Non-profit organizations are help different people in different areas of the world in many different ways. But as different as each non-profit organization is, there is one common thread among the best non-profit videos: powerful storytelling.
Nothing impacts an audience like storytelling. There are thousands, probably millions, of articles about the power of storytelling for non-profits, businesses, sales and marketing, and honestly, personal relationships. And it’s all backed by years of results and even by science.
Storytelling opportunities fill each non-profit organization in Seattle and beyond. There is a story behind the organization’s mission. There is a story behind every employee and volunteer. And the most impactful stories come from those helped by the non-profit organization. And in some cases, like the non-profit video we created with The Here and Now Project, the story is all rolled into one.
The Here and Now Project
For me, as a video storyteller, I can’t help but get invested in the projects I work on. With a background as a television news reporter and sportscaster, I can’t help but dive deep into every business or non-profit organization I work with. To me, relationships are just as important as the videos I create. It’s then my job to help an audience feel the same way that I do, and that’s all done through impactful storytelling.
The Here and Now Project is a perfect example of this. The non-profit organization’s mission is to connect and empower the paralysis community in the Pacific Northwest. Based in Sumner, they do this through monthly social groups, community activities, and large annual gatherings. The group encourages and inspires each other to live in the here and now.
The Here and Now Project began with one person’s vision, which quickly grew as it was shared with others, creating an immeasurable impact. Originally made for a fundraising event, this video now also reaches people on social media and the ‘About Us’ page of the organization’s website. It continues to help the group attract valuable ‘time, talent, and treasure.’
Bayview Manor Foundation
The best non-profit videos often feature those who the organization has helped. Take our video with the Bayview Manor Foundation, for example. Bayview is a life plan community for people 62 and older in Seattle. The non-profit has its own foundation called the Bayview Manor Foundation. Its mission is to help subsidize residents who are without financial resources, enrich the retirement years of its residents, and fund programs and services at Bayview.
Bayview hired our Seattle video production company to create a “mission moment” for their annual fundraiser. We interviewed a woman who lives in Bayview with her 102-year-old husband. Knowing that their time together is short, and her finances might be as well, she finds security in knowing that she has the support of the Bayview Manor Foundation.
As you’ll hear repeated in this post, Bayview got a lot of traction from this video. They initially used it during their fundraiser, and the video still exists on the non-profit’s website, enticing people to donate and get involved. That is a big return on investment.
Rainier Valley Food Bank
It’s a time of transition for Rainier Valley Food Bank. They recently moved to a new building in South Seattle, and not long after moving, they started renovations on that same facility. And they refused to stop serving the community during the transition and construction. That means they’re running their operation out of the parking lot, using pop-ups to provide food and connect the community to services, and employees are working out of tiny home offices. Needless to say, it’s very different than normal. And it’s only part of their story.
The immediate circumstances aren’t the only thing that makes Rainier Valley Food Bank different. Most simply, they operate out of a place of joy and abundance. There is enough food; it just needs to get into the hands of those who need it. On top of that, they go beyond minimum wage to pay everyone on their staff a living wage. These ideas rarely come up in discussions about hunger or non-profits. This all forms part of their story and explains why we focused on it in the video we created with them.
We partnered with Rainier Valley Food Bank to create this video for their annual Community Harvest Gala. The event was a huge success, easily surpassing the organization’s fundraising goal and setting a new record. Rainier Valley Food Bank continues to share our video with stakeholders to draw more funds and interest to the organization. Plus, they featured the video in their blog.
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter
Sometimes, the best non-profit videos tell a different story. In the case of ROOTS Young Adult Shelter, the story we told helped people understand their needs. In this case, it’s money to help complete renovations on their new building, renovations that will allow the organization to expand services to 24 hours a day.
ROOTS Young Adult Shelter is the largest emergency shelter for young people in Washington. But the Seattle-based non-profit was almost out of a home itself. After operating for 20 years in a church basement, they needed a new facility due to displacement. That’s when they found an old fraternity house on Greek Row at the University of Washington.
The building needed some upgrades to simply move in, but now ROOTS Young Adult Shelter wants to renovate the rest of the building and expand services to 24 hours a day. To help share their vision, they turned to our Seattle video production company.
Yes, the story is about ROOTS Young Adult Shelter and its mission. But the story also shares their vision for the future. The video was first shown at the organization’s annual Rise Up event, and it helped shatter the non-profit’s fundraising goal. The organization then shared the video on social media and directly with an audience of stakeholders. Not to sound like a broken record, but that’s because the best non-profit videos include impactful storytelling.
Best Non-Profit Videos For Your Organization
I hope this post has inspired you to think about the powerful stories within your non-profit. It’s time to share them with your audience and community. If you decide to create these stories on your own, be sure to harness the power of storytelling for the best video impact. And if you’d like a hand from professionals, we’re here to help.
Our Seattle video production company has years of storytelling experience. We find the heart of your story and make your audience feel something. Once the audience feels something, that’s when they act. And there’s nothing more rewarding than an audience acting through the authentic, powerful, impactful stories of your non-profit.
Contact us to find out how we can work together to make the best non-profit videos for your organization. We’d love to hear from you. You can find more examples of our work on YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, and Facebook.