Video Production
Turn hearts into open wallets with stories that connect and activate donors.
Your mission deserves more than polite applause—it deserves passionate action. Our videos don’t just tell your story, they ignite donor hearts and unlock generosity at the exact moment you need it most.
This isn’t just video production. This is a fundraising transformation.
Every story is crafted to maximize your fundraising potential. We focus on why your work matters, featuring voices that demonstrate the range and depth of your impact. But here’s the game-changer: while your video captivates audiences on event night, it becomes your secret weapon for months and years of ongoing fundraising success.
Your Story. Amplified. Monetized.
We Provide:
Video that ignites donor motivation and unlocks generosity at the perfect moment. From strategic story development to broadcast-ready deliverables, we create content that moves audiences to give generously while serving as a fundraising tool for years to come.
Perfect For:
Organizations ready to invest in compelling storytelling that drives both event-night giving and ongoing donor engagement.
What You Get From Us:
1: Strategic Story Development
- Past Work Analysis – We’ll review your existing video assets to identify what works and what doesn’t
- Revenue-Focused Goal Setting – Strategic conversations to align your video with specific fundraising objectives
- Compelling Narrative Blueprint – Written video concept with detailed storyboard that builds to the perfect giving moment
2: Professional Production Excellence
- Expert Story Curation – We help identify the perfect storytellers and coach them to deliver maximum emotional impact
- Premium On-Site Production – Up to 6 hours of professional filming and interviewing that captures authenticity and power
- Collaborative Refinement – Review and feedback process ensures the final product exceeds your vision
3: Broadcast-Ready Deliverable
- Finished Digital Files – Professionally edited video with licensed music and closed captioning
- Multi-Platform Ready – Perfect for your event, website, social media, and ongoing campaigns
The Bottom Line
Good storytelling needs expert support, and we walk with you every step of the way. From identifying your perfect storytellers to coaching them for maximum impact, from filming to final edit, we guarantee a result that moves your audience to connect more deeply with your work and give generously to make more of it possible. Event stage program scripting requires additional contracting.
Swaim Strategies helped us visualize the stories of the people we work with every day. Once we landed on our event's central theme, Swaim Strategies helped us craft a deliberately meaningful message that displayed our impact and not only positively impacted our fundraising at the event but deepened our relationship with community partners.
When we were looking for video storytelling support for our appeal, Swaim Strategies was there to help us think through which stories to tell and why. They worked closely with us during pre-production, filming and editing to make sure we captured the best, most impactful content. Now, instead of hoping for nice stories to come along, we actively seek stories focused on the deep connections made at CAT. This change has been transformative to our fundraising, our audience engagement and our relationships with the people whose stories we’ve shared.
Organizational Videos by Swaim Strategies
Special Appeal Videos by Swaim Strategies
Mission-Driven Video Production - Frequently Asked Questions
What makes your fundraising videos different from other videos?
Our approach transforms storytelling into strategic donor activation. While traditional event videos document your organization’s work, we craft narratives specifically designed to inspire immediate and sustained giving. Every element—from the voices we feature to the emotional arc we create—is purposefully engineered to connect donor hearts with your mission at the precise moment they’re ready to give. Our videos don’t just capture attention during your event; they become powerful fundraising assets that continue generating support through your website, social media, and donor outreach for years to come.
Who should we feature in our fundraising video, and how do you help them prepare?
We help you identify storytellers who can authentically speak to different aspects of your mission—beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed, volunteers who’ve witnessed change firsthand, staff members who can articulate the vision, and donors who can inspire their peers. Once selected, we provide expert coaching to help each person share their story with confidence and emotional resonance. Our professional interview process creates a comfortable environment where authentic moments naturally emerge, ensuring genuine connections with your audience.
What's included in your video production process from start to finish?
Your journey begins with strategic story development, where we analyze your existing materials and conduct revenue-focused goal setting sessions to align your video with specific fundraising objectives. We then create a detailed narrative blueprint and video treatment that maps out your video’s emotional journey. Professional production includes up to 6 hours of on-site filming with broadcast-quality equipment, expert interviewing, and direction of your storytellers. Throughout the collaborative refinement phase, you’ll have opportunities to review and provide feedback, ensuring the final product exceeds your vision. You’ll receive professionally edited, multi-platform ready files complete with licensed music and closed captioning—everything needed to deploy your video across events, websites, and social campaigns.
How long does the entire process take, and when should we start planning?
The complete production process typically spans 6-8 weeks from initial consultation to final delivery. We recommend beginning at least three months before your fundraising event to allow ample time for strategic planning, storyteller identification, scheduling flexibility, and multiple rounds of refinement. This timeline ensures your video receives the thoughtful attention it deserves while accommodating the busy schedules of your team and featured storytellers.Â
Can we use the video beyond our fundraising event?
Absolutely—multi-platform versatility is built into every video we create. Your finished product comes formatted for seamless deployment across all channels: your main event presentation, website homepage, email campaigns, social media platforms, and donor meetings. The broadcast-ready files include everything needed for maximum accessibility and engagement, including closed captioning and multiple format versions. Many organizations find their video becomes their most valuable fundraising asset, generating donations through online campaigns, grant applications, and individual donor cultivation long after the event concludes. We specifically design narratives that remain relevant and compelling for years of continued use.