Introducing HelpFilm
Video is one of the most impactful ways for charities to promote their services, increase engagement, and inspire people to donate.
In fact, 57% of donors use video to make giving decisions.
This makes video an essential part of the fundraising toolkit.
However, for many small charities, promotional films are an unaffordable luxury … unless you know where to look.
Enter HelpFilm.
HelpFilm is an award-winning media production charity that produces high-end video and animation content for small charities.
Founded by former television director Alan Walsh, and staffed by a team of professional filmmakers, it aims to ‘promote the power of storytelling in a sector where resources are limited’.
HelpFilm achieves this by filming, producing, and editing compelling promotional films and absorbing the costs.
Wait, absorbing the costs?
Yep, the films are free. However, charity partners are given the option to contribute 10% of the final fee to support the production of future videos.
Track record
Since launching in 2020, HelpFilm has created emotive video content for a range of worthy causes, including Hope for Children, Children’s Heart Federation, Sumatran Orangutan Society, and Kids Inspire.
And 2022 was their most successful year to date. They saw a whopping 312% increase in applications and five of their films were shortlisted for Charity Film Awards.
One of the finalists was Birch Tree Café in Northamptonshire.
The café with a purpose’ is a place where young people with Down’s Syndrome can go to work, socialize, and be accepted.
Check out their video here.
Open for business
HelpFilm is inundated with requests for help. So they only accept applications during certain periods of the year.
The good news? They’re open for business.
If you want to level up your video content, the first step is to fill out the online application form.
If your application is successful, Helpfilm’s Communications Manager will meet with you to discuss your charity and the film concept in more depth.
The details of this meeting, together with the referral form will then be shared with the wider team, and they’ll decide whether to give your project the ‘green light’.
Criteria
HelpFilm only works with small charities (with an annual income of up to £1 million), and limited communications teams (4 people max).
On its website, the charity also states that applications will be rejected if:
the referral form is incomplete or the organisation is not a registered charity
your charity has an existing film portfolio online
HelpFilm has worked with your charity in the past
your organisation is a startup and its impact cannot be measured
it’s unclear what your charity is trying to achieve
Need an additional fundraising bod to manage the application? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email us at info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.