Adcouncil

About Adcouncil

Adcouncil is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to driving social change through strategic communication and public service advertising. Founded in 1942, it operates at the intersection of marketing, public health, and social advocacy, leveraging the power of creative messaging to address critical societal issues. Headquartered in the United States, Adcouncil has a long-standing reputation for mobilizing industry professionals to create impactful campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. Its mission is rooted in the belief that advertising can inspire positive behavior change and advance the public good. The Adcouncil develops and distributes a wide range of public service campaigns across various media platforms, including digital, broadcast, and print. Key features of its work include evidence-based research, collaborative partnerships with agencies and nonprofits, and measurable outcomes that demonstrate social impact. Its target audience spans policymakers, community leaders, and the general public, with campaigns addressing topics such as mental health, environmental conservation, and education. By uniting the advertising industry’s creative talent with social causes, Adcouncil ensures its messages are both compelling and effective. Over the decades, Adcouncil has achieved numerous milestones, including the creation of iconic campaigns like "Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk" and "A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste." It holds a unique position as the largest developer of public service advertising in the world, with a network of hundreds of agencies contributing pro bono expertise. Adcouncil’s value proposition lies in its ability to amplify social messages at scale, bridging the gap between creative innovation and societal progress. Its work continues to set the standard for how advertising can drive meaningful change.