Giving Compass' Take:

• Kevin Jaskowiak provides a model for nonprofits looking to use video to connect with their audience and spread their message. 

• Which nonprofits have done a good job of communicating to the public through video? What causes could benefit from better marketing? 

• Learn about using social media for positive change. 

We recently completed a project for The Southern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF) (mountainsfoundation.org). The project demonstrates how non-profits can work in conjunction with The National Forest Service. SCMF has multiple objectives including fundraising and education.

The key to a strong video strategy is to develop a thorough video roadmap. For the SCMF project we developed a 3 step roadmap; Engage, Contributeand Explore.

Explore: In this section, we show the incredible efforts SCMF performs. Annually, SCMF coordinates more than 750 individual volunteer and 2,000 episodic volunteers for projects and programs benefiting National Forest Lands. Annually volunteer programs contribute over 70,000 volunteer service hours valued at over $2.1M in services towards public lands.

Contribute: Showing contribution outside of donations is always challenging, however, we wanted to focus on a unique event to spotlight the power of the community contributing to the SCMF cause. The Music in the Mountains concert series is one of the most successful programs of inviting people to contribute to the work of the SCMF and the National Forest Service. For thirteen years, the SCFM has offered a fantastic lineup of great music and curated environments that invite people into the mountains to enjoy community and music while also contributing to the ongoing work.

Explore: The final step in the video roadmap was to spark interest in individuals that are seeking opportunities to invest in the outdoors. This section asked the simple question “If you enjoy public outreach, can volunteer?” We wanted to answer the question with whatever your interest in your public lands. Ultimately, we need to engage you and get you invested in SCMF. A video is a powerful way to reach people who have not engage with SCMF but are looking for opportunities to participate, without a blatant sales pitch.

Read the full article about creating a compelling video by Kevin Jaskowiak at Medium.