Google Earth can be viewed as a “browser” for people who are visually and spatially oriented. It lets them access information from around the world, using the planet itself as their visual/spatial reference point. For our new Project Happiness, we are anticipating we’ll receive posted video, audio, photos and other artistic contributions from schools and students around the world, and Google Earth will be one of the “portals” that people can use to sort out this information.
To find examples of Google Earth being used by nonprofits, check the Google Earth outreach web site. There are many, many specific example on the outreach showcase page.