Dream Engine produces videos for not-for-profits, charities, foundations and community organisations across Melbourne and Australia. If you need to explain your work clearly, build trust with stakeholders, or capture real stories with care, we can help.
Talk to us about your project:
Contact Dream Engine
Video that helps people understand your mission and take action
Not-for-profit work is often complex, emotional and deeply human. A good video helps you communicate that work clearly, without oversimplifying it or losing the nuance that matters.
Video can support awareness campaigns, stakeholder updates, community engagement and education. When it is done well, it builds understanding and trust, and helps people feel confident in supporting your organisation.
We bring a calm, professional process that makes it easier to plan, film, and deliver a finished video that captures the spirit and message of your organisation.
Who we work with
We work with a wide range of not-for-profit and purpose-led organisations, including:
- Health charities, foundations and community health organisations
- Medical research institutes and university-based research groups
- Disability, rare disease and family support associations
- Community and advocacy organisations
- NDIS Providers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and land councils
- Government-funded initiatives and national programs
Not-for-profit video production services
Impact stories and case videos
Human stories that show real outcomes and lived experience, built around respectful interviews and authentic moments.
Awareness and education videos
Clear, structured videos that explain your programs, services or research in a way that is easy to understand.
Stakeholder and annual updates
Videos for annual reports, end-of-year updates, board communications and broader stakeholder reporting.
Event coverage and live streaming
Event video, hybrid events and live streaming delivered with reliable audio, clear visuals and careful planning.
Fundraising videos
Donor appeal videos and campaign content that help people connect with your mission and understand why their support matters.
Social cutdowns and short-form
Short edits designed for social media, email and presentations, created from your main video content.
Our process
Clarify the goal
We start by getting clear on what the video needs to achieve, who it is for and where it will be used. This makes the creative and production decisions much simpler.
Plan the story
We shape the narrative and structure, then plan interviews, locations and supporting visuals. If the subject matter is sensitive, we make sure approvals and safeguards are handled properly.
Film with care
We run a calm set and help people feel comfortable on camera. The aim is to capture natural interviews and the real details that make a story feel credible.
Edit and deliver
We craft the edit with clear pacing, considered music and graphics where needed. You receive finished videos that are ready to publish and easy to use across different channels.
Not-for-profit video examples
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Dream Engine produced a video to help generate funding for The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, a not-for-profit medical research institute and registered charity based at Melbourne University. The video features well-known Melbournians, including Medibank CEO Craig Drummond, Nobel Prize winner Fred Mendelsohn AO and Australian entrepreneur Harold Mitchell.
The focus was on clear, human storytelling. Complex research was explained in a way that felt accessible and credible, without oversimplifying the science or overstating the message.
Use case: fundraising, donor engagement, stakeholder communications
Client Feedback: “Dream Engine is a team of professionals. They care immensely about the work they do. They’re gentle, patient, very kind and intuitive. And I’d work with them again in a heartbeat.” – Amanda Place, Head of Corporate Communications, The Florey
Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT)
Australian Dementia Network is a national consortium of dementia researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. It represents the single biggest outlay from the government’s Boosting Dementia Research Initiative.
The registry has enormous potential to improve the quality of care for people diagnosed with dementia. We worked with the team to communicate the purpose and value of the initiative clearly for a broad audience.
Use case: awareness, education, government-funded research communication
Client Feedback: “Dream Engine were wonderfully responsive and helped us achieve a wonderful and very professional result.” -Ana-Maria Rivera, Strategic Communications Manager at Australian Dementia Network
Vertic and The Good Friday Appeal
Dream Engine produced a series of testimonial and case study videos for Vertic, a digital agency in Melbourne that specialises in providing technology solutions to the social and NFP sectors across Australia and New Zealand.
The case study video tells the story of Vertic’s work with The Good Friday Appeal, an organisation that raises funds to support the Royal Children’s Hospital. The video explores the Appeal’s digital transformation through interviews with three team members, starting with the legacy systems they used and the challenges those systems posed.
This type of not-for-profit video works because it builds authority and trust in an authentic, uncontrived way. It helps prospective clients understand the value being offered through real experience, not marketing claims.
Use case: case study video, digital transformation, B2B storytelling for the not-for-profit sector
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) is a not-for-profit advocacy and support organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people living with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and supporting their families and carers. Each year, the PWSAA hosts the Time Out Camp just outside Melbourne, bringing together Australians living with Prader-Willi Syndrome and their families to build friendships, resilience and self-confidence.
Alongside the social aspects, the program provides education and support for parents, siblings and carers, delivered by professionals. The video focused on real moments and authentic voices, helping communicate the value of the camp while respecting the dignity and privacy of participants.
Use case: community engagement, awareness, family education, supporter communications
Pronia
Pronia is a not-for-profit community organisation that supports older people, carers, families, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, with a strong focus on Greek and broader multicultural communities in Australia.
We worked with Pronia to create a sensitive and culturally appropriate animated video highlighting the issue of family violence and elder abuse. The challenge was to communicate a confronting topic in a way that felt respectful, trustworthy, and accessible to older audiences and their families. By combining a clear narrative structure with carefully considered animation, the video helped raise awareness, encourage conversation, and support Pronia’s work in education, prevention, and community outreach.
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
We have delivered live streaming and event production services for the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, supporting events with reliable audio-visual delivery and a clear, organised approach.
“Dream Engine, under the leadership of Ryan and their exceptional team, consistently delivers a seamless and top-notch service. Their expertise in handling audio-visual requirements for events, whether it be basic setups or live streaming, has alleviated any potential concerns we might have had. Their commitment to excellent customer service is unparalleled, making them our go-to choice for all our events. We have complete confidence in their capabilities, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with Dream Engine for all future events.”
Elise Petersen, Marketing, Communication and Event Coordinator
Use case: event production, live streaming, stakeholder events
Why not-for-profits choose Dream Engine
- Experience working with sensitive subject matter and vulnerable communities
- A clear, predictable process with no surprises
- Strong production values, including clear audio and considered editing
- Videos designed for real-world use across websites, social media and stakeholder communications
If you would like to discuss a not-for-profit video project, get in touch.
Not-for-profit video production FAQs
How much does not-for-profit video production cost in Melbourne?
The cost depends on the scope of the project, the number of filming days, locations, and the final deliverables. If you can share what the video needs to achieve and how it will be used, we can recommend an approach that fits your budget and priorities.
Can you help us make a fundraising video that feels credible?
Yes. Credibility comes from keeping the story specific and human, using real voices, and avoiding overstatement. We help shape the story so supporters understand the impact of your work and feel confident engaging with it.
Do you work with sensitive topics and vulnerable communities?
Yes. We approach these projects with care and professionalism, including appropriate planning, approvals, and a respectful filming environment. We also build in review steps so your team remains comfortable with how stories are represented.
Can you deliver short social edits as well as the main video?
Yes. We often produce a primary version for your website or campaign, then shorter edits for social media, email, and internal communications.
Let’s plan your not-for-profit video
If you are planning a fundraising campaign, launching a program, reporting to stakeholders or capturing the story of your work, we would be happy to help.
Ryan Spanger is the founder and managing director of Dream Engine, a Melbourne-based video production company established in 2002. With more than two decades of experience, Ryan has helped leading Australian businesses, government departments, and non-profits communicate their message with clarity and impact through video. He’s known for his strategic approach, reliable process, and commitment to producing videos that deliver measurable results.
