Client:
RISE
Harnessing the Power of Sports for Civic Engagement Campaign
Social Media
Photography
Copywriting
Video Editing
Graphic Design
The Challenge
In a presidential election year, the stakes couldn’t be higher. RISE, a nonprofit dedicated to using sports to champion social justice and improve race relations, set out to empower athletes, coaches, and fans to participate in democracy. Their initiative, RISE to Vote, aimed to educate and inspire civic engagement nationwide.
- Content needed to be informative yet engaging, standing out in crowded feeds while remaining true to brand standards.
- Messaging had to remain nonpartisan in a politically charged environment.
- The campaign required coordination across multiple sports leagues, organizations, and stakeholders.
- With limited access to photography and video, storytelling had to be maximized with what was available.
The Insight
The solution lay in sports as a trusted voice. Athletes are cultural icons whose influence extends far beyond the field. By partnering with the professional teams and leagues already aligned with RISE, the campaign could reach fans where they already gather: stadiums, screens, and social media feeds.
The Solution
Campaign Duration: July 1 – November 5
Mission: Educate, equip, and inspire athletes, coaches, and communities to vote.
We built a multi-channel campaign powered by strategic sports partnerships and tailored, platform-specific content:
- Strategic Partnerships: NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA, and NPSL, leveraging their platforms to amplify RISE’s message.
- Digital Presence: Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and a dedicated campaign hub at RiseToVote.org.
- Direct Engagement: In-person and virtual sessions with teams, educational webinars, and presence at major sporting events.
- Content Strategy: Branded graphics, educational reels, and collaboration posts with teams and athletes to maximize reach.
Partnership Teams
Participation Shapes
Communities and Society.
The Results
Over four months, RISE launched a campaign that proved the cultural force of sports can fuel democracy.
Social Media Highlights:
Viral moment: Kayvon Thibodeaux collaboration ree
- 48 posts published across all platforms
- Viral win: Kayvon Thibodeaux reel hit 267K+ views and 174,595 (Sept 17)
- Election Day impact: Post reached 15K+ people with 20K+ views
Qualitative Impact:
Beyond numbers, the campaign created real educational value.
Feedback from coaches and athletes reinforced how RISE to Vote expanded awareness:
The RISE to Vote program was a unique opportunity for our players to learn about the importance of being informed. While high profile college student-athletes, they still underestimate the power of voice toward change in our society… what better way to reinforce this reality than to not only encourage them to act as part of their civic responsibility, but also encourage others to become informed and engaged citizens– Brian Kelly
–