Every other year, AAF Cape Girardeau awards a local non-profit organization with an in-kind media grant and free creative services. Through this free marketing grant, AAF members are able to give back to the community while exercising their creative and strategic minds.
The grant provides advertising assistance, production and media placement valued at $120,000 for one or more regional public service organizations. Eleven regional marketing and media companies, have donated services to fund the grant, which will be coordinated by AAF Cape. Generous sponsors include: C106FM, Dockins Radio Group, DSW Signs, FOX Radio Network, KFVS/WQWQ, KBSI/WDKA, KZMA, Red Letter Communications, River Radio, Rustmedia, Spectrum Reach, The Wright Group and WSIL/KPOB.
To apply for the Advertising for a Cause grant, please fill out this online application. Once the recipient(s) is selected, multi-media public service campaigns will be developed and implemented for selected organizations.
Eligible organizations must service AAF Cape Girardeau membership area, including Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Questions on applying should be directed to Advertising for a Cause Chairman Nicolette Brennan at info@aafcape.com
Advertising for a Cause was initially launched in 2009 with four media and creative sponsors and awarded a $40,000 grant to the Eastern Missouri Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Since then, program has expanded to include more sponsor and creative agency partners. To date, Advertising for Cause has delivered over $620,000 worth of free exposure to local non-profit organizations.
MEDIA CONTRIBUTORS
Seventeen regional marketing and media companies, including broadcast television stations FOX 23 KBSI/WDKA MY 49, WPSD and WSIL/KPOB; cable systems Charter Media Southeast Missouri and New Wave Communications Poplar Bluff; radio stations River Radio Group, KYMO, Withers Broadcasting Group, FOX Radio Network Group, Pure Country C106, and Dockins Radio Group; outdoor display companies DSW Signs Outdoor Advertising, Bootheel Signs and ADWORKS; creative service companies Red Letter Communications, Andrew Chronister Video Productions, and The Wright Group have donated $10,000 each for production or placement services to fund the $190,000 grant divided between the three agencies and coordinated by AAF Cape Girardeau. The media partners will develop and implement a multi-media public service campaign for both non-profits. AAF Cape Girardeau received applications from 20 regional public service organizations throughout the group’s three-state service area before selecting Fowler-Bonan Foundation’s “Clothes for Kids”, Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, and Kenny Rogers Children’s Center as the 2015 recipients.
HISTORY OF ADVERTISING FOR A CAUSE
The Advertising for a Cause grant debuted in 2009 when four local media organizations donated $40,000 worth of creative production and media placement to be used for a worthwhile public service campaign with potential to deliver tangible results. AAF Cape Girardeau received the American Advertising Federation’s National Club Achievement Award for the 2011 public service campaign that awarded $100,000 to the SEMO Food Bank. Today, the number of media organizations participating in Advertising for a Cause has quadrupled and the donated amount is nearly five times higher than the original grant.