18 creative Gratavid video ideas for back-to-school, fall fundraising & beyond
Whether you’re a superintendent or school leader looking to say “welcome back!” in a fun way, or you’re a nonprofit fundraiser seeking out creative and authentic ways to show impact, Gratavid is the ideal solution.
With Gratavid, you can transform everyday moments into powerful, human-centric experiences that inspire students, staff, faculty and donors to feel seen, valued and part of a larger community.
But with such a versatile tool in your arsenal, it can feel overwhelming to know how or when to incorporate personal video messages into your initiatives.
Here are 18 (yes, 18!) ideas to leverage Gratavid for video messages that will spark greater connections this fall and beyond.
K-12 back-to-school video ideas
As a K-12 educator, staff, or leader, you understand the importance of a smooth and positive start to the school year. Gratavid video messaging can help your team build community, excite families, offer clarity around processes and to-dos, and set a positive tone for the year ahead.
1. Teacher welcome videos
Have teachers introduce themselves with quick, warm Gratavid clips, sharing a fun fact to set a positive tone for the year.
2. First week highlights
Capture the best first-week moments from principals, teachers, or student leaders and compile them into a celebratory (or funny!) Gratavid.
Christ Church Episcopal School welcomed back students with a laugh
The team at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina knows back-to-school can be a bit stressful for parents and families. They created some levity with this skit from their community.
3. New family orientation follow-up
Recap FAQs and resources in a short principal video that families can revisit anytime.
4. Student shoutouts
Recognize kindness, school spirit, or academic achievements through quick Gratavids that celebrate students personally.
5. Fundraising campaign kick-off video
Launch the year with student-led thank-you videos for past donors and inspire support for upcoming campaigns.
Higher education back-to-campus & homecoming video ideas
To say there’s a lot happening in higher ed in the US this year would be an understatement. With more on their plates than ever before, higher ed leaders are seeking out ways to build greater affinity, communicate more effectively and welcome students back amidst a changing landscape.
Use these Gratavid video ideas to welcome your community and set the stage for the year ahead.
6. Welcome back from the President
Task the President or Dean of Students to record a short Gratavid message to kick off the academic year with excitement.
7. Move-in day highlights
Move-in day is always filled with a palpable buzz of excitement! Share the energy of campus move-in with donors, parents, and alumni to strengthen community pride.
8. Homecoming hype series
Want to drive a greater turnout from a specific segment of alumni, families or donors? Have faculty, students, and alumni share memories and traditions leading up to Homecoming weekend.
9. Alumni mentoring video ideas
Your mentoring program can be an impactful lever for greater engagement and philanthropy. Use Gratavid to invite alumni into mentoring programs, including videos of past or current mentoring participants explaining the value the program had on them.
Bonus: Gratavid integrates directly with Graduway, our alumni community platform used by 2,000+ institutions to power their networks.
Kappa Alpha Theta saw a 40% video click-through rate when inviting alumnae to join the mentoring program
To boost program engagement ahead of National Mentoring Month in January, Theta’s team sent personal videos inviting alumnae to participate. The videos got an impressive 60% watch rate and a 40% click-through rate.
10. Scholarship recipient thank you video
Have students send heartfelt Gratavids to scholarship donors, showing the impact of their generosity, either before or after a solicitation. Here’s an example from Marian University.
Nonprofit video ideas for fall
Nonprofit fundraisers and leaders are facing a challenging landscape. With rising donor expectations and increasingly aggressive fundraising goals, teams are on the lookout for ways to connect with donors authentically and at scale.
These Gratavid ideas are designed to help your team increase productivity without sacrificing your organization’s unique mission and brand.
11. Impact stories from summer programs
It’s no surprise – 97% of donors cite the impact of their gift as their main reason for giving. Share how donations made a difference and preview what’s ahead in the fall.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region shared their impact report with a heartfelt video
BBBS of the Capital Region knew the best way to show the impact of their donors’ generous gifts was through the eyes of a program participant who benefits from their work.
12. Back-to-school partnership programs
Highlight collaborations with schools or youth programs.
13. Volunteer thank you video
Your volunteers are a valuable subset of your community. In fact, 76% of volunteers say they would also donate to their organization. Send Gratavids thanking summer volunteers and invite them to stay engaged.
14. Event teaser video
Use personalized videos to promote fall galas, walks, or fundraisers. Check out this example from the American Lung Association.
15. Monthly donor welcome video
Kick off long-term relationships with heartfelt welcome videos before year-end giving season.
Brianne Pietronicco,
Donor Relations Coordinator, YMCA Blue Ridge Academy
General video campaign ideas
From schools to associations and beyond, use these Gratavid ideas to get the wheels turning on how to better engage, inspire and grow your community.
16. “First day feels” campaign
Capture the excitement of the first day back across schools, alumni, or nonprofit programs.
17. “Then & now” video series
Compare old vs. new school/program moments, paired with a Gratavid reflection.
18. Gratitude countdown to year-end events
Share daily Gratavids from different voices thanking supporters and teasing upcoming milestones.
Pro tips for using Gratavid
Video is a human-centric way to get your message across. Whether it’s showing appreciation, asking for a donation, or inviting alumni to a reunion, Gratavids are a great way to put a face to your organization or school. Use these pro tips when prepping your Gratavid campaigns:
- Keep it under 60 seconds
Short and sweet captures viewers’ attention! No need to make your reels movie-length.
- Make it personal
The beauty of a video messaging tool like Gratavid is the ability to personalize and yet scale your outreach. In the Gratavids, use the recipient’s name and reference something specific to them, like their chosen fund, event attendance, or even birthday.
- Use one message per video
Keep your Gratavid focused. One idea in the video sticks better than five – especially for things like year-end appeals or event invitations.
- Turn on captions
Not everyone will turn on the video with sound, but captions ensure your message is received.
Stand out year-round with Gratavid
Fall is a season of new beginnings, and the perfect time to deepen connections. With Gratavid, you can make those connections personal, authentic, and scalable. From back-to-school welcome videos to heartfelt donor thank-yous, Gratavid helps you turn simple video messages into lasting impact.
Personal doesn’t have to mean time-consuming. With the right tools, your team can engage more people, more meaningfully, in less time.
Want to see Gratavid in action? Explore our interactive walkthrough to see how Gratavid lets you turn standard outreach into moments that wow.
