This week we opened applications for the fourth annual Chicago Cause program, which provides $45,000 in digital media services for Chicago nonprofits.

It’s a program we’re incredibly proud to be a part of, especially when we see so many non-profit organizations struggling to catch up to the digital pack.

“Chicago Cause was a life-changer for us,” says Mindy Neveaux of Inspiration Corporation, a restauratn skills training program and the 2011 Chicago Cause winner. “Our website was really out-of-date. It was confusing and poorly laid out.”

Chicago Cause brought her a new website with an easy-to-manage event calendar, video, and social media training to promote their mission.

“Chicago Cause was a really great thing for us and I want to encourage every nonprofit to take advantage of it,” Neveaux says.

Hers is just one of many success stories launched by Chicago Cause.

In the program’s first three years we’ve combined with our partners at  Orbit Media, Flanigan Communications, Digital Third Coast, Bottleneck Management, and ShiftFocus Productions to donate over $100,000 in marketing services for nonprofits to help them attract the donors and awareness they need to fulfill their mission.

What do you get from Chicago Cause?

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners are selected to win one or more of the following prizes:

• A website (design + development) from Orbit Media Studios

• Social media strategy and training from Lightspan Digital

• PR consulting from Flanigan Communications

• SEO services from Digital Third Coast

• Video production from ShiftFocus Productions

Applying to Chicago Cause is easy. To qualify you need to have a Chicago mailing address, be a 501 (c)3 organization, demonstrate a financial need for digital marketing services to serve a philanthropic cause, and have a strong desire to improve the Chicago community.

Then you just need to fill out the application for by Sept. 27, 2013. We’ll announce the winner Oct. 30, 2013.

Connect with Chicago Cause

Of course Chicago Cause is social, and we love to hear from you. Find us on Twitter @ChicagoCause, on Facebook, and Google+.

Find out how Chicago Cause has helped other Chicago nonprofits by reading more about last year’s winners.