Here are a few of the reasons I’ve heard from nonprofits who do not use video for fundraising:

• "Our peers have a production budget; we do not."
• "I don't know how to get started."
• "Who has the time?"
• "I don't have access to impact stories."

Let’s begin with reason #1 above: Assume you have a $0 budget. No worries. Simply use your smartphone or record a video chat on your computer.

Research shows home-grown communication is trusted and often seen as authentic. While a production budget would be grand, using what you have can be just as effective.

Create a brief (30-second) message about impact from someone who can make an emotional appeal, then push record. There are many free apps for basic video editing; the premium services are for when you have a budget.

I'll share resources on how to get started next.
{Second post in a series}
Photo credit: Kelly Burkhardt