Why Google?

I have prepared a presentation for the Emerging Philanthropy conference in Pittsburgh entitled “Fundraising in a Google World.” I suspect a few folks in the audience might ask “Why Google” and I want to be sure I am prepared to respond. I believe churches, nonprofit organizations, and business ventures of all types have a lot to learn from Google and here is some of my reasoning…

- – -

According to Interbrand, Google ranks 7th among the most valuable international brands. Among the top ten, it was the only brand to have a double-digit increase this last year (25%).

- – -

According to Millward Brown’s brand valuation, Google has ranked the top of the list for three years in a row; repeatedly described as the world’s most powerful brand in the world.

- – -

According to Fast Company, Google is the 4th most innovative company in the world; losing its number-two spot this year to Facebook, Amazon, and Apple. That’s where we can look for next year’s presentation.

- – -

YouTube, a Google company, is the top Web video site, with more than 1 billion daily views.

- – -

Google commands 86% of mobile-search market.

- – -

This company is only 12-years old. Founded in 1998.

- – -

2009 $23.6 Billion in revenue and its stock price was up 106%

- – -

Its search engine is so dominant that Merriam-Webster lists “google” as a verb.

- – -

Google answers an estimated 40% of the 375 million queries thrown out on the Net each day.

- – -

And of course, we would not be professional fundraisers if we did not note that Mr. Brin and Mr. Page were the youngest among Forbes list of the richest Americans; the two of them shared the number eleven spot in 2009.

- – -

I really appreciate what Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do, says:

We are also seeing the dawn of a new economy; one best viewed and understood through the lens of Google, the one company that – by design or by luck – is built for the emerging world order.