Google Grants Free Advertising to Non-Profits organizations via Google Grants Beta

You learn something new every day. Today I learned that Google provides free AdWords advertising to non-profit organizations via a scheme called Google Grants (Beta).

I knew that default ads for charities and other non-profit organisations are shown to searchers when there are no suitable contextual AdWords ads available, but I thought these were largely selected at random by Google staff. I know now that the organizations displayed have actually qualified via the Google Grants scheme. Here's an extract from the Grants page:

The Google Grants program supports organizations sharing our philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts.

Designed for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, Google Grants is a unique in-kind advertising program. It harnesses the power of our flagship advertising product, Google AdWords, to non-profits seeking to inform and engage their constituents online. Google Grants has awarded AdWords advertising to hundreds of non-profit groups whose missions range from animal welfare to literacy, from supporting homeless children to promoting HIV education.

Google Grant recipients use their award of free AdWords advertising on Google.com to raise awareness and increase traffic.

I found out about Google Grants via a thread on crea8asite's new Non Profits on the Web forum.

Organizations can apply for a Grant online, but they must have current 501(c)(3) status as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to be considered eligible and they cannot already be an AdWords advertiser. A Google Grants committee consisting of Google employees is responsible for selecting award recipients. Each organization awarded a Google Grant receives at least three months of in-kind advertising.

Interested organizations can learn more and apply online here. Seo Updates

The program has existed for a long, long time. However, Google is selective about whom it gives the grant too. All non-profits can apply, but not all of them receive the grant. We've applied in the past on behalf of AKT and Panos and Google were not keen to grant either anything because they were UK based. So I guess Google charity begins and stays in the home!