for-profit organizations. After all, considering the cost, Super Bowl advertising is most likely way outside the realm of possibility for most NFPs, and an unwise investment for even those with the deepest of deep pockets.) Still, not-for-profits might want to think about video advertising, commercials and even simple clips designed for exclusive sharing on YouTube as viable advertising vehicles to consider in the digital age. We've written about video advertising before, and everything in that post still stands, but today, I thought I'd try to inspire you by sharing some award-winning videos made by your peers (that is, fellow members of the not-for-profit sector).

Take a look, think about what these folks did right, and think about how you might use video marketing in the future. And keep your eyes peeled for the best ads on Super Bowl Sunday. Those commercials are worth big bucks, and they are born from some of the best minds in advertising. If you watch carefully and with a critical eye, you might see some tricks and techniques you can implement yourself, without the big pay out.

_{All shared videos were former winners in the DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards, in association with See3. Body image by Jannes Glas, SXC.Header image by bilim atli, SXC, with modifications by Nyman Ink.}