Program officers read stacks of proposals, page after page of text. A 90-second video makes yours stand out. Reviewers understand it faster, remember it better and meet the people behind your work. We plan, film and edit it for you, built from your proposal and cut to your funder's spec.
The application is an illustration.
A $100 million grant requires it. Reviewers understand it faster and remember it better. Here's the evidence.
Every application to MacArthur's 100&Change competition must include a video of 90 seconds or less. Its judges said the video “provided context and a high-level overview that was not always apparent from the text of the application.” Translation: your video shows reviewers what your paperwork can't.
MacArthur Foundation, 2019 ↗Germany's Volkswagen Foundation has asked for 90-second videos since 2022. Its programme director, Selahattin Danisman: “Somehow, the reviewers had an easier way to digest the information watching a video than reading those proposals.” They were also much better able to recall each video and the ideas behind it. At decision time, that's an edge.
Science|Business, 2025 ↗Fortune 500 recruiters judged the exact same pitch, as audio or as a written transcript. The ones who heard it rated the candidate as more capable and were far more interested in hiring them. Your ED on camera carries what a page can't.
Schroeder & Epley, Psychological Science, 2015 ↗Across about 1,000 Kickstarter projects, the ones with a video were 38% more likely to get funded: 54% hit their goal, versus 39% without one.
Kickstarter, 2009 ↗MacArthur says an application video gives other funders, judges and potential partners “a quick introduction to projects and teams.” At least one major donor made a point of watching every video from the 100&Change top 200.
Of 181 videos from 100&Change's top 200 projects, only 14 looked expensive to make, and those scored no higher than the rest. Volkswagen's reviewers found very slick video “too flashy.” So we build every grant video around a clear story and real voices.
Your narrative already has the story. We turn it into a script, then film the people who can tell it best: your ED, a program lead, someone you serve.
Ninety seconds is the limit on MacArthur's 100&Change. If your funder asks for something else (60 seconds, three minutes, captions, one specific question), we cut to their spec.
You bring the people and the proposal. We bring everything else.
Who you're applying to, what you're asking for and when it's due. We read the guidelines for the video rules (length, format, captions) and plan backwards from your deadline.
Your narrative already has the story. We turn it into a 90-second script and a short question list for everyone on camera, and send it to you before we film.
On site with our crew or a local videographer, or remotely over a video call. We direct everyone, one question at a time. Nobody needs to have been on camera before.
A captioned cut to the funder's spec, uploaded unlisted and ready for the portal. The files are yours for the site visit, the board and your website.
The request takes about a minute. The call is free and takes 15.
It goes in your application, then keeps working long after the deadline.
Play it before the tour, or send it ahead.
Share it when they ask what you do.
Show them what you're asking funders to back.
The same story, for every visitor.
Pair it with what the grant made possible.
Short cuts for the year-end appeal and your socials.
Applying to more than one funder? One shoot can cover several applications, each cut to its own spec.
Funders fund people, so your video stars yours. Most have never been on camera, and that's fine: we direct each one, one question at a time, straight into the lens.
Why the work matters and what this grant makes possible, in their own words.
What actually happens on a Tuesday, and why it works.
The part a narrative can't carry: a real person, on camera, in their own words.
Who else stands behind this work, and why.
Behind the scenes on recent Happy Productions shoots.
Real videos we've made for nonprofits
The team behind videos for Heifer, Lions Clubs and Children’s Miracle Network makes yours.
“…Either the turnaround times were too long, the costs were too high, or the final product didn’t quite capture the depth of our mission. Happy Productions completely changed that for us.”
“Just having someone take this critical task off — doing videos for you — is well worth what you spend. We ended up getting a huge number of videos to work with that we just wouldn’t have had the time or the energy or the expertise to do.”
“We have received more donations today than we have all month since posting Amber’s video!”
“I would just tell someone that you’re worth the investment and they should definitely hire you, because I will do it again for sure.”
Yes. It gives reviewers what paper can't: your people, in their own voices. MacArthur's judges said the video gave them “context and a high-level overview that was not always apparent from the text of the application.” Volkswagen Foundation reviewers found video easier to digest and were much better able to recall it. And people rate a speaker as more capable when they hear them than when they read the same words.
It still works hard for you: at the site visit, on the program officer call, with your board, on your website and in next year's renewal. When the guidelines allow a link or a supplemental file, it goes in the application too.
Whatever the funder specifies. If they don't say, we aim for 90 seconds, the limit MacArthur sets for its $100 million 100&Change competition.
No. At 100&Change, the expensive-looking videos scored no higher than the rest, and Volkswagen Foundation reviewers found very slick video “too flashy.” We build for a clear story, real voices, clean sound and captions.
The people behind the work: your ED for the why, a program lead for the how, and someone you serve for the proof. A partner or board member is a bonus.
No. We film on site with our crew or a local videographer, or remotely over a video call. If you already have footage, we can cut from that too.
Tell us your deadline when you request your video. We plan the script, the shoot and the edit backwards from that date, and you'll have the schedule on the 15-minute call.
Every grant video is quoted to the project: where we film, who's on camera and what your funder needs. You'll get a clear quote on the 15-minute call, and one shoot can cover several applications.
Yes. It's yours to use anywhere: the application, the site visit, your website, the annual report.
It's built for 501(c)(3)s, foundations and NGOs. If you're a business, street interviews are the better fit.
Tell us the funder and the date in about a minute. Take a free 15-minute call. We'll plan your video backwards from the deadline and make your application stand out.
For 501(c)(3)s, foundations and NGOs · on site or remote · quoted on the call
P.S. MacArthur's $100 million grant requires a video because it shows judges what the paperwork can't. Give your next application the same edge.
Two details to start. The whole request takes about a minute.
Rough answers are fine. We'll go deeper on the call.
