YouTube is a popular platform that is being used to increase donations for nonprofit organizations. But how do you as a nonprofit leverage this platform?
There’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and so many other platforms to leverage donations so why would your nonprofit organization choose YouTube?
Well, the answer is, “it depends.”
If you are doing great on Facebook, then stay on Facebook! If your nonprofit is raising funds from donors on Instagram, then stay on Instagram. And so on.
However, if your nonprofit organization has a tie to an influencer on YouTube, then don’t be shy to ask that channel to support your nonprofit with a fundraiser.
In this specific podcast, Sydney Stelmaszek reached out to me (she’s a student of the grant writing master course, so it’s always great to showcase student’s journeys too!) and shared with me how her and her husband have utilized his YouTube platform to raise money for her nonprofit.
So you get to hear firsthand how the Stelmaszeks utilized a different sector (technology) on YouTube and raised money for SynGAP1 (a rare disease their son suffers from) research.
What I absolutely loved about what Sydney shares is how thinking out-of-the-box can really help nonprofit organizations come up with ideas that are unique and align with their missions. I also love the tenacity that Sydney and her husband have with helping raise funds for a disease that has impacted their lives so personally. Their can-do attitude and drive will surely help their son and so many other people.
What We Discuss in this Episode about YouTube Donations:
- Raising Funds for International Nonprofit Organizations
- How to leverage YouTube for fundraising
- Working at an international NGO
- SynGap1 Research
- How to find Influencers to work your fundraising events
- How a Tesla drive across the country was live-streamed
- How much money Sydney and her husband raised via YouTube for a nonprofit
About Sydney Stelmaszek
Sydney and her husband, Brett, live in Pittsburgh, PA with their three boys, Isaac (10), Judah (7), and Emmitt (3). Sydney and Brett met while attending the University of Florida, married, and began their family while pursuing undergraduate studies. She graduated from UF with a degree in zoology.
The Stelmaszeks moved to South Africa in 2015 to serve with an African-led NGO, Life Child. While in South Africa, their third son, Emmitt, was born. He was diagnosed with SynGAP1 at 18 months old, after nearly a year of searching for answers while overseas. After being hospitalized for his severe epilepsy, the family moved back to the United States in 2019.
Sydney and family connected with SynGAP Research Fund soon after receiving their son’s diagnosis and began learning about all aspects of the disease from the community. She volunteers with SRF by connecting with new families, SynGAP1 clinicians, and assisting with organizing SRF’s webinars. She continues to serve Life Child Africa Foundation through partnership development and grant writing.
Connect with Sydney:
