Using Video to Transform Your Event
Videos are a powerful way to showcase your organization’s impact in just a few minutes. With video, you’re able to bring your guests into your day-to-day work by literally showing them what you do. Also, with video editing you can add elements like music to help evoke emotion or cut down speaker interviews to keep your messaging succinct and on point. Videos can also be an effective tool to help focus your audience’s attention and reduce the length of your program.
Do you use videos during your fundraising events? If you don’t, you should seriously consider it.
Two of the most common videos used during fundraising events are organizational videos and the videos we often refer to as the “special appeal” (the video played right before your direct ask for support). Both types of video can be used in tandem with speakers to engage your guests and share the impactful stories of your work.
ORGANIZATIONAL VIDEOS
Telling the story of what your organization does and why can be difficult, especially when it involves bringing in different voices. Thankfully, an organizational video has the room to include different speakers in order to tell the story of your work in a concise and captivating way.
Strong organizational videos:
- Clearly demonstrate the WHY of your mission
- Are approximately 3-4 minutes long
- Have no more than 4 speaker voices
- Have compelling b-roll that showcases your work in action
Examples:
POIC + RAHS
2019 RAHS Annual Gala – Get to Know Our Organization
Produced by Swaim Strategies and Shields Films
Latino Network
2018 Noche Bella – Nuestras Raíces: The History of Latino Network
Produced by Swaim Strategies and The AV Department
Camp Fire Columbia
2019 Spark: Gathering Around Camp Fire
Produced by Swaim Strategies and The AV Department
SPECIAL APPEAL VIDEOS
The special appeal—or fund-a-need, direst ask, or paddle raise—is the largest fundraising opportunity at your event. This is the moment when you ask your guests to give directly to your work. Using video to craft your special appeal allows you to focus on a single story of impact and showcases your organization as the catalyst for change. Studies show that people create deeper emotional connections to stories about a single individual’s journey, driving them to give more because they can feel the impact of their giving. In short, people give to people.
Effective special appeal videos:
- Capture ONE person or family’s story
- Show the impact your organization had by showcasing your organization as a change-agent
- Focus on the emotional impact of the person or family—not the program or service details
- Are approximately 3-4 minutes long
Examples:
Our House
2019 Gala – Marion’s Story
Produced by Swaim Strategies and Beyond Measure Media
Center for Women’s Leadership
2019 SHINE – Angelette’s Story
Produced by Swaim Strategies and The AV Department
Raphael House of Portland
2018 Gala – Elizabeth’s Story
Produced by Swaim Strategies and The AV Department
Do you need help producing a video for your event? Let us help you! We’ll help you identify the stories to share, create your video plan and help execute the filming process—leaving you with more time on your hands and a video that can be shared well beyond the event.
Reach out at hello@swaimstrategies.com or contact us here.
