Narrative Storytelling: As a Nonprofit?

We have been creating videos that tell the stories of nonprofits for many years. Our classic approach typically involves a 3-4 minute video that captures the organization’s vision and mission, tugging at heartstrings and featuring an emotional testimonial designed to inspire viewers to get involved and give. It’s our bread and butter.

However, we’re always excited when a nonprofit approaches us with a desire to tell their story in a new and compelling way. That was the case this year with FOCUS North America. FOCUS and Blindeye have been collaborating on storytelling for approximately 15 years. We share a long-standing relationship. Each year, we work together to try something different—to tell a familiar story in a fresh way, capture attention, and distinguish the message from the rest.

This year was no exception. During the summer, FOCUS runs its annual back-to-school backpack drive, inviting churches and communities to gather backpacks and school supplies to ensure every child starts the school year on a fair note. We’ve been creating videos for this campaign for the past 5 or 6 years, usually adopting a similar style.

This year, however, they approached us with a different idea: an outline for a narrative piece. It was an exciting proposition—let’s write a script and tell the story of how important backpacks can be. Scriptwriting and narrative storytelling are right in our wheelhouse; in fact, that’s what initially drew us to filmmaking.

As is often the case in the nonprofit sector, they were working with a limited budget. So, we assembled a small crew, enlisted some volunteer actors, and got to work. The result is a finished product that is on track to raise $50,000 for FOCUS North America. That’s a significant achievement—the campaign has never raised more than $10,000 in the past.

Would you like to tell your nonprofit’s story through a compelling narrative piece?