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Video Storytelling Drives 242% Growth in Fundraising: A Decade-Long Partnership with Aim Higher Foundation

aim higher

Industry

Nonprofit/Charity

The Challenge

In 2014, the Aim Higher Foundation startup developed an ambitious mission: to provide Catholic school scholarships to underserved families in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, particularly focusing on the region's growing immigrant population. The foundation needed to build awareness and generate substantial donations to fulfill this mission, starting from ground zero with no established fundraising events or donor base.

The Solution

Working in partnership with the Aim Higher Foundation, we developed a long-term video storytelling strategy focused on authentic, emotional narratives that would resonate with potential donors

aimhigherfoundation.org/

$1.15M

Annual Gala Revenue

$13M

Aim Ever Higher Campaign

2,550

Scholarship Awards

$3.3M

Organizational Budget Growth

"The video story we tell at each gala is undoubtedly the key feature: the 'give moment' keeps people coming back! It's a careful balance between finding the right emotion in a story, respecting the dignity of the family we feature, and inviting our guests to get more invested. [Our] superpower is finding just the right amount of each element in all of that. It's why we keep coming back and are always willing to give a recommendation to others."

Ricky Austin

CEO of the Aim Higher Foundation

Aim Higher Foundation

Long-term Partnership Impact

Over our decade-long partnership, we have produced 11 videos that have played a crucial role in the Aim Higher Foundation's growth trajectory. While other factors like staff additions (2017) and pre-event initiatives (2022) have contributed to their success, the consistent quality and impact of the annual videos have provided a cornerstone for their fundraising efforts.

Our Approach

Annually produce high-impact videos showcasing individual family stories
Carefully balance emotional appeal while maintaining family dignity
Strategically deploy videos across multiple channels (galas, website, private donor meetings)
Consistently maintain a 6-8 week production timeline to ensure optimal quality
Focus on demonstrating Catholic education as a transformative "hand up, not a hand out"

The Results

Fundraising Growth

Annual gala revenue increased from $475,000 (2014) to $1.15 million (2024)
Total organizational budget grew from $475,000 to $3.3 million annually
Successful completion of the "Aim Ever Higher Campaign" raising $13M (2018-2023)

Impact Metrics

Scholarship awards increased from 400 to 2,550 annually
Gala attendance grew from 400 to nearly 700 guests
Projected growth to 2,880 scholarships for upcoming year

Growing Faith | An Aim Higher Scholar Story | 2024 Night of Light

Looking Forward

As the Aim Higher Foundation continues to grow, their commitment to expanding their scholarship program remains unwavering. With projected increases in scholarship numbers and a potential future marketing budget expansion, the partnership is positioned for continued success in telling compelling stories that drive meaningful community impact.