We’re EPICYou’re EPIC

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EPIC empowers the creative industry to use its resources and talent to make social change happen.

Table of Contents

ABOUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

FROM THE FOUNDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

OUR PARTNERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

BE THE RALLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11A few things creative professionals love about being on an EPIC “rally” team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 LIVE THE RALLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Tips for creative directors and principal designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Account managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Team members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

The plan: A week-by-week schedule for a really EPIC rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

GET RALLIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67A few things nonprofits love about being an EPIC client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

CASE STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75American Nutrition Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Organic School Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Barrel of Monkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

A sample of our nonprofit clients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

RALLY BEHIND EPIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89A few things our partners love about EPIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Sponsorship levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

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EPIC launched in 2009 with a signature programming initiative: eight-week creative rallies during which creative professionals and nonprofits join forces. Together, they make a bigger impact on the world than either could alone.

At regular intervals, we select teams of top-flight advertising and design professionals, pairing them with nonprofit clients dedicated to education, children and families. Over the course of eight weeks, the teams—working on a strictly probono basis and led by an esteemed creative director—devise marketing solutions that their nonprofit clients need.

This book explains how our creative rallies work. But rallies are just one way EPIC engages creative professionals in social change. Our lectures and events build community and serve as a bridge between the social service sector and the creative industry.

EPIC has big, blue-sky plans for the future. The advertising and design industries are full of boundless talent. Crazy-unstoppable talent. In the coming months and years, EPIC will introduce new initiatives to give the industry more opportunity to use that talent for social good.

And if you take all of that to its logical conclusion, it means that our prospects as an organization are crazy-unstoppable, too.

About

Learn www.iamepic.orgApply to be on a team www.iamepic.org/creativesApply to be a nonprofit client www.iamepic.org/nonprofits

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We all want our lives to count. We long to care about what we do on a daily basis, to add value, to give back, to make a difference, to serve.

EPIC is an idea that came out of the desire to continue working with talented creatives while also serving nonprofits and provid-ing what they need in order to flourish. There is such a need on the creative side: for talented people to feel the freedom to do amazing work on projects they believe in while also maintaining their corporate work at full-time or freelance positions. And there is an overwhelming need in the nonprofit world for strategic, well-positioned, conceptual, beautiful solutions that will drive aware-ness of the needs in our society and put us on a path toward solving those problems. The creative community should be and can be the “go to” place for service and discussion! This is why EPIC was born.

The development process was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, a little piece here…one there. EPIC is the answer to a need. There was no Einstein moment. No big light bulb went off and suddenly everything made sense.

The inspiration started with Hank Richardson at Portfolio Center, where we talked about doing design work that can change the world. Then, that passion grew at SamataMason as we watched the Samata’s grow their foundation, Evan’s Life Foundation, which was started in memory of their son, Evan.

After being in Chicago for a few years, I learned about Project: Philanthropy, started by Kelly Kaminski and Stewart Cottman. Being involved with weekend workshops, doing identity systems for small nonprofits, helped me understand this intense desire within creatives to make a difference in the world. Why would we be given such a gift if we were not to use it to better our society?

After joining the AIGA Chicago board, the conversations continued.

Designers ask:“How can we do outreach better?”“How can we get involved with our communities and make a difference with our talents?”

Being EPIC is simple. Do great work with new friends that you have never worked with before and celebrate what you have contributed that will, in turn, impact lives.

To me, giving is at the very core of life. Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes it’s really hard. But it is always necessary.

Join this movement as we explore how EPIC can become the fun and meaningful collective approach to service as a creative community.

Erin HuizengaEPIC Founder

From the Founder

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Junior Board Advisory BoardBoard of Directors

FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTORErin Huizenga Lead, gravitytank

PRESIDENTTiffany Meyers Freelance Writer

VICE PRESIDENTKelly Kaminski Principal, Grip Design

TREASURERKathryn Rosanova Kathryn Rosanova CPA & Assoc., Inc.

Philip Barash Director of Marketing and Development, Chicago Loop Alliance

Mark Drozd Partner/Creative Director, Simple Truth

Kristian EspinosaDesign Director, Motorola

Maris Grossman Analyst, gravitytank

Timothy Hogan Partner/Creative Director, The Royal Order of Experience Design

Julie Jawor Lead Designer, gravitytank

Kel Knaga Design Educator/Designer

Jamey Lundblad Director of Communications, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture

Eva Penar Director of Marketing and Communications, The Chicago Community Trust

Scott Reinhard Senior Designer, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

Ginny Tevere VP, Design Director, Edelman

Rose Walker Recruiter, Creative Circle

Marc Altman Project Manager, See3 Communications

Miguel A. Cervantes Design Researcher

Brigid Eduarte Art Director, Acquity Group

Liz Kramer Design-Oriented Do-er

Ashley Lewis Designer, Fig1 Brand Studio

Javier Lopez Designer

Hendrika Makilya Freelance Designer

Justin Ahrens Principal/Creative Director, Rule 29

Dan Bassill President, Tutor/Mentor Connection

Tim BrucePartner/Creative Director, LOWERCASE

Katrina Limbaugh Cabrera VP, Communications Director, Energy BBDO

Joy Giggie Strategic Marketing Consultant

Dawn Hancock Owner, Firebelly Design; Founder, The Firebelly Foundation

Kevin Lynch SVP, Creative Lead, Proximity/BBDO

Maureen Mizwicki Senior Associate Director for Major Gifts, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Hank Richardson Director of Design, Portfolio Center, Atlanta

Marybeth Schroeder Senior Program Officer, Evanston Community Foundation

Eva Silverman Director of Arts & Community Support, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture

Carol Vick Co-Owner, Kelliher and Vick

Justin Winget Creative Design Director, Levy Innovations

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“Since we launched, I’ve watched this incredibly engaged community of talented, fun, devoted people spring up around EPIC—without a whole lot of PR or ‘pushing out’ on our part. I think it’s because our mission lines up with the creative community’s heart so perfectly.” Tiffany Meyers Writer President, EPIC

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Many thanks to our sponsors. Their partnership and support help make EPIC possible.

“ Creative Circle is a national leader in the business of help-ing creative professionals find work, so we know how exciting it is to see people effect change with their creative skills. We help make it happen every day. That’s why we’re honored to be the first annual sponsor of EPIC—to help enable these pro-fessionals to use their passion, talents and drive in creating positive change for nonprofits.”

Dennis Masel Managing Partner, Creative Circle

Be the rally.

Creative Professionals

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networkingYou’ll meet other creative, whip-smart people you might not otherwise get to know—including people from highly regarded advertising and design boutiques.

that feel-good feelingYou’ll help nonprofits that need your expertise. By extension, you will also help the people these nonprofits serve.

something newBeing part of an eight-week creative rally is an adventure. It’s something like a reality TV tshow. After all, you don’t choose your team members or your client, so there’s an element of the unexpected. Imagine “Big Brother,” only nicer. And cooler. we partyAt the end of rallies, we celebrate the work—and the people responsible for it.

it’s finiteWe’re not asking you to sign your life away. The commitment is finite: creatives donate about five to ten hours per week for eight weeks. That includes a two-hour weekly meeting, plus three to eight hours of time designing, writing and/or concepting.

A few things creatives love about being on an EPIC rally:

“I learned that no matter how short your timeline, the project can and will be suc-cessful when you work with people that are truly dedicated.” Kelly Butler Writer on the CASA of Cook County team

“EPIC taught me that compassion is as much a creative tool as strategic thinking and brainstorming.”

Ashley Meroney Project Manager for the Organic School Project team

“In my regular work, I tend to defer to people in higher positions or with greater expertise, but this experience taught me that I have a responsibility to speak up when I have a unique perspective or valuable information. Since then, I’ve been more a more vocal member of my team, and that’s had a positive effect on my work.”

Jeffrey Brennan Writer for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter team

Live the rally. Creative Directors & Principal Designers

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Sound like fun?

Actually, it’s huge fun. And you’re in good company. Past team leads have included Mark Drozd, Renata Graw, Tim Hogan, Kelly Kaminski, Kevin Lynch, Myra Mazzei, Greg Samata, Rick Valicenti, Alisa Wolfson and Robert Zolna—as well as many other people whose careers you’ve followed over the years.

In a way, you can’t lose. Your experience and innate creative talent will make it work. The trick is to make sure everyone gets what they came for: the client, a great project; the team, a great experience. You are the center point of making that all happen.

So, you’ve signed up to lead an EPIC team. You will be guiding a group of people you haven’t worked with on behalf of a client you don’t know toward a goal that you won’t decide upon until you get together to figure it out.

“Leading a rally allowed me to experience something rare in our industry: a team of motivated, creative people part-nering with clients who appreciated everything that was being done for them.”

Tim Hogan Partner/Creative Director, The Royal Order of Experience Design

EPIC Board Member and recent team leader

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know your teamChances are you will be working with people whose style, approach and expectations are way different than what you’re used to. Try to meet with them ahead of time.

help them get to know youMore communication is better. They will constantly be trying to figure you out. Let them know how you like to work, what you will expect.

let people do their jobsThe rally is collaborative, and people are coming to use their minds as well as their creativity. They want to figure stuff out: how can you empower them to do that and make this a great learning experience for them?

use rally sessions as touch pointsEspecially early on, each week should be productive. Set a goal for each week, give assignments and have people bring their work to each meeting. Eight weeks goes really fast. communicateCheck in during the week. Use 37signals® Basecamp as a common work server. Make sure your team knows what that week’s goals are.

be the hostThis goes for both your team and client. The more comfortable everyone feels, and the more open your communication lines are, the better your rally will go.

reign in scope creepWe come from an overachieving, over-delivering industry. And, when you and your team fall in love with your client’s cause, you might be tempted to expand the scope of your project. But it’s your job to make sure the deliverables you promise can be completed in eight weeks. Not ten weeks. Not twelve. Eight. That’s what makes EPIC do-able. And it’s what everyone signed up for.

Tips for Team Leads

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Oh, and of course, it’s your duty to keep everyone on track to meet goals, including the almighty eight-week deadline. If you find your team starts adding projects that will take longer than eight weeks to complete (it’s a natural impulse), speak up. Crack the whip. Tell ‘em what’s what. Your team will thank you on week nine.

As an organization, EPIC serves as a bridge between the nonprofit world and the creative industry. As the account manager, you’re the personification of that scenario. You’ll help communicate (read: translate) the goals and objectives of your creative team to your nonprofit client—and vice versa.

Account Manager

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Joining an EPIC team is a great chance to meet new people, learn new tricks of the trade and help a worthy cause. Not to mention getting cool work samples. But it will take some finesse on your part. It will definitely be a different gig. You’ll have a new creative director, new teammates and an unknown client. That’s part of the excitement.

Team Members

show upThe team will be counting on everyone to participate. If you have to miss a meeting, follow up with your creative director asap.

participateTeams are chosen in part for their creative diversity. Your ideas are important. Please share them.

speak upChances are you won’t know your other team members. So working habits and styles will vary. Make sure to let your col-leagues know how you can work best.

be openAs much as it is a time to share, there will also be a lot you can learn and try out. Try to leave your old habits at the door.

be committedThe rally is an intense eight-week program. Your team and your client need you for some great work. Please honor your commitment.

Tips

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The client will have completed an EPIC initiation brief, so perhaps this is the best way to start the briefing. The client will present the overview of the organization, goals, competitive landscape and marketing history. The team will ask questions. Lots of them. It’s all good. Learn all you can, no matter what side of the table you’re on.

The account manager can conclude the briefing with a summary and review of next steps. This means a quick recap of what will happen at each subsequent meeting. After the client leaves, the team might have their own recap and initial assessment of what will be needed.

prepare the way for week 2: the strategic analysis and plan . strategistThis is your time to get your marketing analysis together. We suggest a classic SWOT analysis to get the team focused, but you may have other tools at your disposal. Whatever you choose, Week 2 is when you need to get the team clear on the client’s situation. all team membersCheck the client’s and competitors’ websites. Get your heads into the game. Learn what you can about their world.

the briefing1 This is the official ‘find out’ meeting.

The starting point. You will meet the players, figure out who’s who and who will be doing what. Like any new business start-up, general introductions are the best way to start.

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Save the last half of the meeting for an initial brainstorm. Map stuff out on a whiteboard or big paper. The creative director and strate-gist should lead this. Plot their existing marketing year, if there is one. Get a lay of the land. Note those hunches, half-baked ideas, whatever, down on paper. This is where the team starts to learn who they are, who’s skilled at what. Should be awesome.

plan for week 3 . creative directorGet the team ready for next week’s concept blow out. Give assignments, even if they’re sketchy at this point. If you know you need an identity or ad campaign, start to map this out, so people hit the ground running next week.

photographerThink about when and how to photo-document the rally meetings for the EPIC Celebration Party and team archives. And join in the concepting!

all team membersGet ready to rumble next week. If you don’t have a specific assignment, start freewheeling now. You’ll know by now if the con-cept orientation will be identity, print, electronic or social network in nature. Start conceptualizing!

This is the strategists’ meeting.

The strategic briefing should be presented and discussed. (You might want to give the creative director a sneak preview before this meeting.) Do a team analysis on the client’s existing marketing plans, advertising, web, etc. Are there any basic needs, like an identity or website, or do they need a new campaign or promotional effort? This is where you start to figure this out and rough out your plan.

the SWOT team2

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plan for week 4 . creative directorFigure out the presentation. What will you show, and who will present it? We recommend the creative team presents its own work, but you need to evaluate their willingness and ability to present.

account managerContact the client and confirm their presence at next week’s meeting. Let them know what to expect and not to expect. Re-mind them of their role and the need for clear feedback. (You may have to help prompt this. Review the chapter of this book entitled: Get Rallied.)

strategistPrepare your strategic analysis for presentation. This should lead next week’s meeting to provide context for the concepts.

all team membersThis is where the heavy lifting will start. Budget your week to allow time to work on your concepts and presentation.

The overall goal here is to have your concepts roughed out so that a) the team knows how and where to proceed in the coming week, and b) next week’s presentation starts to take shape. As you start to think about execution, this will be a good time to factor in the talents of your team photographer and a potential shoot time, location, etc. It’s not too early to start planning on potential production/execution needs now as well.

concept time3This is idea week. Concept city. The goal of this meeting is to get as many pertinent concepts blocked out as makes sense. You might want to divide this meeting in half: start with giving all ideas their due, pushing them to where they’ll go. Then, for the last half, start to cull things down, merge, shape, add legs—you know what to do.

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plan for week 5 . Your next steps are really based on the client feedback. The account manager should get back to the team ASAP: then it’s a matter of the team dividing tasks and working out specific deliverable dates.

the BIG PITCH4 It’s show time, folks.

Time to present strategy, concepts and your plan of action for the coming four weeks. The biggest issue will be figuring out how much time to allow the client for feedback. Hint: aim for midweek. This meeting should be big fun for everybody involved!

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In many ways, this is the pivotal week. Because this is the time when concepts evolve into real programs, executional plans are made and timetables agreed upon. Your meeting will be a real working session: feedback will be examined, final deliverables figured out. It’s also a good time to review plans for final layouts and copy.

refinement5

Based on the outcome of this meeting, the account manager will want to check in with the client to inform them of the plan moving forward through completion, just three short weeks away.

This is also the time to finalize whether other EPIC professionals (PR, media) will be needed for their expertise in making the recommended programs happen.

plan for week 6 . creative teamFinalize layouts and content; line up production resources; work with account management to schedule photography, production, etc.

strategistFinalize/craft strategy for final presentation.

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Now that there are some working pieces of content and strategy, the writer and strategist can begin to build the EPIC kit that will be handed off to the client at the celebration event. (The kit is EPIC’s name for whatever final deliverables are to be completed, as well as the final strategy, client communication plan, PR or media plan, and/or any guidelines or other expected follow-through for the client to use once the rally is completed.)

the kitplan for week 7 . designer/art directorSupervise photography or other visual elements; prepare final work for production/release.

writerFinalize all copy, proofread, assist in preparation of kit content.

strategist/account manager Assist in preparation of kit content, assist creative team in production logistics.

creative directorSupervise and oversee all finalized work, assist writer or designer as needed.

6This week the team will be deployed against finessing and finishing the agreed upon projects.

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Prepare to present and celebrate some great work for a good cause. This meeting will be the team’s chance to present and review all final work and programs.

The client should provide final feedback at the meeting to give the team time to meet next week’s final release of the CD/files and kit. If you haven’t already, this might be a great time to crack that bottle of wine in celebration of a job well done.

presentation #27

Note:Depending on the complexity of your work, you may need this week for further executional or production time. If so, combine the client presentation with next week’s hand-off and celebration.

plan for week 8 . designer/art directorSupervise photography or other visual elements; prepare final work for production/release.

writerFinalize all copy, proofread, assist in preparation of kit content.

strategist/account managerAssist in preparation of kit content, assist creative team in production logistics.

creative directorSupervise and oversee all finalized work, assist writer or designer as needed.

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It’s time to acknowledge and celebrate. This is it, folks. You’ll all have a chance to check out the completed rally program and wrap up all loose ends. As one last and lasting task, decide how to document your rally for the EPIC archive and to show-case it at the rally celebration party.Think Keynote presentation, video or, yes, even PowerPoint.

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“Sometimes we advertising professionals come together to use our powers for good. And nothing feels better than that.”

Myra Mazzei Art Director/Designer

“Few things in life are as meaningful as helping other people. EPIC gave me the opportunity to not only help a group in need, but also help myself by becoming more aware of the world I live in.”

Brendan Shanley Print and Web Designer, McGuffin

“EPIC is a wonderful way for a creative person to be generous with his or her natural gifts, and that generosity comes back tenfold in the form of appreciation. I really got that our EPIC client valued our perspective, our ideas and partner-ship. It’s a huge psychic reward.”

Mark Drozd Partner/Creative Director, Simple Truth EPIC Board Member and recent team leader

“ At the very end of the last meeting, when we wrapped up reviewing the entire site with the client, the Executive Director looked at all of us and said, ‘This is just a dream come true.’ It was a great moment and everyone in the room had a huge smile on their face!”

Kelly Kaminski Owner/Creative Director, Grip Design Vice President, EPIC, and recent team leader

Get rallied.Nonprofits

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professional talentAs an NPO, you’ll get a team of motivated, skilled professionals who treat you like a first-tier, big-time client.

zeroing inThe creative team is focused. They approach your business issue strategically and really bore down to your most critical needs.

passionate partnersLike the nonprofit professionals you work with, your rally team embraces your cause and works amazingly hard to do what’s right for your organization. It’s almost like having a dedicated marketing department on the job. It’s about you. Not them.

it’s liberatingThere’s no describing what it’s like to have professional, strategic marketing counsel for your most pivotal issues. Suddenly, you have a communications plan as big and bold as your cause.

we partyAs the client, you are as much a part of the celebration as the rally team. It’s fun to mingle and network with other nonprofits and their key people, let alone hang with a bunch of fun and dedicated creatives.

A few things nonprofits love about being an EPIC client .

“We’ve gotten a ton of response in terms of volunteers. People see the new brand, which cre-ates an emotional connection, and they’re like, ‘Hey, this is cool. I want be a part of that.’ ”

Michael Stroka

President, American Nutrition Association

“The Organic School Project staff gasped in awe when we initial-ly opened the home page. AWE, you guys. Everybody loves it, and we are so happy to finally be entering the 21st century with a website that works for us instead of against us!”Sen HainesDevelopment Coordinator, Organic School Project

“One foundation invited us to apply for a grant to the tune of $100,000. No one would have given us that kind of money in the past. So the process is building and these materials have been important building blocks.”

Barry Benson VP for Development and Communications, Literacy Chicago

“It’s been great for our organization.We’ve seen an increase in our perfor-mance attendance since launching the brand… And the materials are just gorgeous to look at. That’s been the reaction.”

Amanda Farrar Executive Director, Barrel of Monkeys

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Case Study: American NutritionAssociationRecently, the creative director who led the EPIC rally for the Chicago-based nonprofit, The American Nutrition Association (ANA), shared some high points (and other points) from the EPIC experience.

funny pointAt the first meeting, the client looked around the room of volunteers and was astonished we were all there for the ANA. He thought we were three teams from EPIC, not one.

high point The clients looked forward to the weekly meetings. They mentioned feeling as though they were getting an inside glimpse at what it’s like to work in a real-life creative agency.

challenging pointThe EPIC process is great when an organization has identified specific problems that need solving. With the ANA, we were starting with very little—which is why we attacked on so many fronts simultaneously.

low point We had several dropouts and no strategist, which affected our ability to assign roles and scope deliverables.

eureka point After our photographer’s first photo shoot, the designers were pumped about the outstanding assets they’d have to work with.

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productive point We produced so much in eight week: a brand blueprint, marketing strategy, PR messaging, site map for the website, home page designs, DVD packaging, brochures…

continuous point We continued working with the ANA after the rally to arm the organization with assets while mentoring them on the process of defining their brand.

fun point The wrap party was a lot of fun. The venue—Catalyst Ranch—was great.

American Nutrition Association Brand Blueprint: Version 1, March 2010 13

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Case Study: Organic School ProjectWe asked a recent EPIC team member to tell the story of working with the nonprofit, Organic School Project (OSP).

So we got to work with this nonprofit called Organic School Project. They introduce locally grown and organic food to kids in Chicago’s inner-city schools—places where children don’t always have access to fresh, healthy food.

For eight weeks, we sat in a conference room and hashed out ways to make the website bigger, better, stronger, faster. We wanted it to be more informative, interactive and compelling for stu-dents, teachers, donors and parents. But we also had to redesign it so that it would be easy for the people at OSP to manage.

As a creative, it was exciting for me to use my powers for good instead of evil .

And it was fun to see the client’s eyes light up when we helped them save money—money that could be put to better use—by transfer-ring their website to a free management system. (Their current one was costing money.)

Their eyes also lit up when we devised ways to keep people on their site longer, hopefully inspiring them to donate money or take action in their communities.

At the end of the rally, it was great to go to the party to show off the goods, see what other rally teams created for their nonprofits and schmooze with lots of like-minded people. It was a chance to create positive connections within the creative community as well as the nonprofit world.

Metrics, photo shoot, web guides, website, schmoozing…not bad for a day’s work.

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Case Study: Barrel of MonkeysEPIC’s project for Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based nonprofit that teaches children writing, was nothing short of a fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a barrel of monkeys. They were a very eager bunch, and they were great at showing kids how to express themselves. But they needed a way to tell the world about their important mission and work.

Says the barrel of monkeys: “We knew our visual identity was not quite there. We were great at what we were doing, as far as education, but we needed a way to convey our brand more consistently.”

Then another enthusiastic group—EPIC—came along. These creative volunteers wanted nothing more than to help the monkeys to tell their tale.

Says the barrel of monkeys: “What was really wonderful was that, first, they were all volunteers, and, second, they were also professionals that we would normally would never have access to.”

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When the two groups met, it was love at first sight, and they knew they were meant to be together.

“They gave us a lot of great things—from usage and style guides to things we never thought of before,” say the monkeys. “The ‘Donate Now’ sticker was unexpected and original. That one idea has spurred a lot of new thinking throughout our organization.”

In eight short weeks, the barrel of monkeys had gone from randomly banging on their typewriters to writing Shakespeare (at least when it came to marketing).

“Our experience with EPIC really helped us change the way we look at marketing. It helped us see how to connect ideas—where to begin, how to move forward and how to drive awareness in everything we do.”

And they all lived happily ever after.

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American Nutrition AssociationThe mission of American Nutrition Association (formerly Nutrition for Optimal Health Association) is to promote optimal health through nutrition and wellness education. They seek to create social change by educating children, women and men about the role of nutrition and wellness in health.

Arts of LifeArts of Life is an artistic community that provides adults with developmental disabilities an environment to experience personal growth.

Barrel of MonkeysBarrel of Monkeys (BOM) is an ensemble of actor/educators who create an alternative learning environment in which children share their personal voices and celebrate the power of their imaginations. BOM accomplishes this through creative writing workshops and in-school performances of children’s stories. BOM also engages the broader community in support of the visions of children through public performances of their work.

CASA of Cook CountyCASA of Cook County speaks up in court for abused and neglected children and ensures that children live in safe, permanent homes. CASA of Cook County’s trained volunteers research cases and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on this additional information to make the best decisions about children’s futures.

Girls in the GameGirls in the Game provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well-being of all girls.

Lincoln Park Community ShelterThe Lincoln Park Community Shelter brings our community together to empower homeless men and women to make life changes.

EPIC nonprofit clients: the list is growing .

EPIC helps social service nonprofits in Chicago—organizations with big missions and small marketing budgets. The nonprofits listed here—a sample of those we have served—were selected to be EPIC rally “clients” because of their readiness, clarity of strategic plan and their focus on children, families and/or education. And the list? It’s growing.

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Literacy ChicagoLiteracy Chicago is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the literacy skills of Chicago-area adults and families.

Organic School ProjectThe Organic School Project (OSP) combats childhood obesity and related health epidemics through a growing, teaching and feeding model, laying the foundation for youth to build sustainable lifestyles.

Project KindleThe mission of Project Kindle is to improve the quality of life for children, young adults and families through recreational experiences, educational programs and support services.

2 BigHearts FoundationThe mission of the 2 BigHearts Foundation is to heighten awareness of heart disease among women by communicating the tragic story of Gigi Clarke and Sally Czechanski and by working with the health care community to educate individuals and families about the causes and prevention of heart disease in women.

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Rally behind EPIC.Partners

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We empower the catalysts— creative professionals who have a burning desire to take on social issues and the talent needed to raise awareness, change minds, engage hearts, open wallets and rally people to action. We change the social sector by applying proven methods of branding and strategy to employ beautiful, impactful messaging that drives nonprofit missions.

We define a new normal for creatives and nonprofits. EPIC’s community-building, programs and workshops present ideas and best practices aimed at key decision makers, policy writers, nonprofit and community leaders and people in the advertising, design and communications industries.

Join us in our programming and mission, promoting responsibility and initiatives to hundreds of EPIC believers each year. Through your support, we will continue im-pacting the lives of creatives and will help more and more nonprofit organizations in need.

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more bang for your bucksWhen you rally behind EPIC, you’re supporting more than the creative community. You’re supporting our nonprofit clients, their missions and the families they serve.

proven model EPIC’s impact is proven. During EPIC’s first two years, rally teams supplied more than $1 million in probono creative services.

measurable impactOur creative solutions gets results. Consider the EPIC client, Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS), which played two EPIC-produced videos during their annual fundraiser. LPCS credits the videos directly with having helped them earn $50,000 more in donations than they’d aimed for. Barrel of Monkeys, a nonprofit that runs writing workshops for public school children, reports a 106% increase in donations after the introduction of EPIC’s marketing campaign. exposureSponsors gain exposure to the community of loyal, engaged fans that surrounds EPIC, including two distinct and influential audiences: creative professionals in the advertising and design industries and nonprofit executives and their boards of directors.

an eye toward the futureEPIC is growing. In the next several years, we will roll out a series of new programming initiatives, all centered on our mission. Sponsorship support allows us to extend our impact.

A few things sponsors love about EPIC .

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Annual

Seasonal

20/20

RallyUnplugged

Your logo with link on EPIC website as a sponsor

Short description of your company on EPIC website

Your logo on appropriate EPIC event invitations

Signage at appropriate EPIC rally events

Distribution of complimentary materials to EPIC event attendees

Two tickets to appropriate EPIC rally event

Two tickets to EPIC annual fundraiser

Your logo with link on all EPIC e-newsletters

Two tickets to EPIC Unplugged or EPIC 20/20

Your logo and company bio with link on EPIC Unplugged or EPIC 20/20 page of website

Your logo with link in EPIC e-news announcing/following EPIC Unplugged or EPIC 20/20

Recognition at the EPIC Unplugged or EPIC 20/20

Acknowledgement as annual sponsor of EPIC annual fundraiser

Shared acknowledgement as EPIC annual sponsor at all events

Signage at annual fundraiser

Annual $ 15,000

Seasonal 10,000

Rally 5,000

EPIC 20/20 + EPIC Unplugged:*

No. Attendees0-3940-99100+

*Exclusive $ 2,500 4,500 7,000

*Non-Exclusive $ 500 1,000 2,500

Sponsorship Levels

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“ I think this is going to have a lasting influence in Chicago and perhaps beyond. Congratulations, and thank you for the opportunity to be a sponsor.”Doug Hoogstra Account Executive, Darwill Printing

“Organizations that support EPIC get direct exposure to creatives in a very direct and personal way. An additional benefit: the supporting organizations get

‘brand rub-off’ from EPIC’s good-guy cachet.” Fletcher Martin Creative Director, A5, and recent EPIC team leader

This book was sponsored by printer Rider Dickerson.

Printed in 4C process on the HP Indigo 7500 at Rider Dickerson. The Indigo 7500 offers offset quality digital printing and the unique capability to print white ink on rich, dark stocks and clear substrates for eye-catching graphics. It’s truly digital without compromise. To learn more, visit www.riderdickerson.com or contact Dean Petrulakis at 312-676-4119 or dpetrulakis@riderdickerson.com.

Digitally printed on Neenah SUNDANCE® 100 PC White, Digital Felt Finish 100 lb. Cover, and Digital Smooth Finish 100 lb. Text, containing 100% post consumer fiber and manufactured Process Chlorine Free. This paper is Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) certified ensuring responsible forest management. www.neenahpaper.com

EPIC is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible. To make a donation, visit iamepic.org. Or, to donate by check, please pay to the order of: EPIC and mail to:

EPIC, P.O. Box 268590, Chicago, IL 60626

Learn www.iamepic.orgApply to be on a team www.iamepic.org/creativesApply to be a nonprofit client www.iamepic.org/nonprofits