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Videos are one of the most powerful marketing tools out there. From uplifting fundraising videos to 360 degree adventures, nonprofits can pack a powerful punch in a short amount of time.

Here are five tips, inspired by our nonprofit partners, that prove you don’t need a to spend loads of money to create a powerful fundraising video:

1. Have a strong opening.

 
With people’s decreasing attention span, it’s important to start off your video strong. Within the first three seconds of Middle East Children’s Alliance’s video, you know who they are, what they do, and where they are working.

2. Use emotionally-compelling music.

 
Fit the tone of your background music with the theme of your video. Fundacion Madre Maria Luisa Casar uses upbeat background music throughout their whole video to highlight the positivity of their students and their achievements.

3. Put local voices at the center.

 
The best stories are told by the people who own them. If you can, prioritize first-hand storytelling from the community featured in your video. The Bienvenido Project’s fundraising video highlights multiple community members stories, building a personal relationship between viewer and the project.

4. Make a specific ask.

 
Too often, short videos lack a specific call to action, leaving the viewer wondering what to do next. Whether it’s a fundraising ask, an advocacy appeal, or a social media share, tell the viewer what to do next. Afrika Tikkun makes their ask clear at the end of their video, stating “Help South African youth learn to code. Donate to Afrika Tikkun.”

5. Try something different!

 
If you have the opportunity to do something out of the box, try it! Center for Amazon Community Ecology created a 360 degree immersive video to bring the viewer into their project location.