Nonprofit Oxfam America Uses Video to Raise Funds for Haiti
Posted by Catie Foertsch on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 07:20 AM
Nonprofits all over the world are reacting to the terrible earthquake in Haiti by ramping up their fundraising, because immediate aid is needed. Oxfam America made this short video to connect with potential donors and convince them to donate. Notice that YouTube allows nonprofits to post text of a website during the video, and a hot link after the video is done playing. If you click the link after this video plays, you'll go directly to a donation page on the Oxfam America website.
The video is very short - just over one minute. And it's very simple. No long explanation, no interviews with different people. No graphics. No B-roll. Just one man - Mike Delaney, Director of Humanitarian Response - standing in front of a map, explaining why help is needed and what Oxfam America will do with your donation. The power of this video is in Delaney's obvious emotion. He is sharing what we are all feeling, which is the horror and the recognition that help is desperately needed.
Kudos to Oxfam America for a very effective video. And - kudos for what will turn out to be a very effective fundraising campaign, because Oxfam is using social media to spread its message. Of course you can use the 'Share' button on YouTube to post this video on Facebook and Twitter. But beyond that, if you make a donation, you get an email that gives a link to the donation page and asks you to send it to your friends. There's another link to post a message on Facebook. And, there are instructions for how to raise money for Haiti: through a personal fundraising page on the Oxfam America website, on Facebook, or through a text message to your friends.
If you're moved to make a donation, use this link. And when you're thinking about video for your nonprofit, remember that sometimes you can communicate your message very effectively in a short, simple video.