How to Make Fundraising Videos

shepherds hill shoot

Shooting in all conditions is just part of what we do. This still is from a fundraising video we made for Shepherd’s Hill at the Crossroads.

There comes a time when non-profits need to raise money. Our experience in fundraising (fundraising) has primarily been with our association with GSB Fundraising. GSB has been helping non-profits for more than 30 years do amazing things. We are an associate partner with this reputable organization, and one of the things we provide is collateral material for many of their campaigns. Our partnership ultimately leads us to produce fundraising videos for them and other clients.

McQuillen Creative in Aberdeen, South Dakota, has become an expert at video production, creating videos that are moving, emotional, fun, and engaging. You need to engage a constituent group to raise money. Hopefully, you know who that group is. Part of every fund drive is a “case” or a reason why you’re raising money. The point of hiring a fundraising consultant like GSB is to hone in on that specific case so efforts can stay focused. Using video is an excellent way to state your case to a diverse audience.

We approach fundraising videos very systematically. There is a right way to do them, and a wrong way. The wrong way is dull, boring, long-winded, overshooting, and lack of planning. The right way is the opposite of all those other things. We know what to shoot, we know who to include, and we know how to build your case. You can try to use local video production companies for these types of videos, but they might overdo it, and you might pay too much. Imagine compensating a crew to capture 10 hours of footage for an eight-minute finished project. Oops.

We’ve streamlined the process. But videos aren’t cheap, mainly because they take time and expertise. We physically have to be on the ground, filming interviews and scenes. But, chances are our prices are very competitive, and we are offering very affordable video production.

If there’s one bit of advice I can give anyone trying to make a video like this without professional support, it’s this: Make sure your audio is clear. When people sit down to watch a video, any video, they expect Hollywood-quality. And that’s just the reality of all the top quality things we see on TV and movies. If your video doesn’t look right, and if the sound is unclear, you create a drastic distraction that disconnects your viewer from your case. And you’ve lost a donor.

Keep us in mind for advice on fundraising video production. Let us give you a quote. But if you have no budget, give us a shout. We might be able to talk you through some vital tips that could make or break your fundraising efforts. — Troy McQuillen