WPDI foundation film
Programme filmA foundation programme filmed on location, told through the people in it rather than through the organisation running it.
Nonprofit video production
We film for foundations, charities, advocacy groups and university advancement teams: gala and appeal films, impact and programme documentaries, donor and beneficiary stories, and event coverage. Filmed with consent handled first and dignity kept intact.
Eight nonprofit films on this page, from a foundation programme in Chiapas to a hospital charity gala to a twelve minute impact documentary. Or build your own estimate in two minutes.
Nonprofit work we have shipped
Eight films for foundations, charities and advocacy groups. Gala and appeal films, impact documentaries, donor stories and event coverage.
Senior Concerns impact film
ImpactA twelve minute impact film for a services charity, built to be shown in a room rather than scrolled past.
Kenley’s Locker gala film
GalaHospital and parent stories cut for a gala room, where the film has to do the asking before anyone stands up.
All Things Tall fundraising feature
AppealA founder-led appeal film, where the cause and the person asking are the same story.
Supporter testimonial
Donor storyA supporter explaining why they give. The cheapest film on this list and often the one that raises the most.
Healthcare robotics fundraiser
Capital campaignA capital appeal for medical robotics, where the technology had to be explained before it could be funded.
2:22Fundraising event film
EventEvent coverage cut the same week, so the thank you email goes out while the night is still fresh.
The Global Harmony Initiative
AdvocacyA long-form advocacy conversation, filmed multi-camera and cut into a feature plus clips.
How a nonprofit project runs
Six steps from scope to delivery, and about four weeks from shoot day to the final film.
Scope and the askWe start with the number you need to raise and the room it will be raised in, then work backwards to the film.-
Consent before camerasBeneficiaries and families are filmed under your own consent forms, with a clear right to withdraw, and we use your safeguarding rules rather than ours.
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Location and schedule planningWe plan around programme delivery and around the people in it, so filming never becomes the thing they have to manage.
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FilmingA small crew, quiet gear and short days. Interviews rather than scripts, so nobody is asked to perform their own hardship.
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Edit and reviewFirst cut, two rounds of notes, a room version and a short version, captions and the cutdowns your channels need.
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Deliver and protect the footageMasters, room-ready files and social cutdowns, with footage access limited to the people you name.
Which nonprofit video do you need?
Four formats cover most of what a nonprofit buys. Pick by the room it has to work in.
This page
Gala or appeal film
Do the asking before anyone stands up
- Length
- 2 to 5 min
- Runs on
- Gala room, appeal emails, campaign page
- Cost
- $9,000–$13,500
Impact or programme film
Show what the money actually did
- Length
- 3 to 12 min
- Runs on
- Annual report, major donor meetings
- Cost
- $9,000–$25,000
Donor or beneficiary story
One person, in their own words
- Length
- 1 to 3 min
- Runs on
- Campaigns, email, social
- Cost
- $3,500–$15,000
Event coverage
A night, cut while it is still fresh
- Length
- 1 to 3 min
- Runs on
- Thank you emails, social, next year
- Cost
- $6,000–$12,000
Most organisations get the best return from one appeal film plus two or three short donor stories, filmed on the same days. Full format detail and pricing is on the fundraising video page.
What nonprofit video production means here
Nonprofit video production is the making of films for foundations, charities, advocacy organisations and university advancement teams: gala and appeal films, impact and programme documentaries, donor and beneficiary stories, capital campaign films, event coverage and volunteer recruitment. 7 Hills Productions has produced this work for the WPDI Foundation, Senior Concerns, Kenley’s Locker and the Global Harmony Initiative, from a base in Irvine, California.
One shoot day usually produces the appeal film plus two or three short donor stories, which is what makes a full campaign affordable on a nonprofit budget.
1Who is it for?
Foundations and charities, advocacy and community organisations, hospital and university advancement teams, faith and cultural organisations, and capital campaign committees.
2What does it cost?
A typical appeal film is $9,000 to $13,500: pre-production, one shoot day and one finished film, plus cutdowns. A single donor story starts at $3,500.
3How long does it take?
About four weeks from shoot day to the final film, and faster for event coverage when a date is fixed.
Every nonprofit video we make
Eight formats, each with a service page of its own.
What nonprofit video costs in Southern California
Real ranges rather than a call for a quote. Every number below assumes one crew, one location and one finished film.
| Package | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Gala or appeal film | $9,000–$13,500 | Pre-production, one shoot day and one finished film, plus cutdowns |
| Impact or programme film | $9,000–$25,000 | One or two shoot days, longer edit, a room and a short version |
| Donor or beneficiary story | $3,500–$15,000 | One person filmed locally, batch days lower the cost per story |
| Event coverage | $6,000–$12,000 | One crew for the night, a highlight film and social cuts |
| Explainer | $6,000–$12,500 | Scripting, one shoot day or motion graphics, one finished film |
| Volunteer recruitment film | $6,000–$12,500 | One day on site, one finished film plus social cuts |
| Extra cutdown | $750 | Any additional cut from footage already shot |
Building your own scope? Pre-production runs $1,000 to $1,500, a shoot day $6,000 to $8,000, and editing $2,000 to $4,000 per finished film. Cutdowns are $750 each. A second finished film from the same footage adds an edit fee, not another shoot day. These match our pricing page and budget estimator.
Why nonprofits hire us
Consent and dignity come first
People are filmed under your own consent and safeguarding policies, with a clear right to withdraw at any point.
We interview, we do not script
Nobody is asked to perform their own hardship. The story comes out of a conversation, not a page of lines.
We build for the room
A gala film and a social cut are different films. You get both from the same footage rather than one compromise.
Donor stories are the best value
One supporter explaining why they give is the cheapest film on the list and often the one that raises the most.
One day, a whole campaign
An appeal film plus two or three short stories, filmed across the same days.
We have done the hard ones
Hospital and parent stories, a programme in Chiapas, a medical robotics capital appeal. These need care, not just cameras.
Services nonprofits buy most
The service pages behind this work, and the other sectors we film for.
Fundraising videos
The full service page: formats, process and pricing.
Donor and beneficiary stories
One person, in their own words, from $3,500.
Event films
A night, cut while it is still fresh.
Impact and brand films
Show what the money actually did.
Healthcare video production
Health systems, clinics and device brands.
All industries
Every sector we film for, in one place.
Where we film
Irvine Los Angeles San Diego San Jose San Francisco New York and nationwide for multi-site systems. Back to all industries.
What clients say about working with us
The WPDI Foundation, Senior Concerns, Kenley’s Locker and the Global Harmony Initiative have hired us for appeal films, impact documentaries and event coverage.
They impressed us with prompt responses, ensuring we met all filming objectives without missing a beat. The quality fully met my expectations.
7 Hills Productions went above and beyond in terms of quality, professionalism, responsiveness, and timeliness. They captured our vision perfectly.
They did an amazing job providing a great product. Very easy to work with, we decided to keep working with them for a year-long campaign.
Nonprofit video production FAQs
How much does a fundraising video cost?
A gala or appeal film runs $9,000 to $13,500, which includes pre-production, one shoot day, one finished film and cutdowns. A single donor story starts at $3,500.
How long does it take?
About four weeks from shoot day to the final film. Event coverage can be turned around in days when the date is fixed.
How do you handle consent for beneficiaries?
We film under your own consent and safeguarding policies, with a clear right to withdraw at any point, and we will use your paperwork rather than ours.
Do you offer nonprofit rates?
Our rates are the same, but the way we scope for nonprofits is different: one shoot day covering the appeal film plus several short stories is where the value is.
Can one film work in the gala room and on social?
The best answer is two cuts from the same footage. A room film and a 60 second social cut are different jobs, and the second cut is an edit fee rather than another shoot.
Can you film our programme on location?
Yes, including overseas. Travel is billed at cost and we plan around programme delivery rather than around the camera.
Do you film galas and events?
Yes. One crew for the night produces a highlight film plus social cuts, from $6,000.
Can you explain a complicated cause?
Yes. Explainers and motion graphics work well where the need takes longer to explain than a story film allows.
Who owns the footage?
You do. You get the finished films and the masters, and access to the raw footage is limited to the people you name.
Start a nonprofit video project
Tell us the campaign, the room it has to work in and roughly when you need it. You get a written scope and a number back, usually the same day.
4.9 on Google5.0 on ClutchShot and edited in houseRaw footage included
Start your nonprofitReply within one business dayGet a quote
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