Social Impact Studios

What Social Impact Studios does

Social Impact Studios is a Philadelphia-based creative agency and cultural enterprise founded in 1996 by Ennis and Phil Carter (originally as Design for Social Impact, rebranded in 2018). The company serves mission-driven organizations—nonprofits, social enterprises, activists, artists, and cultural institutions—with communications, branding, and publicity services delivered through a proprietary 'Public Image Works' methodology. The studio also operates a 20-year historical preservation project, Posters for the People, which has documented more than 2,300 WPA-era poster designs and produced a published book (now in hardcover and paperback editions) plus traveling exhibits, screenprinting workshops, Fireside Chats, and a New Deal Film Fest.

The company's revenue is generated across four streams: a managed Public Image Works service program priced at $350-$1,000/month or $100/hour a la carte; a self-paced Public Image Workshop ($99 for an 8-week series); direct-to-consumer e-commerce merchandise (apparel, books, prints, posters, pins, accessories priced $4-$75); and sliding-scale community programs for cultural institutions. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, built around a weekly Creative Hub Bub Zoom gathering that has run since the pandemic, plus organic social, email newsletters, and traveling exhibits. The team consists of six core members operating in a virtual/regional model with presence in Philadelphia, Barcelona, and Louisville. The company is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding.

Notable clients over the studio's 30-year history include Buy Fresh Buy Local, Meatless Monday, Arts Ed Now, Tribe 12, Mural Arts Philadelphia, the National Endowment for the Arts, Partners for Health Foundation, and Act II Playhouse. The studio's house band, The FlipCharts, and an active 2025-2026 product slate (book reprint, music single, 90th anniversary WPA programming) indicate ongoing creative output, though the business operates at small scale with no disclosed revenue, no app or platform technology, and no AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Social Impact Studios

Legal name

Social Impact Studios

Website

https://socialimpactstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Social Impact Studios is a Philadelphia-based creative agency, founded in 1996, that provides communications, branding, and publicity services to mission-driven nonprofits, social enterprises, artists, and cultural institutions through its proprietary Public Image Works methodology, alongside book publishing, merchandise, and WPA poster preservation programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Communications Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Media Creative Agencies (Content & Community) (MPAAAAAE), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Social impact communications
• Creative publicity services
• Nonprofit branding strategy
• Public Image Works method
• WPA poster preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Image Works Service: Managed communications and publicity services following a structured Public Image Plan. Includes strategy, content creation, and ongoing management with tiered pricing based on hours committed.
2. Public Image Workshop: 8-week workshop series teaching the Public Image Works method, available at $99 for the series with recordings and tools included.
3. Merchandise Sales: Direct sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($15.68-$38.72), books (Hardcover $75, Paperback $35), prints, posters, and accessories.
4. Community Programs & Exhibits: Traveling exhibits, hands-on screenprinting activities, 'Fireside Chat' presentations, and New Deal Film Fest screenings available on a sliding scale basis for community hosting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Social Impact Studios is a creative agency that helps mission-driven organizations and individuals with authentic communications, branding, and publicity through its proprietary Public Image Works method. It delivers managed communications subscriptions ($350–$1,000/month), an 8-week Public Image Workshop ($99), traveling WPA poster exhibits and screenprinting programs, the Posters for the People book, and a line of branded merchandise, supported by a free weekly Creative Hub Bub virtual community.

Product overview

Social Impact Studios operates as a creative agency offering a diverse portfolio of physical products, educational programs, and professional services centered on social impact through arts and communication. The core offerings include the Posters for the People book (hardcover $75 and paperback $35) documenting WPA posters from the 1930s-40s, a comprehensive merchandise line featuring apparel (t-shirts $15-$37, caps $38) and prints ($8-$28), The Public Image Workshop ($99) teaching their proprietary Public Image Works method, and the Public Image Works managed service program ($1,000/month) for communications strategy and activation. Their WPA Poster Project extends into experiential offerings including traveling exhibits, hands-on screenprinting workshops, fireside chats, and the New Deal Film Fest. Community engagement is supported through the free weekly Creative Hub Bub virtual gathering. The company was founded in 1996 (originally as Design for Social Impact) and has operated for nearly 30 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Public Image Works: A method that helps good people promote their great work through communications and publicity
• The FlipCharts
• Posters for the People

Products and services

• Public Image Works A managed communications and publicity service for mission-driven organizations that includes strategy development, an annual roadmap, backend setup for social media/analytics/email/advertising, content creation, visual design, and ongoing activation support. Offered at $1,000/month for a full spot (10 hrs/month), with half-spot ($500/month) and third-of-a-spot ($350/month) options, plus $100/hour a la carte support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90th Anniversary celebration of WPA Federal Theatre Project reached over 30 million people during original program (1935-1939)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Act II PlayhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time creative partner in Ambler, PA. SIS designs production promotional material for the playhouse. Currently hosting the Theatre for the People poster exhibit celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the WPA Federal Theatre Project.
• Peters Valley School of CraftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIS team members attended and presented at the Great Craft Gathering event. Peters Valley is a sanctuary for artists of all backgrounds.
• Quirk BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished the Posters for the People book in 2008 (here in Philadelphia) which launched the project into broader recognition with traveling exhibits and community events.
• Library of CongressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSome WPA posters from the project have been cataloged by the Library of Congress.
• Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA year-long leadership program for artists & culture bearers. Featured as one of two exciting national creative initiatives by Ennis Carter.
• CraftSchools.usminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative to promote 5 craft schools across the country, featuring the Make/Time podcast. One of two national creative initiatives highlighted.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• M+R: One of the largest agencies focused on advocacy, nonprofit, and association marketing and PR. Directly comparable as a creative communications partner serving mission-driven organizations, though at significantly larger scale than SIS.
• Spitfire Strategies: Strategic communications firm focused on nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy campaigns. Comparable mission-driven positioning and storytelling expertise, with overlapping service offerings in messaging and publicity strategy.
• Big Duck: Branding and marketing agency exclusively serving nonprofit organizations. Closely comparable in niche focus on mission-driven orgs, offering branding, campaigns, and capacity-building training analogous to Public Image Works.
• Forum One: Digital agency serving nonprofits, associations, and government missions with strategy, design, and technology services. Comparable client base and creative-strategy orientation, though more digital/web implementation heavy.
• Resonance Branding: Boutique brand strategy and design firm working with purpose-driven organizations. Comparable as a small-studio creative partner serving nonprofits and social enterprises with identity, messaging, and campaign work.

Broad incumbents

• Blue State: Larger digital and creative agency serving nonprofits, advocacy groups, and political causes. Comparable mission-driven client base but at much greater scale with broader digital and paid media capabilities that SIS does not offer.
• BerlinRosen: Major PR and strategic communications firm with significant nonprofit and advocacy practice. Comparable storytelling and publicity expertise for mission-driven organizations, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Emerging players

• Creative Reaction Lab: Equity-centered design and social impact studio working at the intersection of art, activism, and community. Comparable mission and creative-activism orientation, though focused more on training and community-led design than ongoing client services.
• Design Impact: Nonprofit design studio that partners with mission-driven organizations on branding, communications, and campaigns. Closely comparable small-team, mission-focused creative services model.

Others

• Quirk Books: Independent publisher that has partnered with SIS to publish the Posters for the People book. Not a direct competitor but a publishing and distribution partner that enables SIS's merchandise/book monetization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@socialimpactvid
• Facebookfacebook.com/SocialImpactStudios
• Instagraminstagram.com/socialimpactstudios
• Xx.com/SocialImpactNow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social Impact Studios