The Google Grants program hit the charts late last year when the Google.org Google Foundation philanthropic arm was officially launched with a name. Through this program, Google commits a percentage of their profits and equity towards a vision. They look at ways they can make a difference in creative and effective ways. The Google Grants program in particular gives free advertising to selected nonprofits. As of late last year, Google Grants has donated more than $33 million in advertising to over 850 nonprofit organizations in 10 countries worldwide.

Google Grants unique program involves utilizing the Google AdWords program to get the word out to engage and inform individuals online. The range of nonprofits that it has helped include animal welfare, literacy, homeless, and HIV education. Nonprofits that are accepted into the Google Grants program are awarded an in-kind AdWords advertising campaign on Google.com for at least three months to increase traffic to their website, and raise awareness of their topic areas.

In order to be accepted for the program, organizations must have be based in the US, and have a 501(c)(3) status, assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. Google Grants is currently not accepting applicants based outside of the US, but are planning to expand. Recipients in the program include:

• American Red Cross
• AIDS Walk New York
• American Ballet Theatre
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• San Francisco Food Bank
• Trees for Life
• Young Performers Theatre

USA Today reported on a a non-profit director that put up a website to attract donors to raise money to pay doctors to treat people in Africa and Asia. When he launched he was getting two visitors a day, and one donation per week. When he got accepted into Google Grants and received the free advertising, he started getting over 300 visitors per day, and 25 donations from all over the world. Donations were hitting around $5000-$8000 each from people that found the site on the Internet.

So if you work at a non-profit organization, or if you know of anyone in a non-profit organization, pass them this link, it might help them out in raising awareness into your causes through the kindness of the Google Grants advertising program.