The free video conferencing software for nonprofits & charities, NGOs and aid agencies. Free to feature a free gallery view. Call variety of participants, and offer it as a free service via free conference call breakout rooms to your list.
Nonprofits are busy and need to get done what needs to get done. We believe nonprofit professionals deserve more than just a free, basic video conferencing service with all the frills stripped out. Join your staff from across the country and around the world for free in a beautiful, modern, cloud-based virtual office experience for all your video conferencing needs.
Google Hangouts Meet
Does your nonprofit have a Google Ad Grant? If the answer is “yes”, that means you’re part of Google’s Google for Nonprofits program, which includes free access to G Suite for Nonprofits. And G Suite includes access to Google Hangouts Meet, a best-in-class video conferencing solution. Even better: Google has announced that through September 30, 2020, all G Suite customers can use premium Hangouts Meet video conference features, such as larger meetings (up to 250 participants), live streaming (up to 100,000 people), and recording. That’s a total gamechanger for nonprofits to help ensure staffers, board members, and volunteers stay in touch and communicate effectively while under quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak.
How to Apply
If you have a Google Ad Grant but haven’t enabled G Suite for Nonprofits, simply head to the Google for Nonprofits homepage, sign in, select “Activate products”, and hit the “Get Started” button under “G Suite for Nonprofits”. From there, follow the steps to complete the signup process. Keep in mind that Google’s account review process takes about 3 business days, so it’s best to get started as soon as you can.
If you work for a 501(c)3 nonprofit that does not have a Google Ad Grant account, you can easily sign up for a Google For Nonprofits account and gain access to Hangouts Meet for your organization by following the steps above. After getting up and running with Hangouts Meet, we strongly recommend applying for Google’s Ad Grants program, which provides qualified nonprofits with $10,000 per month in search advertising budget. Not sure where to start? We can help.
Why Video Conferencing?
At Media Cause, we’re well-versed in the realities of working from home given our flexible work from home policy and distributed workforce in four offices across the US. One of the core ways we stay connected to each other and our client partners is online video conferencing. Unlike one-to-one phone calls or traditional conference calls, video conferencing helps us put a face to the name. It also helps everyone more fully connect with each other, since you can pick up on body language. Practically speaking, audio quality is usually better than voice calls (depending on the system — more on that later) and opens you up to screen sharing whenever it’s useful (not just for major presentations) to share what you’re working on with other meeting attendees.
It can feel intimidating to go on camera while you’re at home, but think about it this way: nearly everyone right now is also at home, so don’t feel like you need to be dressed up or have a perfect backdrop. Rather, by showing a little humanity over video chat, we can all feel more connected right now. Have your kids or dog stop by to say hello. Show off your favorite coffee cup. Organize virtual happy hours with your co-workers. At Media Cause, we’re starting “MC Cribs” on Fridays where a different staffer each week gives us a tour of their home. Get creative and have fun — we’re all in it together.
Why We Like Google Hangouts Meet
- Seamless Google Calendar Integration – Once you’re up and running with G Suite, you can automatically attach Hangouts Meet meeting links with your invites and include phone numbers for those who prefer a traditional dial-in experience.
- Enterprise-grade Security – Unlike Zoom, which has come under fire recently for its security flaws, Hangouts Meet takes a variety of anti-abuse measures to keep meetings safe.
- Dial In and Out – US and International numbers are automatically created for each meeting for those who prefer a dial-in option, and meeting organizers can dial out to a phone number to patch participants into the meeting.
- Web-based Interface – No plug-ins to download or desktop applications to install.
- Reliable Mobile App – Easy to navigate interface makes it easy to call into video meetings whenever and wherever.
BlueJeans
BlueJeans helps you work smarter, so you can direct money, time, and people to what matters most. From critical field work to people coordination and negotiations, BlueJeans’ modern, easy-to-use meetings help you bring creativity, innovation, and results to life.
BLUEJEANS FOR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Speed productivity from anywhere with modern, naturally collaborative video conferencing
Expand outreach
Training constituents or employees should be easy. Instead of traveling to remote locations, deliver more dynamic training to field workers through any video-enabled device.
Improve donor pitches
Move ideas, campaigns, and projects forward faster. BlueJeans transforms your pitch into a powerful and compelling experience that stands out from the crowd.
Reduce travel costs
Save time and money getting from place to place. Convene board members anywhere to advise your organization, without worrying about which device or network they are using.
A GAME CHANGER FOR NONPROFIT
BlueJeans is a collaborative, difference maker for world changing nonprofit organizations
Expand reach and mission
Facilitate more efficient communication across multiple offices and external stakeholders with live, worldwide video meetings.
Superior connectivity
Give on-the-ground workers instant, easy access to office employees. Respond quickly to time-sensitive issues and prepare more effective fundraising campaigns.
Reduce IT burden
Deploy IT funds elsewhere as you consolidate the software tools and equipment you already have in one, dynamic meetings platform.
Save on travel costs
Communicate instantly with grantees and applicants, field-workers, and campaign managers, without using additional travel funds.
A greener conscience
Champion your cause while reducing your carbon footprint by logging less travel.
Zoom
Zoom is fast becoming an indispensable communication tool for nonprofits of all types. Zoom provides nonprofits more reliable video and phone quality, even when participants span borders. It is famous for its ease of use, which has allowed organizations to begin using it quickly and saves IT time in the process. Zoom Phone, Zoom’s VoIP office phone offering, is making a splash as the most cost effective option for distributed workforces, especially for those already using Zoom in some capacity.
To obtain the best deal and plan, fill out the form below to speak your dedicated Zoom rep. They can help advise (as can we) and provide an unadvertised discount. If you would like our help deciding if Zoom or another option is best for you, send us a message or use the form for fastest service.
Ease of Use for Users at All Levels
Participants can launch Zoom easily and intuitively regardless of their type of computer or mobile device. The service does not require meeting participants to join or open an account creating a better user experience.
How Are Nonprofits Using Zoom?
We see organizations across the sector using the Zoom suite in a surprisingly diverse number of ways:
- Remote Work & Team Collaboration
- Cloud Phone Systems
- Staff and Volunteer Training
- Telemedicine for healthcare orgs
- Individual & Group Counseling for mental health providers
- Fundraising & Donor Briefings
- Enabling Small Group Meetings
- Webinars & Livestreaming Events
- Remote Learning for K-12, Higher Ed & Education orgs
- Board Meetings
Zoom Plans for Medium Size & Large Organizations
The entry level paid plan is Zoom Meetings Pro, which removes the 40 minute limit on free plans. It is listed at $14.99 per month before any discount, which we help you obtain. Zoom Meetings Business adds a large number of useful features such as unlimited phone support, time-saving tools for admins and more for $19.99 per month before any discount. Zoom Enterprise is also $19.99 per month with a variety of useful features for orgs with 100 or more users. If you expect to purchase 5 or more host licenses (or something of equal or greater value), fill out the form below to have a Zoom rep contact you and so we can request a discount on your behalf.
Does Zoom Have a Free Plan for Small Nonprofits?
For the simplest needs, Zoom offers a free plan for high quality video conferencing with meetings up to 40 minutes in length and 100 participants. We see many nonprofits that have paid plans for staff that need to host video calls frequently and have all others on the free tier. This enables everyone in the org to utilize chat, which is similar to Slack and quite a popular feature.
What is Zoom United?
Zoom United is a new unified product from Zoom that bundles Zoom video meetings, Zoom Phone and Zoom Chat all in one interface for one price. Zoom United is popular with nonprofits for this simplicity and allows organizations to save by consolidating services on one platform. See the form below to have your Zoom rep contact you and provide a quote.
How to determine how many Zoom Meetings licenses you need
You will need one license for each individual who needs the capacity to initiate a Zoom Meeting. You can host an unlimited number of meetings with one license, but they cannot be held concurrently. All licenses allow up to 100 meeting participants. A Large Meeting add-on can accommodate up to 1,000 participants. Webinar add-ons can accommodate up to 10,000 participants.
For existing Zoom customers
If you wish to expand your Zoom usage – perhaps by adding users or other products, such as Zoom Phone or Zoom Rooms, please fill out the form below. We can advise on the best options and request a discount on your behalf.
How to get started with Zoom
Larger users should speak to a Zoom rep directly rather than buy online. To make contact with your rep quickly, fill out the form below and we will have them contact you immediately. For fewer than 5 licenses, visit the website at Zoom.us. We will have your Zoom rep contact you for a demo, discuss more complex needs or provide a quote. If you’re not sure if you need a rep, we’re here to answer your questions.
Conclusion
Hosting a conference call is now even simpler with video conferencing add-on software. With Live Meeting, your attendees can meet in multi-party video conferences, synchronous video conferences and computer based training sessions – without any extra equipment needed. It’s simply the most affordable and easy way to transform your conference calls into more interactive web-based meetings!