5 Explainer Videos Every Nonprofit Could Use

pardimanproductions
46 minutes ago
3 min read

Explainer videos are one of the most effective storytelling tools in the nonprofit sector. In 60–120 seconds, they can distill complex missions, humanize impact, and move viewers from passive awareness to active support. The best ones don’t just inform—they translate purpose into something people can see themselves.

Below are five types of explainer videos every nonprofit should consider creating.

1) The Mission Explainer

Every nonprofit needs a clear, concise answer to one question: “What do you do?”

A mission explainer video is your foundation. It lives on your homepage, anchors presentations, and gives first-time viewers a fast, emotional understanding of your purpose.

Strong mission explainers balance clarity and heart—introducing the problem, your solution, and the impact in under two minutes.

This video is a masterclass in simplicity. It quickly communicates the global water crisis while using animation and storytelling to keep the tone hopeful and action-oriented. By the first few seconds, viewers already understand the stakes and the organization’s role in solving them.

Why it works

Clear problem → solution structure
Visual metaphors make data human
Ends with a direct call-to-action

2) The Impact Story Explainer

Where mission videos explain what you do, impact explainers show why it matters. These videos zoom in on outcomes—often through a single story or perspective—to make results tangible.

This animated film follows a young girl who discovers that Santa is developing Alzheimer’s disease. As the story unfolds, the elves begin researching a cure—mirroring the real-world work of Alzheimer’s Research UK. The emotional narrative uses a familiar holiday figure to make dementia more understandable and relatable to broad audiences.

Why it works

Uses character storytelling to explain disease impact
Balances warmth and emotional weight
Makes complex science accessible through metaphor
Connects research funding directly to human outcomes

3) The Educational / Issue Explainer

Some nonprofits tackle complex systems—healthcare, policy, environment, infrastructure. Educational explainers break down these topics in digestible, visual ways.

This explainer maps how water travels from upstate reservoirs to city taps, using clean animation to clarify an otherwise invisible system. It proves that education-focused nonprofit videos don’t need heavy emotion to be effective—clarity alone builds trust.

Why it works

Turns infrastructure into story
Clean design keeps focus on learning
Positions the nonprofit as an authority

4) The Audience Empowerment Explainer

Some of the most effective nonprofit videos don’t focus on the organization—they focus on the viewer’s role in the solution.

This iconic animated explainer shows how investing in girls transforms communities and economies. It combines statistics, narrative, and urgency to position empowerment as both moral and practical.

Why it works

Data + story integration
Builds urgency without despair
Frames support as high-impact investment

5) The Program / How-It-Works Explainer

If your nonprofit runs specific programs, services, or delivery models, you need a video that explains how the work actually happens.

This animated explainer breaks down how food moves through Feeding America’s network—from donors to food banks to local partner agencies and ultimately to families in need. The animation simplifies logistics, partnerships, and distribution into an easy-to-follow visual system that donors and volunteers can quickly understand.

Why this works as a model: