Effective Nonprofit Videos Tell Compelling Stories
Posted by Catie Foertsch on Mon, Sep 28, 2009 @ 08:17 AM
Nonprofits know they should be making videos and using the Internet to get them in front of people who care about their causes. But sometimes nonprofits aren't sure what kind of videos to make. Here's an example of the kind of video your nonprofit MUST make if you want to convince people to become your donors and advocates:
As you watched this video, I'm guessing you weren't thinking about the mission of Veterans Inc.* or about its funding mechanisms, or about its staff and board. You were probably not thinking at all. Instead, you were listening to this veteran's story, and you were feeling. And when it was over, you probably thought something like, 'Wow. This organization does important work.' And, 'Our veterans deserve help.' And maybe even, 'I'm sending this link to a veteran I know' or 'I'm going to donate twenty-five bucks to help vets like this one.'
We all know that helping homeless veterans is a good thing to do. But if we were motivated to act by that knowledge, then just about everyone would be donating to groups like Veterans Inc. and we'd have no homeless vets. The fact is that people don't make decisions to get involved and volunteer and spread your story and donate because it makes sense. They make those decisions because of how they feel. So - it's your job to create the feelings that will help people who care about what you're doing to get involved.
How do you do that? By telling your stories. Not by talking about your organization and what you do. By showing us the effects of your work and telling us stories about the lives you've changed, the animals you've helped, or the ecosystems you're saved. By telling us stories about the impact of your work.
This is what makes people want to be part of what you're doing.
*The Veterans Inc. website is currently under construction. You can find out more about them, contact them or donate through the Massachusetts Veterans website.