Since Windows 7 launched last week, there has been a flurry of activity from nonprofits and libraries looking to start using the new operating system. TechSoup has written a bunch of articles, blog posts, and forum threads to help people figure out whether to upgrade and how to do it. One thing we haven't really mentioned here yet, is the cool contest that Microsoft is hosting right now — specifically to benefit nonprofits and other social benefit organizations.

Organizations are encouraged to create a short video submission to tell the world how Windows 7 could help them change the world. For example, if you've got smoother running systems, maybe that leaves more time for you to do your real work of providing domestic violence counseling to women, children, and families in need. Or maybe upgrading the public computing lab you run for local lower-income community, will help people access job-hunt, language learning, and healthcare information easier. Whatever it is, tell your story. Here's more, direct from Microsoft:

Last night, we held our Digital Storytelling Challenge Awards Party here at TechSoup headquarters in San Francisco. We screened highlights from the more than 100 video, image, and GoldMail submissions and celebrated the great work nonprofits and libraries are doing to tell their unique and important stories. These stories help convey the work they do, advance their missions, and highlight the communities they're working within by giving a visual (and sometimes audio) story to help supporters connect with their mission and values.

If you missed the party, here's the full line up of our awardees:

• First Place: Kramden in 60 sec by the Kramden Institute awarded a Flip Video camera.
• Second Place: Dragonfly Forest by Dragonfly Forest awarded Adobe Audition software and a Flickr Pro account 
• Third Place: Tabor Kalaka 2009 by The Community Foundation of Odorheiu Secuiesc awarded Adobe Production software.
• Fourth Place: 30 Ways to Create Peace by Legacy International/Global Youth Village awarded a Goldmail Synergy account.

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You may have heard about TechSoup's Digital Storytelling Online Event that's been going on all month. Well, tonight we're rolling out the red carpet for the finale where we'll be announcing the big winners! We received more than 100 submissions from nonprofits and libraries around the country (and world) who've shared their digital stories in video, photo, and GoldMail formats for the Digital Storytelling Challenge! These stories are being carefully reviewed by our esteemed panel of expert judges.

If you're in the Bay Area, join us at 7 p.m. Pacific at the TechSoup headquarters (525 Brannan Street, Third Floor) in San Francisco for the mixed reality awards screening party. If you're not in the Bay Area, you still join us by viewing the event in Second Life and follow the action on Twitter (hashtag: #tsdigs).

Whether you're a challenge participant or just interested in seeing the power of stories to help social benefit organizations convey their messages, don't miss this opportunity to mix and mingle with nonprofit colleagues, show your support, and see the winners! Our winners will be receiving some of these cool prizes. In the meantime, check out the challenge submissions below. See you on the red carpet!

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If you haven't done so already, you've got to check out the submissions we've received so far for the Digital Storytelling Online Event that's been open all month. You can see the video submissions on YouTube and check out the photo submissions on Flickr. There are some inspiring digital stories in there from nonprofits far and wide.

But don't worry. If you've not had time to get your five-photo story uploaded to Flickr or your 60-second video onto YouTube (you can also create a GoldMail story), there's still time. We've extended the Digital Storytelling Challenge deadline over the weekend so you've got until Monday morning (9 a.m. Pacific) to throw your digital stories into the proverbial ring.

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Earlier this summer, we talked about the Adobe MAX Awards, an awards program that recognizes multimedia achievements in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors. We were particularly excited about this year's awards, as Adobe added a Social Responsibility category.

Well, the finalists are in, and now it's time to vote! Be sure to check out all of the social responsibility finalists; they all look intriguing. If you already recognize one of the finalists, that's because METRAC's Finding Zoe was honored last year in our Show Your Impact contest.

Voting is open only through Tuesday, October 6, at 12 p.m. Pacific time, so cast your vote now. And don't forget that donated products from Adobe are available at TechSoup Stock.

This post originally appeared on the TechSoupforLibraries.org blog and was written by Stephanie Gerding.

Flip Video has partnered with TechSoup to make its pocket-sized digital camcorders available to 501(c)(3) libraries and nonprofits in the United States. Flip Video's simple camcorders can be used by people with any level of video experience to create, edit, and share movies.

Nonprofits and libraries can use these camcorders to give their staff, volunteers, and constituents the ability to further their causes through digital storytelling in a fun and easy way. The admin fee for two 120-minute camcorders and one tripod is $175. Go to TechSoup Stock to check it out! Consult the eligibility requirements and restrictions page to determine if your organization is eligible to participate in the Flip Video discount program.

TechSoup is about to embark on a grand series of events to help nonprofits learn and demonstrate ways to effectively tell their stories. Some of my favorite causes have captured my loyalty and heart strings through amazing use of video and images. Last year, I blogged about what a hoot the AARP voting video was. I not only signed up for their list (even though I'm far from their 55-year-old target age), I also forwarded it to everyone in my address book. I did the same for The Story of Stuff and The Girl Effect, which we've also mentioned on this blog in the past. Elliot blogged about a group that gives cameras to local groups around the world in order to share their stories. Our partner in Canada featured tips on creating digital stories at a recent Net Tuesday event.

The use of telling stories through photos has also been discussed here various times, with tips on different photo-sharing and slideshow tools discussed. All of these are great examples of using video and images to tell compelling, poignant, and memorable stories about the important work nonprofits contribute for the benefit of the world.

These stories don't need to be fancy or expensive. You don't need a professional videographer or even a professional grade camera to capture video or photos. One of our newest partners, Flip Video, joined TechSoup's donation program this week and is offering low-cost, handheld video cameras to nonprofits for this very purpose. Learn how to use them as well as how to craft your digital story, with these three, upcoming webinars.

Free Range Studios, the "Creative Agency with a Conscience," has announced its annual YouTopia Grant (formerly known as the Gratitude Grant). Free Range Studios will be donating their services to one lucky nonprofit and one socially responsible business. Past recipients of the YouTopia Grant include Sustainable Table for whom Free Range Studios created the award winning viral video, the Meatrix, now viewed over 20 million times and translated into 43 languages.

Free Range Studios also walks the talk. From the day Free Range Studios opened its doors it has been a socially and environmentally responsible company. Free Range Studios uses Triple Bottom Line accounting, renewable energy including wind power, and most recently Free Range Studios became a B Corporation.

Many of you may not know, but TechSoup Canada has its own site and services for nonprofits in Canada. If you've not visited their blog yet, you should, regardless of where you are.

They have a terrific recap of a recent Net Tuesday held in Toronto that was focused on online storytelling with video. They highlight a variety of attendees' experiences and list some really useful tips for getting started even if you don't have any video experience. It can be a great way to tell your organization's story or to tell the story of the people you're working with, in order to grow supporters, broaden your reach, and deepen the relationships you have with the communities where you work.

TechSoup and Adobe announced the winners of the Show Your Impact design contest at the very end of May. Since then, we've been featuring the winners and runners-up in each of the four main categories. We ran the contest for a couple of reasons —  to show off the amazing work of these nonprofits and libraries and also to inspire the work of others. You can see the previously featured winners here and here.