Nonprofit Video Production

We help you tell the story of the work your nonprofit does. Supporters and donors see the people, the place and the cause for themselves, and that is what moves people to give.

From the creators of

Nonprofit stories we've told

Short documentaries about a person, a place, or a cause.

Films we make for nonprofits

Nonprofit films are made to either raise awareness or raise donations. Here are three that could help your cause.

The awareness film

This film is for a cause that most people have not heard of. It tells the story of the problem and the people affected by it, and it is made to be shared rather than to ask for money. Its job is to make people care first, so that the appeal works later.

The campaign film

This film is for raising donations. It runs two to four minutes and sits on the donation page, in the year-end appeal or at the front of a crowdfunding campaign. It tells one real story, in the words of the person who lived it, and ends with a clear request for support.

The gala film

This film is for the people who already give to your cause. It is longer than a campaign film and is shown at a gala, a donor dinner or an annual event. It shows supporters what their giving has made possible.

Everything you get with the film

You commission one film and receive everything you need to put it to work, in every format your channels need.

Other films we make

If you don’t need a nonprofit film, these are some other ones we can help make.

Documentary Production

For when the story needs an hour.

Brand Story Films

For when the product has people worth meeting.

Company Story Films

For when the founding story should be on record.

Recruitment Videos

For when candidates should see the work before they apply.

Mini-Docs

For when the story is one person, one idea, ten minutes.

How a film gets made

Our nonprofit video production runs in four steps, from the first conversation to the finished film.

01

Listen

You tell us about the cause, the story you think is there and the budget you have. We tell you honestly what it can get you, and you get a fixed quote before anything starts.

02

Story

We learn the work, talk to the people it is for and the people doing it, and find the story worth telling. We agree how sensitive subjects will be handled, and you approve the plan before the cameras roll.

03

Filming

We film in the field, where the work actually happens, with a small crew that knows how to be respectful in difficult places. The interviews are real conversations, not scripted answers, and nothing is staged.

04

Edit & delivery

We create the film from the interviews, you see two cuts, give notes, and the finished version is delivered in every format you need.

The crew

Josiah Mcgarvie, Ida Bechtle and Guillermo Lopez, the team behind Cult.Repo. They have spent years filming the people who built the modern web. Berlin Film House is the same crew, making documentaries for companies.

Josiah Mcgarvie
Josiah Mcgarvie
Ida Bechtle
Ida Bechtle
Guillermo Lopez
Guillermo Lopez

Frequently asked questions

What does nonprofit video production cost?

Pricing depends on filming days and locations. Tell us your budget in the first call and we will tell you honestly what it can get you. Then you get a fixed quote, so there are no surprises.

What makes a good fundraising video?

One real story, told by the person who lived it. A single beneficiary or field worker on camera moves people more than statistics and montages. Show the work, let the people speak, and ask clearly for support at the end.

How long should a nonprofit video be?

Two to four minutes for a campaign film. An awareness film is usually shorter, since it has to be shared. A gala film can run longer, because the audience is already in the room.

Do you film in the field?

Yes. We film in real environments with a small, respectful crew, and we handle sensitive subjects and vulnerable people with the care they deserve.

How will we use the film?

Everywhere: donation pages, campaigns, grant applications, galas, annual reports and social media. You receive the finished film in every format you need, with full usage rights.

What is the difference between a documentary and a charity appeal?

An appeal is scripted, and it asks. A documentary is researched, and it shows what happened. People give to what they have seen, which is why a film made like a documentary raises more than one made like an ad.

Got a story worth filming?

Tell us what it is and who it is for. We read every message and reply ourselves.