How To Get The Most Out Of Your Fundraising Video

Most nonprofits have an annual gala where they feature a nonprofit fundraising video. In this edition of "After The Shoot" Jeff offers up 5 tips to make sure you get the most out of that video.

Video Transcript

We're at the Peace Garden in Minneapolis. It's one of the first warm days of spring and it's absolutely gorgeous. A client recently invited me to a fundraising event and after attending I had some tips that I wanted to share that will help you get the most out of your fundraising video.

1. Create a video teaser and send out to attendees before your event.

Go ahead and have your editor or your video company come up with a short teaser for your video and send it to the list of people that are going to attend the event. It will create excitement and generate interest. You already have the footage and the video. Why not use it to help promote the event?

2. Pay attention to the venue and how it is set up for video viewing.

If you're going to show a video in front of a large group, make sure you have a really big screen. Make sure the sound can be heard through the whole room. And make sure that you really dim the lights so that when people are sitting in their seat the video is the only thing they're going to be focused on.

3. Have your hosts and speakers reference the video.

Fundraising events can be really busy. There is a lot of stuff going on. Maybe there’s a silent auction, a live auction, and local talent or alumni that come and speak. If you’re not careful, the video can get lost in the shuffle. Whether we like it or not, at those events, for whatever reason, when a video comes on, it’s when people stop talking and pay the most attention. So make sure that any people that are engaging with the crowd know what the video is about and actively reference it so there is an excitement and expectation when it's shown.

4. Send a link to the video after the event and encourage people to share it.

If you've done a good job and produced a great video that has gotten a good crowd response, make sure that you send out that video to all the people that were at the event, so (1) they can watch it again, and (2) they can share it within their network.

5. Provide a way for people to donate after the event.

When you send out the video after the event, make sure there is a clickable link that takes people to a page where they can donate directly to your organization. I'm telling you, if you do it, you'll be happily surprised at the amount of money that comes in the door after the event.

I hope these tips for properly setting up a fundraising video at an event were useful. If you have any questions or any comments, feel free to leave them bellow. Thanks a lot.

Tips
Create a video teaser and send out to attendees before your event.
Pay attention to the venue and how it is set up for video viewing.
Have your hosts and speakers reference the video.
Send a link to the video after the event and encourage people to share it.
Provide a way for people to donate after the event.