Fundraising videos that inspire change are a rare breed—crafted not just to tell a story, but to move hearts and mobilize support.
Fundraising videos that inspire change are a rare breed—crafted not just to tell a story, but to move hearts and mobilize support.
Why do some fundraising videos resonate with people and others don’t? Studies show video content leads to four times higher engagement and donation rates when built around creative storytelling.
In this article, we explore 12 unique fundraising videos in 2025, designed with emotional clarity and a compelling call to action.
Here’s a list of the best fundraising videos. The list includes videos we’ve produced for nonprofits and charities around the world.
Target Audience: Adolescent Girls, Policymakers, Donors
Budget Estimate: $5,000 – $15,000
Why It Works:
The Girl Effect explainer video is celebrated as one of the most iconic fundraising videos. It captivates visually and holds attention by spotlighting the unique power of adolescent girls to drive positive change.
The video effectively taps into the urgency of investing in girls before adolescence—the “clock is ticking”—to prevent intergenerational poverty. This creates a sense of immediacy and motivation to act.
Key Takeaway:
A masterclass in concise, compelling visual messaging. The video’s elegant simplicity and urgent tone make it a persuasive example of how creative clarity and emotional focus can drive awareness and inspire action on global issues.
Target Audience: Women, Supporters, Policymakers
Budget Estimate: $5,000–$10,000
Why It Works:
The YWCA Rose Campaign video leverages the gravity of “16 Days of Activism Against Gender‑Based Violence”—to highlight the urgency of ending violence against women and gender-diverse individuals.
By connecting emotionally resonant imagery with this globally recognized campaign, it reinforces both emotional connection and a clear call to action. On our cases studies page we highlight some great of the best nonprofit videos.
Key Takeaway:
When paired with a powerful advocacy timeline like “16 Days of Activism,” a video can magnify its impact—turning awareness into momentum, and empathy into actionable support.
Target Audience: Young adult cancer survivors, Adventure seekers, Donors
Budget Estimate: $20,000–$35,000
Why It Works:
The First Descents nonprofit video uses powerful, wordless imagery—climbing, kayaking, surfing—to immerse viewers in the transformative impact of their outdoor adventures. In just over two minutes, it conveys the healing potential of nature, human connection, and resilience without narration.
Key Takeaway:
A masterclass in showing not telling—visual storytelling creates emotional impact and clarity, making viewers feel immersed in the mission rather than told about it.
Target Audience: People with disabilities, Supporters, Policymakers
Budget Estimate: $5,000–$10,000
Why It Works:
The Neil Squire fundraising video clearly communicates the organization’s mission—empowering people with disabilities through assistive technology and support programs. It delivers a concise, emotionally grounded message that highlights how technology and training videos can break down barriers to independence, making the cause relatable and compelling.
Key Takeaway:
This animated video is a strong example of how clear messaging and inclusivity drive engagement—showing that emphasizing accessibility and real-life impact can effectively mobilize both individuals and organizations to support disability empowerment.
Find out more about our production process in this eye-opening case study.
Ever wondered what it takes to create a great fundraising video? At Creamy Animation, we’ve spent over a decade weaving narratives that resonate—creating fundraising videos, corporate and training videos for clients like Fujitsu, Logitech, NFL, and RBC.
Our team draws inspiration from animation pioneers, blending emotion, precision, and clarity to craft visual stories that engage and convert. Ready to captivate your audience with the same creative spark? Let’s bring your story to life—together.
Creamy Animation is an animation studio with 15+ years of experience producing animated videos for business, explainer videos, corporate videos, training and educational videos.
Target Audience: Global public, Donors, Policymakers
Budget Estimate: $10,000–$25,000
Why It Works:
This fundraising video dramatizes the reality of war by placing a Syrian-like scenario in a familiar London setting. In just 93 seconds, it highlights how war can disrupt any child’s life—using a vivid parallel to bring intimacy and urgency to distant suffering.
Key Takeaway:
A striking demonstration of how immersive, emotionally arresting analogies can dismantle distance and prompt viewers—and decision-makers—to empathize and act.
Target Audience: Donors, Tech-savvy philanthropists, Transparency advocates
Budget Estimate: $5,000–$10,000
Why It Works:
Charity: Water’s video exemplifies radical transparency and innovative storytelling. By tracking donors’ contributions via real-time updates, GPS mapping, and immersive visuals—including VR and holograms—viewers gain tangible insight into how their donation becomes clean water. Their video is one of the most viewed videos on Youtube, for a fundraising video with over 1.2 million views.
Key Takeaway:
When donors see exactly where—and how—their gift is used, trust deepens. Transparency doesn’t just inform; it inspires repeat giving and advocacy.
Charity: water is now a highly popular and highly respected storyteller. Their struggle is all about the provision of safe, clean, and healthy water for all. Now many may regard this as an ordinary and least interesting concept but the storyteller proves us wrong.
Their website is a treasure for video content. They make it compelling and cohesive simply by using storytelling tools way smartly. The end result is a video that uses the entire short video length to move, inform and educate the audience in a beautiful way.
Target Audience: Animal lovers, Donors, Community members
Budget Estimate: $5,000
Why It Works:
The BC SPCA video showcases its mission—rescuing animals, running shelters, and advocating for animal welfare across British Columbia.
With heartfelt scenes of rescued animals and communities rallying around them, the video reinforces compassion and the impact of support. It connects emotionally while underscoring the charity’s reach and credibility. Most of these video types don’t have to look like some of the animated corporate videos we make.
Key Takeaway:
An effective example of how portraying real stories and institutional integrity builds trust and motivates audience engagement in a local, emotionally meaningful way.
Target Audience: Parents, Healthcare advocates, Donors
Budget Estimate: $5,000
Why It Works:
This animated fundraising video uses minimal dialogue and no music, relying instead on expressive visuals and sound design to depict the emotional difficulty of parents who cannot physically hold their premature babies. The stark yet tender approach creates empathy and urgency. The video shows good motion graphics examples and 2D animation.
The Impossible Hug raises a neglected topic in public eyes. It does not use music, which for most is a risky experiment, but the organization delivers its message magnificently.
Key Takeaway:
A powerful example of “less is more”—stripped-back animation and thoughtful audio design can evoke deep emotional response and awareness with subtlety and grace.
Target Audience: Global development supporters, Educators, Donors
Budget Estimate: $5,000–$10,000
Why It Works:
Mama Hope’s fundraising video adopts a lighthearted, humorous tone rather than relying on pity-driven stories. It flips the script by uplifting locally-led development and showcasing the importance of ethical storytelling. The playful angle stands out amid more somber campaigns.
This video takes a dig at the stereotypical representation of African men. But the winning point of the video is how it combines creativity and message for deconstructing the stereotypical perception. The organization promotes educational empowerment and its fundamental purpose through a funny video.
Key Takeaway:
Using humor and optimism helps shift perspectives and can create memorable connections—especially when empowering the communities telling their own stories.
Target Audience: Children, Parents, Mental health advocates
Budget Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Why It Works:
The “Nobody Is Normal” campaign reassures young people that feeling left out or different is common—and there is always someone to talk to. The direct, comforting message validates emotions and emphasizes support, landing gently yet emphatically.
Generally, explainer videos exceeding beyond two minutes are not as popular or successful. But the Childline is an exception in this case because of its spellbinding storyline.
Key Takeaway:
Sensitive messaging delivered with warmth and simplicity can break through stigma and encourage trust and connection in vulnerable audiences.
The video makers use sound design and abstract visuals to make each viewer feel the pain and suffering of the sexually abused kids.
Target Audience: Consumers, Environmentalists, Businesses
Budget Estimate: $20,000–$35,000
Why It Works:
In their humorous and clever fundraising-style video, Rainforest Alliance motivates action by showing viewers how small, manageable choices—like purchasing certified products—can benefit the planet. It’s actionable, memorable, and upbeat.
When you need the inspiration to create a video that inspires action more than raising awareness, you must watch Rainforest Alliance. With a clever and funny touch, the video makers encourage manageable and meaningful action plans within the audience.
Key Takeaway:
Adding a bit of humor to serious messages encourages participation—especially when the actions are presented as easy and impactful.
It does a remarkable job of inducing the passion to preserve our rainforests, with just a short video. After watching this, there is hardly any individual that will not have an easy plan for supporting this cause.
Target Audience: Families, Childhood cancer supporters, Donors
Budget Estimate: $5,000
Why It Works:
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s video shares Jordan’s journey—dubbed the “cancer slayer”—using photos and narrative to balance the gravity of childhood cancer with hope. It humanizes statistics by centering a courageous individual.
A father chronicles the journey of his young daughter battling cancer. It’s impossible not to smile yet cry as you watch the uplifting account the father gives of his brave daughter and his own painful experience. This video just proves how a personal yet moving narrative can be just as compelling and engaging as the big-budgeted productions.
Key Takeaway:
Personal storytelling—anchored in real faces and voices—makes a complex issue accessible, empathetic, and motivating for supporters.
The most attention-grabbing element of this video is its simplicity. Slaying Childhood Cancer is all about the candid story of one struggler. It is a heart-warming, moving, light-hearted yet painful, and uplifting portrait altogether.
You may have a worthy cause and have no idea how to create a fundraising video. You’re in the right place. Most people don’t have a bid budget to spend on a fundraising project. We have compiled some great video ideas to get you started.
Video ideas don’t come easy, but with some brainstorming and creative thinking, you can come up with some great fundraising video ideas.
Writing a script for your video is an important step. It determines whether your video will make an impact of fall flat. If you haven’t writing a script before, here are some tips on how to write a video script. If you know you can’t do it yourself, you can use a professional script writer.
Depending on your budget for the video, you can either shoot the video from your phone, hire a camera, or work with a professional video production company.
Unless you’re recording video with your own team, friends, or family, using professional actors requires a substantial budget. You can also consider working with an animation studio as an alternative to actors.
Your donors are looking for a compelling reason to support your cause. You should be able to answer questions like:
Your message should appeal to your donors emotionally because people tend to give from their heart. Being able to ignite their compassion toward the need presented will inspire them to act.
Check out the most viewed content on YouTube, and make them part of your video content strategy. You can also find other video sites like YouTube where you can post your video content.
Making a great fundraising video requires careful planning to develop a good video strategy, working with a creating production team, and distributing your video to the right audience.
If you need help creating a video to raise funds or promote your charity, we’re ready to help.
