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YouTube Testing Video Fundraising Platform

Online video platform YouTube has launched a beta test of YouTube Giving which will include Fundraisers (beta), Community fundraisers (beta), Campaign matching (beta), and Super Chat for Good (beta).

Among the nonprofits involved in the beta tests are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Hope For Paws. Information on getting involved can be found on the YouTube site at https://bit.ly/2wsRAs9

The Fundraisers (beta) feature will allow YouTube creators and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits to create and embed a fundraising campaign next to their videos and live streams. People will be able to donate to creator-led campaigns directly on YouTube via a “Donate” button. Creators can set up their campaigns with the payment processing handled by YouTube. As part of this beta period, YouTube will also cover all transaction fees so that 100 percent of donations go to the nonprofit. No information was immediately available on processing and other fees after the beta test. Payment processing fees are often as much as 5 percent of donations on some sites.

The Community Fundraisers beta is also limited to a group of U.S. creators and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits that allows multiple creators to co-host the same fundraiser. The feature is designed so that a Community Fundraiser will appear on participating creators’ videos at the same time and reflect the collective amount of money their communities are raising together, according to a YouTube announcement.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is working with 12 gaming creators with more than 37 million subscribers combined up for a special edition of St. Jude PLAY LIVE on YouTube, a fundraising event using the Community Fundraisers beta feature, according to YouTube. Check out these creators’ videos to get involved: AbdallahSmash026, Aphmau, AtomicMari, Blessious, Funhaus, IGN, ItsFunneh, JeromeASF, KreekCraft, LaurenzSide, Noahj456, and Smosh Games.

The Campaign matching beta, which is not yet available, will allow creators who organize Fundraisers and Community Fundraisers to receive matching pledges to help amplify their efforts. This beta feature will display matching pledges from other creators or brands directly within the Fundraiser to help inspire more fans to get involved and maximize impact.

There is also Super Chat for Good – Livestream which will enable creators to raise funds for qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits on live streams and Premiere videos. When an eligible creator enables Super Chat for Good, 100 percent of Super Chat for Good purchases will be automatically routed to a qualifying nonprofit chosen by the creator, according to YouTube.