Ideabar is accepting nominations for the Empowering Equality program now through Sept. 30. One metro Atlanta nonprofit will win $250,000 of in-kind marketing services to advance racial equality and social justice. Ideabar, a Cox Enterprises company, is a world-class marketing and media agency with offices in Atlanta and West Palm Beach, Fla.

The organization that tells the most compelling story about how it is advancing racial equality and social justice will be awarded in-kind marketing services, including research, branding, creative advertising campaign, collateral design and website development. No purchase of services is required to enter or win.

"Ideabar believes in the causes of purpose-driven brands with missions that change lives," says Ideabar Managing Director Amy Royster Bridger. "Our team of creative professionals is motivated to respond to racial injustice in a meaningful way through this program."

Metro Atlanta-based nonprofits should use the following guidelines to enter:

• Tell a powerful story (up to 500 words) about how the organization advances racial equality and social justice to create a more equitable society by addressing systemic racial discrimination in areas such as education, employment, criminal justice, the environment, healthcare, voting, etc.

• Describe how they would use $250,000 in marketing services to help tell that story.

• Include two testimonials from board members or executive leaders in the organization and two testimonials from people positively impacted by the work they do.

All eligible submissions received throughout the contest period will be judged by representatives of Ideabar based on the following criteria:

• Advances racial equality and social justice to create a more equitable society by addressing systemic racial discrimination in areas such as education, employment, criminal justice, the environment, healthcare, voting, etc. (33.4%)

• Articulates a powerful story of how the organization advances racial justice and social justice that can be amplified through the contest's in-kind marketing services provided as the prize (33.3%)

• Is led by a racially/ethnically diverse executive leadership team and/or board (33.3%)

Contest timeline:

• Entry Submissions Accepted: August 15 – September 30, 2020

• Finalist Judging Period: October 1 –14, 2020

• Finalist Notification & Vetting: October 15 – 21, 2020

• Public Voting: November 2–16, 2020

• Final Judging: November 17 –30, 2020

• Grand Prize Winner Announcement: on or about December 1, 2020

Ideabar's pro bono marketing challenges have awarded $350,000 of in-kind services since 2019. The 2019 pro bono program was open to Palm Beach County nonprofits and awarded services to Loggerhead Marlinelife Center. In 2020, the agency set out to give back to the Atlanta community, where its parent company Cox Enterprises is based. The Green for Good Environmental Marketing Challenge was open to metro Atlantanonprofits who are driving positive environmental change, with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper winning the $250,000 award.

To enter the contest, find more information and complete official rules, visit https://empoweringequality.ideabar.agency/.