Impactful campaigns are the ones we remember long after the moment has passed; the ones that move people, shift conversations, and spark real change. Since 2015, the Shorty Impact Awards has celebrated this kind of work: not just creativity or innovation for its own sake, but campaigns and initiatives that shape the future of generations to come.
For the past decade, we’ve seen agencies, brands, non-profits, changemakers, and creators transform bold ideas into action, and action into lasting impact. These are the organizations that remind us what truly matters: what changed because they did it?
As we look ahead to 2025, with its challenges and opportunities, we’re proud to spotlight the 9 agencies that continue to fight for good, push boundaries, and prove that purpose-driven work can transform industries, communities, and lives.
Here’s to the last 10 years of unforgettable campaigns, and the impact that still lies ahead.
Edelman
Since their first appearance at the Shorty Impact Awards, Edelman has shown the power of building communities and transforming lives by connecting with people’s most pressing needs. Through campaigns addressing education gaps, mental health, and sustainability, they’ve demonstrated how purposeful work can spark action and drive lasting change.
Here are some of the projects that have moved the needle from the very first Shorty Impact Awards to the most recent one:
1st Annual Shorty Impact Awards - Savers Rethink Reuse
The Savers' ‘Rethink Reuse’ campaign aimed to raise awareness of fashion’s environmental impact and encourage consumers to reduce waste through smart shopping and clothing donations.
9th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - The Advil Pain Equity Project
The Advil Pain Equity Project’s ‘Believe My Pain’ campaign aimed to raise awareness of pain inequity in Black communities, empower patients to advocate for themselves, and educate healthcare providers to address systemic bias.
McCann
Since our 1st Shorty Impact Awards, McCann has demonstrated a high level of commitment to supporting important causes, from school shootings to LGBTQ+ community support and highlighting social justice and health. The team has worked hard in creating social content, films, and used storytelling, real stories, and more to show the importance of inspiring change.
Here are some campaigns that have resonated in the last 10 years of Shorty Impact’s history:
1st Annual Shorty Impact Awards - Fearless Girl
The ‘Fearless Girl’ campaign aimed to celebrate women’s empowerment and create a global symbol inspiring people to advocate for gender equality.
9th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - We Stand For by Mastercard
Mastercard’s campaign aimed to make the fight against cancer personal, encouraging people to honor loved ones affected by the disease while inspiring public action and donations through Stand Up To Cancer.
Digitas
Digitas has built its reputation as a global marketing leader by crafting campaigns that blend creativity with data-driven insights. Their journey with the Shorty Impact Awards began at the very first show, where they stood out for their ability to transform information into experiences that spark action. Over the years, Digitas has delivered work across industries such as beauty, education, and cultural institutions, always to make an impact that extends beyond the brand itself. Whether through immersive social content, bold campaign design, or initiatives that educate and mobilize audiences, the team continues to show how purposeful creativity can drive change in society. Here’s their latest campaign at the Shorty Impact Awards:
7th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - The Other Side
The campaign, launched with Ascend, aimed to challenge the ‘model minority’ myth, highlight workplace discrimination faced by Asian American professionals, and call for systemic change.
Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick has long been recognized as one of the most influential voices in global communications, and its presence at the Shorty Impact Awards underscores that reputation. Having won several awards across categories, they’ve consistently demonstrated how campaigns can combine emotion, innovation, and purpose to resonate on a global scale. From driving conversations around diversity and inclusion to tackling environmental challenges and advocating for mental health, Weber Shandwick’s work doesn’t just market messages; it inspires movements. With strategies powered by technology and storytelling fueled by purpose, they’ve proven that creativity has the power to influence culture and shape future generations.
Here’s one project to get inspired:
9th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - GREENIES™ HOUNDSTOOTHLESS™
GREENIES™ set out to raise awareness of widespread canine dental disease by sparking a cultural conversation outside the vet’s office—using fashion, through the “HOUNDSTOOTHLESS” campaign, to spotlight the issue and position the brand at the center of the discussion.
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis made its debut at the 5th Shorty Impact Awards, the first fully digital show for the Impact Awards program, and immediately showcased its ability to create meaningful connections. Known for their expertise in communications and narrative consultancy, the agency excels in public relations, talent integration, and brand storytelling. Through a global call to “stay together,” they tapped into emotion and human connection, demonstrating how strategic communication can inspire action. With their in-house brand studio and focus on integrated campaigns, Sunshine Sachs continues to craft work that resonates deeply while delivering clear, purposeful messaging. Here’s one of their most impactful campaigns:
5th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - One World: Together at Home
Global Citizen pivoted its mission of ending extreme poverty to address the urgent impact of COVID-19 by launching One World: Together at Home, a global campaign to support frontline healthcare workers, fund the WHO, and encourage audiences to stay home.
Picture Motion
Since the 2nd Shorty Impact Awards, Picture Motion has shown the transformative power of storytelling, bringing ideas to life through film and entertainment. Their mission is to drive change, create impact, and inspire the next generation. From films promoting civic engagement and disability awareness to projects supporting the environment, their work consistently demonstrates real societal impact. At Picture Motion, the team combines creativity and expertise to craft stories that not only resonate but also generate meaningful change, which is their main mission.
Here’s a great example of what they are capable of:
To spark dialogue on race, identity, and politics, Picture Motion created an impact campaign for HBO’s Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, launching a grassroots screening tour that mobilized students and communities nationwide to drive voter registration, civic engagement, and greater inclusion in political representation.
Ketchum
Ketchum is a global communications and PR consultancy known for transforming data and insights into campaigns that inspire action. They’ve worked with major brands like Frito-Lay, Mastercard, and PepsiCo to develop strategies that go beyond brand awareness to create meaningful impact. From social media and video storytelling to large-scale activations, Ketchum’s team specializes in building purpose-driven campaigns that advance diversity, gender equality, education, and community change.
Here’s one of their latest projects:
9th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - Flamin' Hot University
Flamin’ Hot created a fictional Flamin’ Hot University (FU) to fight the student-loan crisis at HBCUs, using exclusive merch sales, promoted by Megan Thee Stallion and Melody Ehsani, to fund scholarships and empower students.
Mullen Lowe
From North America to Europe, MullenLowe has demonstrated since its first participation in the 3rd Shorty Impact Awards how creativity and a well-crafted communications strategy can raise awareness on issues that matter. With clients such as Magnum, Knorr, the Alzheimer’s Association, Persil, and more, the agency excels at telling stories through people and connecting emotionally to drive meaningful results. Their campaigns combine strategic thinking, creative storytelling, and social insight to inspire action and create impact. Check out one of their most successful project at the Shorty Impact Awards:
3rd Annual Shorty Impact Awards - Pure Imagination Project
The Pure Imagination Project aimed to raise awareness of the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s, highlight the need for creative solutions in finding a cure, and spotlight the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts.
RPA
RPA is an advertising and marketing agency dedicated to delivering measurable results. Leveraging AI, technology, and data-driven insights, the team creates innovative campaigns across video, social media, activations, and design. They’ve been part of the Shorty Impact Awards since the second edition, winning their first award for Auto, where they gave children a creative and inclusive experience during the holiday season. RPA combines strategic thinking and technology-driven creativity to connect brands with people and drive meaningful impact. Check out the case study:
8th Annual Shorty Impact Awards - All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Participant’s campaign for All the Beauty and the Bloodshed aimed to amplify Nan Goldin’s activism against the opioid crisis, strengthen her nonprofit PAIN’s digital presence, and engage the public in harm reduction advocacy while driving awareness and recognition for the film.
Going Forward
These agencies show us what’s possible when creativity meets purpose. Through compelling stories and measurable impact, they develop projects, initiatives, content, and campaigns that tackle society’s most pressing issues. By inspiring action through innovation, creativity, and results, they are shaping the next generation of changemakers.
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