When was the last time you watched something that really moved you? Brought you to tears? Evoked the warm-and-fuzzies? Took you back to a life changing experience? Made you feel differently about an issue, an organization, a person or group of people? Last week’s posting discussed a vivid example of video as a development tool.
In this day, an age of abundant technology, social media and communication, the video is the best tool out there … to engage an audience; to educate your (potential) constituents and the media; to demonstrate the success of your programs; to show your potential donors how they can make a difference; and, to show your current donors the impact that their gifts have made and will continue to make.
Whether your audience is the hundreds/thousands of attendees at a special event or a conference, a single individual viewing your video on a large screen, on your website or from a DVD, or any size group in-between, they will SEE how they can have, and have had, a significant impact on the people your organization serves.
And, since honorees are a major draw for an event, and a stimulus to giving, the use of a video to highlight their lives and their service to the community, can show everyone why they are so deserving of their award, and how they have made a direct impact on the people you serve.
The time commitment required of an organization’s staff and board members is minimal. You would work with a “Producer” who, based on discussions with you, will put together a budget, timeline and an outline of what the content of the video could include – whether it will tell the story of your organization’s service to the community, provide a portrait of one-or-more individuals, say “thank you” to your donors and/or show potential donors how they can be recognized.
Your Producer can put together some storyboards and sample sound bytes, and will work with you to create interview questions. They will work with you to identify the individuals (board members, staff, constituents, honorees and their friends, family and colleagues, etc.) who should be interviewed.
The typical video created for your event or conference should run (a maximum of) two minutes, and the total “footage” (including what was gathered-but-not-used in the final version) can be used to make other videos for other purposes – a 30 or 60 second spot (public service announcement) about a particular program that you want to highlight; a series of videos that answer FAQ’s about who you are and what you do; or, a 10 minute (warm-and-fuzzy) piece that a donor will want to watch over and over again. You are limited only by your imagination and the creativity and experience of your Producer.
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Want to learn more about how a video can help your nonprofit?
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or expanding your fundraising program?
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Hank Lewis with Development Consultant Associates has over thirty years as a fundraising consultant and is a specialist in Board and Leadership Development, Capital Campaign, Bequest Program and Major Gifts.