Creating compelling fundraising videos that actually drive donations can feel overwhelming when you’re competing for attention in crowded social feeds. Most organizations struggle with videos that fail to connect emotionally or inspire action.
After producing systematic fundraising campaigns for leading nonprofits and analyzing performance across 1,200+ video projects, we’ve identified the storytelling frameworks that separate breakthrough fundraising videos from forgettable appeals. Our systematic approach helps organizations achieve 4x higher engagement and donation rates through coordinated video content that builds donor relationships over time rather than relying on single emotional moments.
Here are some of the best fundraising videos that have harnessed the medium of video to communicate their mission effectively, connect with their audience, and drive successful fundraising campaigns.
Key Takeaways:
- Systematic storytelling drives 4x higher donation rates than one-off emotional appeals
- Personal transformation stories create stronger donor connections than abstract causes
- Videos under 2-4 minutes perform best in crowded social feeds
- Clear calls-to-action convert viewers into actual donors
- Multi-platform distribution amplifies fundraising reach and impact
Content
Top 10 Videos For Nonprofit Organizations
1. GRID Alternatives: Access Clean California
Average Pricing: Starts at $5000
Target Industries: Non-Profit, Industrial, Financial Services, E-commerce, Retail, Established Enterprise, SaaS, Startups, and more
Collaborated With: Grid, Airtable, Spotify, Uber, Vimeo, and more
What Makes It Stand Out: In partnership with Vidico and Grid Alternatives, the fundraising video effectively tells a clear and emotionally engaging story video.
Vidico [1] successfully introduces Alma and her family as relatable characters facing a common problem – the desire for cleaner and more affordable transportation. This relatability draws viewers in and helps them connect with the cause.
It is one of the best nonprofit videos that effectively conveys the importance of collective action and leaves a positive impression on viewers.
2. Hello Sunday Morning
Target Industries: Non-Profit, Industrial, Financial Services, E-commerce, Retail, Established Enterprise, SaaS, Startups, and more
Collaborated With: Grid, Airtable, Spotify, Uber, Vimeo, and more
What Makes It Stand Out: The fundraising video for Hello Sunday Morning, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting people in changing their relationship with alcohol, immediately grabs attention. It addresses a significant and relatable issue, making it enjoyable to a broad audience.
Animation is a versatile and engaging medium for explaining complex topics, and it can simplify the understanding of the app’s features.
“Animation should be strategic. Every detail should serve a purpose. Color shading can make pain points tangible, while seamless transitions can bring workflows to life. Animation isn’t just about showing features—it’s about making a complex solution feel accessible and simple.” — Evan Pirone, Creative Director, Vidico
Since the storyboards were drawn by hand, it adds a personal touch, which shows dedication and craftsmanship.
The fundraising video project stands out due to its apparent purpose, choice of animation medium, informative approach, emphasis on comprehensive support, hand-drawn storyboards, and clear call to action.
3. First Descents
What Makes It Stand Out: The video from First Descents is an excellent example of concise storytelling. It effectively conveys the organization’s purpose and principles in just over two minutes.
This brevity is crucial in today’s fast-paced digital world, where capturing and retaining viewers’ attention is challenging.
The video content effectively communicates the organization’s purpose. This clarity can resonate with those looking for ways to support causes that align with their values.
4. BUCK Animation: Why Water
What Makes It Stand Out: Why Water” by BUCK Animation effectively utilizes its time to connect with the audience and convey the importance of clean water.
Within the first 10 to 15 seconds, even viewers who may not be familiar with Charity: Water can understand the organization’s mission. This clarity is essential for creating awareness and garnering support.
BUCK Animation’s motion graphics and animation expertise shine through in the Charity Water video. Also, the animated video makes it more visually appealing and engaging.
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5. UNICEF: “for every child”
What Makes It Stand Out: UNICEF effectively conveys the ongoing urgency of its mission by using an effective and engaging fundraising video script in social media.
The nonprofit video storytelling hooks the donors as it underlines the organization’s vast and comprehensive efforts to protect children worldwide. This global perspective is crucial in showcasing the organization’s impact.
The fundraising campaign was shared on different social media platforms to effectively convey the organization’s mission and encourage viewers to learn more and participate in supporting vulnerable children worldwide.
6. Neil Squire
What Makes It Stand Out: The nonprofit video for MMC stands out due to its clear explanation of purpose, alignment with a more significant cause, use of inclusive language, acknowledgment of versatility, clarity in messaging, and potential for viewer engagement.
It effectively communicates the goal of the organization and its role in achieving inclusiveness for individuals with disabilities while highlighting the versatile nature of nonprofit videos.
7. The Girl Effect
What Makes It Stand Out: The short video from The Girl Effect immediately captures attention by presenting a compelling narrative.
It starts with a sense of urgency, encouraging viewers to pay attention and engage with the message. The video storytelling technique underscores the significance of their mission [2].
It effectively communicates the organization’s mission to leverage the unique potential of adolescent girls for a better future, making it a potent advocacy tool.
8. Project Renewal’s Gala Video
What Makes It Stand Out: The nonprofit video from Project Renewal stands out due to its personal and heartfelt storytelling. It focuses on James, a person with a challenging past, and his journey from homelessness to stability.
This narrative approach allows viewers to have an emotional connection with the subject matter, especially a personal connection with potential donors, and helps raise money (over $80,000 on CauseVox).
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9. Mama Hope
What Makes It Stand Out: This nonprofit video from Mama Hope effectively stands out by using humor as a great tool to gather meaningful support.
Instead of relying on sadness or shock value, the campaign video takes a lighthearted and playful approach to address serious issues.
Unlike other explainer videos, it promotes educational empowerment as a fundamental solution.
10. Dressember’s: Wear A Dress In December Campaign
What Makes It Stand Out:
Unlike other nonprofit videos, the campaign highlights how Blythe Hill initiated a quirky style challenge in 2009 and later transformed it into a global campaign. This personal touch humanizes the organization and makes it relatable to the donors.
The video helped raise money (around $3 million), demonstrating the organization’s ability to mobilize a diverse and widespread community.
Also, the video leaves a positive impact and a solid call to action by highlighting the organization’s achievements and ongoing contributions to the cause.
How To Create A Successful Fundraising Video
- Set Clear Goals: Define fundraising targets and objectives.
- Craft a Compelling Story: Develop an emotional narrative.
- Plan Video Structure: Outline the video’s intro, content, conclusion, and straightforward call to action.
- Write a Script: Leverage video storytelling by writing a concise and engaging script.
- Gather Visuals: Collect relevant images and videos.
- Choose Tone and Style: Decide the video’s tone and style.
- Select Music and Sound: Enhance audio or add music to increase engagement.
- Production and Editing: Shoot, compile, and edit footage.
- Launch and Promote: Release and market the video.
- Monitor and Adjust: Track performance and adapt as needed.
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Types of Nonprofit Videos
Mission & Overview Videos
Nonprofit videos introduce the nonprofit organization, explaining its mission, history, and the problems it aims to address. They provide an overall understanding of the organization’s work.
Fundraising Videos
The best nonprofit videos are created to drive donations (raising money) and support from the target audience. They often include personal stories, impact firsthand testimonials, and a call to action encouraging viewers to contribute.
Impact & Success Stories
The video strategy highlights success stories and is one of the best fundraising tools or marketing strategies for a specific campaign, as it can help inspire and build credibility in an organization.
Educational Videos
“The key is finding the balance between technical accuracy and emotional appeal. Both are essential for educational videos to resonate with the audience and drive the intended outcomes.”
Nonprofits use educational videos to raise awareness about specific issues, providing in-depth information, statistics, and facts to inform and engage donors.
Event Promotion Videos
These videos promote nonprofit events, such as fundraisers, galas, conferences, or community outreach programs.
Volunteer Recruitment Videos
Designed to attract volunteers, these videos explain volunteer opportunities behind the scenes, their importance, and the impact volunteers can make.
Advocacy & Awareness Videos
Organizations create fundraising videos to advocate for specific causes or to raise awareness about social, environmental, and political issues, or any mission statement. They often aim to mobilize donors to inspire and take action.
Testimonial Videos
A testimonial video features beneficiaries, volunteers, or potential donors sharing their experiences and perspectives on the nonprofit’s work.
Explainer Videos
“An exceptional explainer video isn’t just a one-time asset—it’s the foundation of a broader strategy. By aligning the narrative with your brand’s goals, we ensure the content can be repurposed across multiple channels, amplifying its reach and ROI. This is how we help our clients maximize the value of every production.” — Evan Pirone, CoFounder and Creative Director, Vidico.
These video examples simplify complex topics or processes related to the nonprofit’s work, making them more accessible, incredibly powerful, and understandable to a broad audience.
Campaign Videos
Nonprofits create fundraising campaign-specific videos to promote short-term initiatives, such as year-end giving campaigns, special projects, or awareness months.
Why Work With Vidico
Expertise in Video Production & Fundraising Video Script
Vidico specializes in video production, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to your project. We understand the nuances of creating engaging and compelling videos that resonate with your audience.
Proven Track Record
Vidico has a proven track record of success in video marketing. We have worked with various clients and charity organizations and have a portfolio of successful video projects showcasing our capabilities.
Efficiency and Timeliness
Vidico is committed to delivering your video content on time and within budget. We prioritize efficiency to meet your deadlines without compromising quality.
Clear Pricing
Vidico is committed to price transparency, ensuring you know exactly what you’re paying for. You can budget confidently for your video project without hidden fees or surprises.
View Vidico’s case studies and see how we’ve helped brands like TikTok and Airtable scale their content.
FAQs
What is the best length for a fundraising video?
The ideal length for a fundraising video varies depending on the content and audience, but shorter videos of around 2 to 4 minutes perform well. This duration allows any organization to convey its message effectively without losing viewers’ attention.
How much does a fundraising video cost?
The cost of a fundraising video can vary widely based on complexity, production quality, and the video production company or professionals you choose to work with.
In Conclusion
The effectiveness of a fundraising video lies in its ability to tell a meaningful story, stir emotions, and communicate the organization’s mission and impact.
Whether through short, impactful videos or longer, documentary-style narratives, these videos play a vital role in raising awareness, engaging donors, and driving positive change.
Take the next step in creating your impactful fundraising video. Schedule a 15-minute consultation to explore how systematic video approaches can accelerate your fundraising success.
References:
- https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/08/12/2497652/0/en/Video-Production-Company-Vidico-Launch-Rebrand-To-Offer-Their-Customers-Clarity-Precision-And-An-Even-Higher-Level-Of-Communication.html
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2023/06/30/how-the-power-of-storytelling-and-authenticity-is-disrupting-traditional-marketing-tactics/
- https://advertising.amazon.com/library/guides/video-marketing
- https://www.uschamber.com/co/grow/marketing/are-short-form-or-long-form-videos-better-for-engagement
