How a Nonprofit Explainer Video Gets Made (4 Steps)

Your nonprofit does good work.

A visitor lands on your homepage.

They have to read three paragraphs to understand what you do.

You've probably already lost them.

A short video fixes that in seconds.

People are far more likely to watch a video than read a wall of text.

This article walks through the real process behind a nonprofit explainer video.

What it costs, how long it takes, and a script skeleton you can copy today.

Making an explainer video is simple. Write a short script, record a voiceover, animate the story, then add music and export it. A simple version can be finished in about a week for a low one-time price.

A custom production takes longer and costs more.

The same four steps apply either way.

How is a nonprofit explainer video made, step by step?

A nonprofit explainer video is made through four steps.

Writing a script, recording a voiceover, animating the story, and adding final polish.

An explainer video is a short video, usually 30 to 90 seconds long.

It explains what your nonprofit does, or how someone can get help.

Simple words and pictures, instead of a long page of text.

• Write the script: a short piece of writing that says exactly what the narrator will say, in plain words.
• Record the voiceover: a person reads the script out loud and it gets recorded as clean audio.
• Storyboard and animate: an artist sketches each scene, then turns the sketches into moving pictures.
• Add music, polish, and deliver: sound effects and background music get added, then the video is exported as a finished file.

This holds true for our lower-priced 30-second video and for a bigger custom production.

The steps don't change.

What changes is how many people review each stage.

How many rounds of changes happen.

How much custom art gets drawn.

A bigger budget mostly buys more time and more hands.

Not a different process.

Need an explainer video? Get a 30-second explainer for $297 → We write the script, record the voiceover and animate it, delivered in 7 days.

Step-by-step: from idea to finished video

Here's what actually happens inside each step.

Enough detail so you know what to expect.

And what to ask for along the way.

Step 1: Write the Script

A good explainer script has four parts.

A hook, a problem, a solution, and a call to action (Biteable).

The hook grabs attention in the first line.

Something like "every night, families in our town go without a meal."

The problem names what's wrong.

The solution shows how your nonprofit fixes it.

The call to action tells the viewer exactly what to do next.

Like "donate today" or "sign up to volunteer."

A common split is 30% problem, 40% solution, 20% proof, and 10% call to action (Content Beta).

You don't need to hit those numbers exactly.

But it's a useful check if your draft feels lopsided.

Step 2: Record the Voiceover

A voiceover is the recorded narration that plays under the animation.

A real person reading your script out loud.

Plan on roughly 150 spoken words per minute of finished video.

So a 60-second script should land around 140 to 160 words (Breadnbeyond).

If your script runs long, the narrator has to rush.

Or scenes get cut.

So it pays to trim the script before recording, not after.

Step 3: Storyboard and Animate

A storyboard is a simple sketch of each scene in order, like a comic strip.

It shows what the viewer sees while the voiceover plays.

Once the storyboard is approved, an animator turns the sketches into the finished video.

For nonprofits on a budget, two styles do most of the work.

Whiteboard animation is a style where a hand appears to draw simple pictures on a white background.

Good for step-by-step explanations.

2D motion graphics is a style using flat, colorful shapes and characters that move.

Good as a polished all-round option (Pexo).

Step 4: Add Music, Polish, and Deliver

The last step adds background music and sound effects.

It smooths out timing so nothing feels rushed or dragged out.

Then it exports the video as a file.

Something you can upload to your website, YouTube, or social media.

This is also usually when you get a chance to ask for small changes.

Before the video is called final.

How long does it take to make an explainer video?

A simple 30-second explainer video can be finished in 7 days.

A custom animated explainer usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, including review time.

Rush projects can sometimes be done in 3 to 4 weeks (Yum Yum Videos).

Custom projects take longer mainly for one reason.

More people need to sign off at each stage.

A board might review the script, then the storyboard, then the final cut, each as a separate step.

And any custom character art has to be drawn from scratch.

Not pulled from a style that already exists.

Each extra layer of approval adds days.

Say you're working toward a giving day, a year-end campaign, or a gala with a fixed date.

A 7-day turnaround matters more than a fully custom look.

That's exactly the gap our fast, fixed-price option fills.

How much does it cost to make an explainer video for a nonprofit?

A nonprofit explainer video costs $297 one-time for a 30-second version, normally $497.

$497 one-time for a 60-second version.

Or from $1,299 for a custom production, quoted after a free 30-minute call.

30secondproductions.com has made more than 16,000 videos.

For over 13,500 businesses, since 2012.

So this isn't a first attempt at either format.

The 30-second option ships in 7 days.

It includes 3 revision rounds and a money-back guarantee.

The 60-second option follows the same script, voiceover, and animation process.

Custom and premium videos get a fixed quote within 24 hours after the planning call.

For contrast, a 60-second custom animated explainer from a typical North American studio runs $5,000 to $10,000.

Premium 3D or character work costs more (Vidico).

One industry survey collected 61 usable price quotes from animation studios.

It found a median cost of $9,680 per finished minute (Yum Yum Videos).

Our prices above are one-time and fixed, not a per-minute rate.

A board can approve a single number and be done.

Can a small nonprofit afford a good explainer video?

Yes.

A small nonprofit can get a real, professionally made nonprofit explainer video for $297.

Well below the agency pricing shown above.

That price includes a written script and a human voiceover.

Not a robotic text-to-speech voice.

Plus full animation, delivery in 7 days, and a money-back guarantee.

For a board worried about spending donor money on the wrong thing, that guarantee matters.

You're not locked into a bad outcome.

Picture a small food bank that needs a homepage video.

Showing "how to apply for help" or "how to sign up to volunteer."

Laid out in plain steps a stressed visitor can follow in 30 seconds.

That's exactly the kind of project a fixed, fast, low-cost video was built for.

Not a giant capital campaign film.

What should a nonprofit video script include?

A nonprofit video script should include four parts, in this order.

A hook, a problem, a solution, and a call to action.

Most explainer videos run 60 to 90 seconds.

That works out to roughly 150 to 225 words of voiceover (Knowlify).

Keep your draft close to that range.

Here's a simple skeleton for your nonprofit explainer video.

Copy it and fill in your own words.

Hook: "[Number] people in [your community] face [the problem] every year."

Problem: "Without help, [what happens if nothing changes]."

Solution: "[Your nonprofit's name] provides [what you do], so that [who benefits] can [the result]."

Call to action: "You can help today. [Donate / volunteer / apply] at [your website]."

Keep the whole script under about 225 words for a 60 to 90-second video.

Or under roughly 75 words for a tight 30-second version.

Want something bigger? Book a free 30-minute video call → We plan your custom video with you and send a fixed quote within 24 hours.

What length and style work best for a nonprofit on a budget?

A 30 to 45-second video works best for social media and awareness ads.

A 60 to 90-second video works better on a website or donation page (Yum Yum Videos).

That's because the visitor already wants more detail.

Style-wise, whiteboard animation and 2D motion graphics both stay budget-friendly.

Neither needs actors, a camera crew, or travel.

If you're choosing between our two fixed options, think about where it lives.

The shorter 30-second video fits a social ad or a quick "who we are" clip.

The 60-second video fits a homepage or donation page.

Where you have more room to explain your story, or how funds get used.

DIY vs hiring a studio: which is right for your nonprofit?

Free tools let you cut a video for no cash cost.

But they cost staff or volunteer time.

The result often looks and sounds amateur, sitting next to your donation button.

Hiring a studio removes most of the guesswork.

You get a fixed price and a fixed timeline.

Not a project that eats a volunteer's weekends for a month.

For a simple 30 or 60-second video, the fixed-price options above cover most needs.

For anything bigger, a capital campaign film, a donor story, or custom characters, book a free 30-minute call.

That gets you a fixed quote instead of an open-ended estimate.

Custom and premium nonprofit videos get a fixed quote once that call is done.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a professional voiceover for a nonprofit video?

Yes, a human voiceover sounds more trustworthy than a computer-generated voice, and it's worth including even on a tight budget. Both our fixed-price explainer video options already include a real recorded voiceover, so you don't have to source one separately.

How long should a nonprofit explainer video be?

Most explainer videos run 60 to 90 seconds, roughly 150 to 225 words of narration (Knowlify). Shorter videos of 30 to 45 seconds tend to work better for social media ads, while 60 to 90 seconds suits a website or donation page.

What is the fastest way to get a nonprofit video made?

The fastest option is a 30-second explainer video, delivered in 7 days at a low one-time price. That price covers the script, a human voiceover, and full animation, with 3 rounds of revisions included.

Can I revise the script or animation after it's made?

Yes. Our 30-second and 60-second explainer videos include 3 revision rounds, so you can ask for changes to the script or the animation before it's final. Custom projects have their revision rounds set during the planning call, based on the size of the project.

Does a nonprofit video need to show real staff or clients on camera?

No, animated styles like whiteboard animation and 2D motion graphics never need anyone on camera. That's often better for a nonprofit anyway, since it avoids putting real clients, patients, or families on camera when privacy matters.

The short version

Making a nonprofit explainer video comes down to four steps, every time.

Write the script.

Record the voiceover.

Storyboard and animate it.

Then add music and export it.

What changes between our fixed-price options and a custom production is speed and the amount of custom art.

Not the process itself.

Our fast 7-day options cover most nonprofit needs.

A free 30-minute call gets you a fixed quote for anything bigger.

Either way, the fastest path forward is the one that gets a clear, honest nonprofit explainer video in front of your donors and the people you serve.

Ready to get your own video made? Order a 30-second explainer for $297 and have it in 7 days, or book a free call if you want a custom video from $1,299.

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Related Reading

• Explainer Videos from $297 →: Professional animated explainer videos delivered in 7 days.