4 Inexpensive Examples of Saying Thank You With Video

If a picture says 1,000 words, video says a million.

And with today’s video technology and online technology, video is a lot easier to produce and more affordable than it used to be even just five years ago.

But why say thanks?

First of all, it’s the right thing to do. You wouldn’t be where you are at right now without your supporters. Recognizing them is not only important for your organization’s culture, but it’s also important for your donor relationships.

In fact, studies have shown that saying thanks after someone donates increases their likelihood that they’ll donate again.

But why video?

Yes you can certainly thank your donors effectively with any medium, but video allows you to express sincerity and emotion–the stuff of body language–much better then text or a single image.

Below are four examples of nonprofits who have used videos to thank their donors without breaking the bank:

COTS:

The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) provides emergency shelter for homeless people in Vermont. Their video is fun, simple and sincere.

The National Wildlife Federation

I love how The National Wildlife Federation thanks their donors with this simple, yet sincere video. And judging by the production values, they produced this year-end thank you video for very little money–but that doesn’t mean it’s not awesome!

It’s 60 seconds long, and is comprised of mainly text photos and music. The combination of all these elements, and the sincere and direct message of thanks, make this an effective video.

Charity: Water

One of the most powerful ways to sincerely say thank you is with sheer effort.

Last year charity: water launched an entire YouTube channel celebrating their fifth anniversary.

But the videos weren’t about them at all. They were about all the people who helped them over the previous 5 years. They thanked bloggers, partners, and even specific supporters like Jodi, Jimmy and Will.

Epic Change

And of course you’d not get a complete sense of the power of thank you videos without including this video from Epic Change, who has built their organization on a foundation of gratitude.

What else?