It’s our job to keep an eye out for the latest and greatest in the world of nonprofit marketing and fundraising. No one works in a vacuum, plus we’re big believers in uplifting and amplifying the folks doing good work, whether they’re a client or not. In a world seriously in need of do-gooders, there’s more than enough work to go around.
Check out the most recent campaigns that we really, really like from the nonprofit, government, and social impact space—campaigns that inspire us, motivate us, and give us hope, in hopes it’ll do the same for you!
The Sanitation Foundation knows its audience inside and out
The Sanitation Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the NYC Department of Sanitation, tells New Yorkers, “Don’t Do NYC Dirty” — in other words, stop littering!
What makes it great:
- Bold branding that’s relatable. The Sanitation Foundation calls it a “a wake-up call, loud, proud, and unapologetically New York,” and we completely agree.
- Partnerships with authentic, local influencers like @nems_fyl and @greenladyofbrooklyn. There’s no doubt that this campaign is for New Yorkers, by New Yorkers.
- Insights rooted in proprietary research. The Sanitation Foundation conducted a first-of-its-kind study in collaboration with Dreyfus Advisors to better understand how New Yorkers think about litter and their role in keeping the city clean, which informed the campaign.
Maybelline’s strategic partnerships make a splash
We appreciate a good collab, especially when people partner to do good. Maybelline and Gold House, a nonprofit Asian Pacific cultural ecosystem in pursuit of socioeconomic equity, have done just that, making an impact in the beauty space. The result of this collaboration is the “Face the Difference” campaign, which spotlights 40 Asian Pacific trailblazers and visionaries, from Olympic medalists to Broadway stars to influencers, who are shaping beauty, culture, and the Arts.
What makes it great:
- Thoughtful and engaging storytelling. Beyond celebrating the broad spectrum of Asian Pacific beauty, the campaign shares stories of lived experience, embracing heritage, and varied journeys to success.
- The outcome is a storytelling canvas that reflects the identity, strength, and impact of the participants.
The Hidden Trends of Disrespect gracefully tackles a complex issue
This Webby-nominated campaign from the Australian government takes the viewer on a powerful journey into the social media manosphere. With impactful video content, “The Hidden Trends of Disrespect” addresses today’s reality that social media can feed provocative and polarizing content to young people and negatively influence their views and behavior. It’s part of a bigger, national campaign, “Stop it at the Start,” designed to prevent gender-based violence.
What makes it great:
- Compelling creative effectively illuminates a new and complicated issue for parents.
- The campaign empowers its audience by including tools like a conversation guide for parents to help kids navigate online spaces and avoid harmful influences.
The campaign is part of a growing discourse around the negative effects of social media on young people. Instead of blaming or fear-mongering, it does a great job addressing a complex issue in an engaging and constructive way. Kudos!
CDPH reminds young people that it’s okay to ask for help
The California Department of Public Health’s “Never a Bother” campaign focuses on youth suicide prevention awareness and outreach for young people, parents, and peers. To combat California’s mental health crisis, it connects young people experiencing thoughts of suicide with help, reinforcing the premise that needing support never makes you a bother.
What makes it great:
- It’s not only hopeful, but empowering. It’s designed to help young people recognize the signs of suicide so they can seek help for themselves or a friend.
- Given the insight that youth don’t tend to have much confidence in mental health resources and hesitate to ask for help, a Youth Advisory Board of diverse co-creators was leveraged to ensure the campaign would be deeply personal and have genuine, resonant, and culturally sensitive content.
- A bright and friendly creative direction, real human stories, and celebrity partners like Megan Thee Stallion work together seamlessly to spread awareness, reduce the stigma, and ignite discourse on a heavy topic.
We became acquainted with “Never a Bother” through our work with California’s ACEs Aware initiative, a recent recipient of SMANA Silver and Bronze Awards. ACEs Aware partners with CDPH to share its message with providers and caretakers across the state. And we’re not the only ones who think it’s a great campaign; “Never a Bother” is also a SMANA winner!
Zohran Mamdani’s colorful campaign really caught fire
Everyone knows his name now, but for New Yorkers, the name Zohran Mamdani has been difficult to miss over the past several months. Objectively speaking, as marketers, Mamdani ran a fantastic campaign. And by all appearances, it worked.
What makes it great:
- A strong visual identity. Evocative of hand-lettered store signage of yore, Mamdani posters have decorated bodega and coffee shop windows across the city with their instantly recognizable color and font choices.
- The right message for the medium. It helps to be of the Internet generation, but while Mamdani’s campaign made exceptional use of social media, what made it exceptional was an authentic message, delivered simply and clearly, which thus resonated in a big way.
- It was powered by the type of grassroots support that can’t be bought. Doubling down on the importance of a clear and authentic message, the campaign attracted passionate volunteers to knock on doors, canvass passersby, and deliver its message personally.
Political advertising can be mind-numbingly cookie-cutter, which begs the question: Why aren’t more candidates innovating on the form? Yet another reminder that breakthrough marketing requires a standout message.
While the world feels out of sync, The Day that Music Cares brings us together
This Spring, MusiCares showed the world just how much good can be accomplished when we work together. For “The Day That Music Cares,” the nonprofit arm of the Recording Academy invited people across the globe to volunteer in ways meaningful to them, making our communities a better place while building connection.
What makes it great:
- The tagline “United by Music. Driven by Purpose” captures the day’s core message that just like music, volunteerism brings people together and builds community.
- A colorful, attention-grabbing brand that’s in tune with the music industry’s audiences.
- Fun social media assets like stickers, photo frames, and video backdrops encouraged volunteers to amplify the message and share their experience.
Okay, we admit it. HelpGood partnered with MusiCares to develop this campaign, and we’re pretty proud of its results. Over 2,600 volunteers across more than 50 different cities made a difference on The Day That Music Cares. 🤝
Want to learn more about HelpGood’s work in the social impact space?
Check out our case studies to see how we’re helping do-gooders do great. And don’t forget to drop us a line if you think we could help you, too.
