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MEDIA CAUSE IMPACT REPORT 2021

media cause 2021 impact report

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MEDIA CAUSE
IMPACT REPORT
2021

MEDIA CAUSE
IMPACT REPORT
2021

Volunteers building a house.
Scene of a protest, someone holding a sign that says "CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW!"
Scene of a protest, someone holding a sign that says "TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS" - "People" is written on top of a rainbow banner.
Young students with dark skin tones in class.
A scene of whales swimming through the ocean, shot from above.
Volunteers building a house.
Scene of a protest, someone holding a sign that says "CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW!"
Young students with dark skin tones in class.
Scene of a protest, someone holding a sign that says "TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS" - "People" is written on top of a rainbow banner.
A scene of whales swimming through the ocean, shot from above.

AN EYE TOWARDS THE FUTURE

2021 was a complex year. As we entered into a new phase of a global pandemic, alongside increasing political divisiveness, continuing to balance work, life, school, childcare, and ever-changing COVID protocols, the day-to-day started to feel almost normal. 

The ability to settle into chaos allowed us to reflect and to grow. We looked back at our over ten years of successes, and with an eye towards the future, grew our agency to nearly double the size of our pre-pandemic staff. We’re now made up of over 60 marketers, strategists, and creatives with a passion for a brighter future, located in 13 states, plus DC. While we’re not interested in growth for growth’s sake, we are thrilled that the more capable, competent, creative minds we have on our team allows us to better serve and support more impact across our partners' issue areas.

And we’re not even close to done. The world needs changemakers, like you, more than ever— ensuring our democracy is safe, our environment is protected, our kids have all of the resources they need to succeed, and so much more. In our eyes, the sky's the limit with how much impact we can truly make, creating an even brighter, bolder, more equitable future.

Eric Facas signature

Eric Facas

Media Cause CEO

rooted in change

Impact Created with Our Clients

FOUR PAWS

Media Cause helped Four Paws USA educate 20M Americans on the international illegal meat trade by driving 154K video views.

Silver Addy Award logoGold AVA Award logoPlatinum AVA Award trophyPlatinum AVA Award trophy

AFS-usa

During 2021, Media Cause helped AFS-USA place 1,125 students with host families while building relationships with 11k future host families—empowering them to become globally engaged citizens.

UNCOMMON SCHOOLS

Through paid media, Media Cause recruited 4,260 students and 2,707 teachers—helping Uncommon Schools close the achievement gap and prepare low-income students to graduate from college.

National Parks Conservation Association

Utilizing paid advertising, Media Cause supported NPCA in raising $168,000 (20% increase) to protect and enhance America's National Park System for present and future generations.

diatribe

Through paid media and SEO, Media Cause helped get diaTribe’s educational resources into the hands of people living with diabetes—including expanding diaTribe’s support base by over 90,000 individuals.

PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION

Through paid advertising, Media Cause worked with Parkinson's Foundation to raise over $1M to support a greater number of people living with Parkinson’s disease and advance research toward a cure.

starlight children's foundation

In partnership with Media Cause, Starlight Children's Foundation raised $402,922 in revenue, which empowers them to deliver more happiness to seriously ill kids through gaming and entertainment.

By reaching 119K individuals through paid media, Media Cause aided Futures Without Violence in providing groundbreaking programs, policies, and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world.

center for american progress

In partnership with Media Cause, the Center for American Progress reached over 50M Americans—engaging with them through bold, forward thinking ideas, to change the country and improve the lives of all Americans.

FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES

Through paid media, Media Cause helped Facing History and Ourselves educate 12,064,000 individuals with videos that challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate.

buildon

Media Cause helped buildOn grow its brand awareness by engaging with 219K supporters and working together to advance its mission of breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.

women's world banking

Media Cause helped Women’s World Banking grow their online community by increasing engagement on Twitter by 76%—helping them create greater economic stability and prosperity for women, their families and their communities.

pathfinder International

Media Cause helped Pathfinder International increase its online giving by 17%—empowering the organization to further champion sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide.

Animal Rights + Welfare

WE WORK WITH 5 animal rights + welfare ORGANIZATIONS

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education

WE WORK WITH 19 education ORGANIZATIONS

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environment

WE WORK WITH 8 environment ORGANIZATIONS

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health

WE WORK WITH 22 health ORGANIZATIONS

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human services

WE WORK WITH 17 human services ORGANIZATIONS

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human rights

WE WORK WITH 8 human rights ORGANIZATIONS

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international development

WE WORK WITH 5 international development organizations

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IMPACT BY ISSUE

Animal Rights & Welfare

WE WORK WITH 5 animal rights & welfare ORGANIZATIONS

american kennel club

Through strategic targeted campaigns, we helped AKC reshape their brand voice and drive awareness beyond their core audience to all dog lovers.

Our advertising initiatives resulted in more than 48M impressions, 500K video views, and 400K website visits.

animal justice party

We helped Animal Justice Party advance their mission to give animals a political voice in Australia by winning a second seat in the Parliament of New South Wales, growing their membership, and driving new revenue via monthly donations.

Our work has generated over 230K impressions, 74K views, 8,800 clicks, and $12K in new net revenue, strengthening the party's mission to give a political voice to animals. 

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Local
Community

WE WORK WITH 6 local community orgs

children's discovery museum of san jose

We put together Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose’s first paid digital marketing strategy, to generate over 4,000 leads and 600 event RSVP to increase awareness and ticket sales, along with managing their first-ever year-end campaign, raising over $15K.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Environment

WE WORK WITH 8 ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

cornell lab of ornithology

In 1970, there were 45 birds for every single person in the U.S. and Canada. Today? Just 20. But, the data shows that when communities enact science-backed conservation measures, birds come back from the brink — and thrive.

By helping the Cornell Lab of Ornithology raise $4M and growing their monthly giving program by 400%, the Lab is able to invest in science needed to bring birds back.

national parks conservation association

Through strategic, multi-touchpoint campaigns, we helped National Parks Conservation Association elevate their mission to protect our national parks by driving more than 4M impressions and 290K website visits, and raising $275K throughout 2019.

natural resources defense council

Expanded NRDC's social voice and community by sharing 14K posts and generating over 300M organic impressions—helping safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.

oceanic preservation society

We helped the Oceanic Preservation Society raise greater awareness of the human impact on global environmental issues by designing and building a dynamic website experience that drives powerful emotional connections and provides opportunities for individuals to take action. After launch, the website attracted twice as much traffic as the previous site.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Health

WE WORK WITH 11 health ORGANIZATIONS

diatribe

Through Google Ad Grants, Facebook Ads, and organic Facebook content, we drove over 250K people to diaTribe's website to consume diabetes education content, resulting in a 20% year-over-year increase in diaTribe subscribers.

Creakyjoints

Through SEO, we helped CreakyJoints generate a 408% year-over-year increase from organic Google search traffic in just five months — providing arthritis patients and caregivers education, support, advocacy, and opportunities to participate in patient-centered research. 

ovarian cancer research alliance

For Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, our "Knowledge is Power" campaign with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance raised $41,497.57 which was a fantastic 48% increase over the 2018 campaign.

shifamed

In the copycat industry of medical device development, we crafted Shifamed's new brand positioning and messaging to focus on their beliefs and their mission, not just their actions, to set them apart from their competition.

stand up to cancer

Using an approach grounded in online fundraising fundamentals, we helped Stand Up To Cancer accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational cancer research efforts by improving email deliverability, deploying new marketing automation, and increasing the number of cross-platform fundraising appeals.

tap cancer out

Through a multi-channel campaign, we built a community of over 2K Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes to fundraise over $870K for childhood cancer research with Tap Cancer Out.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Large NGOs

WE WORK WITH 2 LARGE NGOS

pathfinder

Thanks in part to our success in search marketing and the growth of the mid-level donor program, Pathfinder International is working to provide 10,000 people in Camp 22 of Cox's Bazaar with sexual and reproductive health care.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Foundation

WE CURRENTLY WORK WITH 6 FOUNDATIONS

herbalife

By growing and engaging Herbalife Nutrition Foundation’s audiences, we achieved a 200% increase in their year-end fundraising, enabling HNF to provide an additional 272K healthy lunches to children in need.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Education

WE WORK WITH 12 EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS

uncommon schools

We helped over 4,500 low-income families become aware of, and take the first step to connect with, the opportunity to enroll their child in an outstanding free, public charter school in their neighborhood in Uncommon School's NYC and Boston regions.

year up

Through a highly targeted, multi-touchpoint advertising strategy, we helped Year Up recruit more than 17,000 young adults to take the first step in gaining the skills, experience, and support they need to reach their full professional potential.

IMPACT BY ISSUE

Human Rights

WE WORK WITH 7 HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

futures without violence

By maximizing the full extent of Futures Without Violence's Ad Grant, we were able to raise awareness and start crucial discussions about coaching boys into men, toxic masculinity, and violence against women.

kurdish project

Kurdish Project reached over 1M users through social media to help cultivate a better understanding between the West and Kurdish culture.

reaching new heights

agency awards + recognition

Toggle for all of 2021's awards + recognition

inc 5000

We were honored for the 3rd time on the Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing business.

backrs

As a new platform, Backrs had not yet established their brand, which led them to reaching out to Media Cause for brand development, naming, logo and visual identity, and launch support.

fourpaws

platinum viddy

Media Cause helped Four Paws address the meat trade issue in Southeast Asia, by telling a clear and compelling story that didn’t immediately drive viewers away with the violent subject matter.
Platinum Viddy Award Trophy

generation progress

gold ava

In collaboration with Center for American Progress, we helped launched campaign inviting Gen Zers to take action by signing a petition to Congress demanding equal access to abortion.
Gold AVA Award logo

slingshot

Together, Media Cause and Slingshot Memphis set out to translate the vitally important work that Slingshot does into cohesive, compelling messages that appeal to each of their key audience groups to galvanize support.

riseup

gold hermes

RiseUP is a purpose-driven marketing fellowship that works to increase diversity, access, and tangible social impact across the marketing and advertising industries. RiseUP was awarded a Gold Hermes award as a DEI Initiative.
Gold Hermes Award trophy

center for american progress

With a Senate markup on the For the People Act slated for May 11th, Ahead of the For the People Act, the Center of American Progress came to Media Cause to create a targeted campaign to engage six key states.

wisdom study

platinum hermes

The WISDOM Study team came to Media Cause to improve their website and update their brand from a cold, clinical look to a more inviting aesthetic that would encourage women to be part of their study to change the way breast cancer is detected.
Platinum Hermes Award trophy
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continuing impactful growth

the year in data

REACHED
1 BILLION
high-quality audience members with relevant content through advanced targeting techniques
Engaged new audiences,
resulting in
93M
engagements
$10 million
raised
bar graph graphic
170k
nonprofit champions made donations
507K

ADVOCATES ACTIVATED

$19m
ad dollars spent
across 45 platforms
24
awards and counting

more than an agency

being on the front lines of social change

When we recognize a gap in the market as an opportunity to create positive change, we take it.

A rotating gif showcasing Media Cause's RiseUP fellows for 2021: Shel Sligar, Isaiah Schutz-Ramon, Joe Colon, Shirley Kim Tang, and Benjamin Doherty

RISEUP

Throughout 2021, the RiseUP Marketing Fellowship continued building on its mission of offering paid training, hands-on mentorship, and real-world agency experience to help more diverse talent launch successful careers in advertising and marketing. Media Cause supported the initiative as a Host Agency for the second year in a row, not only bringing three more Fellows onto the team, but also hiring them into full-time positions once they completed their cohort. To continue to expand the program's impact, RiseUP also formally became a fiscally-sponsored program of Social Good Labs, a 501c3, allowing the Fellowship to partner with many more agencies beyond Media Cause, and create a more diverse and inclusive industry from the bottom up.
view PROJECT
A graphic for Rally Starter that features an image of a protest, with someone with dark skin tone holding up a fist. There is text on either side of the image that says, "CREATE CHANGE".

RALLY STARTER

Rally Starter was created because we believe in people-powered change. Our goal is to democratize advocacy, and make it easy for change-makers to accomplish their goals for a better world. Rally Starter allows everyone with a cause to create a movement. Whether it’s a boycott, pledge, petition, or more comprehensive campaign, anyone who starts a Rally can target decision makers and influencers through one-click phone calls, emails, and social media to make a difference.
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A graphic for If Not Us podcast featuring the hosts, Eric Facas, Sarah Ackerman, and Clara Campbell.

IF NOT US

Also in 2021, Media Cause continued work on the podcast If Not Us, now ranked in Apple’s Top 50 Nonprofit Podcast. The show is dedicated to candid conversations with people doing good in the world. The guests are stepping up to fight for justice, advocating to do the right thing, and addressing pressing social issues. Each episode goes deep with discussions from activists, nonprofits leaders, social influencers, and change-makers.
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nurturing our team

a thriving culture

doubled in size
34
to
65+
employees
13
states
$10K+
dollars donated
200
volunteer hours donated
where we've worked
50%
Employees with nonprofit experience
76%
Employees with agency experience
20%
Employees with nonprofit board experience
Highlights from our Bi-Weekly Bi-Ghostal costume contest
550
coffee talks
16 four-legged friends joined the MC team

grow with us!

Wanna get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.

CONTACT US
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Atlanta

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Washington, District of Columbia

boston

170 Milk Street, 5th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts