WebProNews

YouTube has added a couple of new features for its Nonprofit Program. These features include the option for nonprofit partners to choose custom thumbnails for videos and the ability to link to external websites through video annotations.

YouTube calls the features "game-changing". They are explained in this step-by-step walk-through:

"If you're a member of the YouTube Nonprofit Program already, you're good to go. And if you're a 501(c)3 in the U.S. or registered charity in the U.K., you can apply to the program now at www.youtube.com/nonprofits," says Ramya at YouTube's CitizenTube blog.

YouTube's nonprofit program is currently available in the United States and in the United Kingdom, although they do intend to expand this. YouTube provids a nonprofit tipsheet here. Requirements for U.S. partners are as follows:

- Organizations must be U.S.-based nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) tax status

- May not be religious or political in nature

-  May not be focused primarily on lobbying for political or policy change

- Commercial organizations, credit-counseling services, donation middleman services, fee-based organizations, universities, and nonprofit portals are not eligible for the program

For the United Kingdom:

- Organisations must be based in the United Kingdom and registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or by the Inland Revenue

- May not be religious or political in nature

-  May not be focused primarily on lobbying for political or policy change

-  Commercial organisations, credit-counselling services, donation middleman services, fee-based organisations, universities, and non-profit portals are not eligible for the programme