Ad Council
Where creativity and causes converge.
Overview
The Ad Council is a unique American nonprofit organization that produces and distributes public service announcements (PSAs) on behalf of various causes. While not a software tool that a nonprofit can purchase, it is a critical player in the nonprofit advertising space. The Ad Council partners with volunteer advertising agencies to create campaigns for causes like wildfire prevention (Smokey Bear) and mental health awareness. These campaigns are then distributed to a massive network of media outlets that donate their ad time and space, resulting in billions of dollars worth of donated media each year.
✨ Key Features
- Development of national PSA campaigns
- Partnerships with top advertising agencies
- Distribution of campaigns across TV, radio, print, and digital media
- Securing billions in donated media space and time
- Focus on major national social issues
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Unique model that convenes the advertising industry for social good
- Unparalleled ability to secure donated media at a national scale
- Long history of creating iconic, culture-changing campaigns
Unique Value: Provides a mechanism for the most important national causes to receive world-class advertising and massive media exposure at no cost, achieving a scale of impact that would be impossible for any single nonprofit to fund.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Iconic campaigns like Smokey Bear ('Only you can prevent wildfires')
- The 'Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk' campaign
- COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Individual nonprofits seeking to run their own ad campaigns
- Fundraising for a specific, local organization
- Campaigns that are not focused on a broad, national social issue
💻 Platforms
💰 Pricing
Free tier: The Ad Council's services are not for sale; they select causes to support based on a variety of criteria.
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