Non-Profit Guerilla Advertising that will Blow Your Mind [Pics]

1. Chicago Anti-Pollution Campaign

This was created using a stencil and a power washer. It is a great example of non-destructive guerrilla marketing. This great technique probably took its cues from "clean graffiti " where instead of defacing buildings and walls with spray paint, artists clean sections to make their designs. Here is a great NPR Article about it.

*apparently there is speculation that this image is photoshopped and not an actual guerrilla ad. If this is the case, then it represents an effective online viral marketing campaign instead. Either way, it got people talking.

2. Anti- Smoking Ads

The anti-smoking movement has had some terrific advertising in both print and television. They also have some incredibly creative and effective guerilla campaigns. Here are a few examples:

* sniff strip reads: This is how you smell when you smoke. 4,000 toxic chemicals leave a stench no perfume can mask... just ask the people around you. Please stop smoking, You'll smell better instantly. Call 1-800-438-2000.

3. Amnesty International

Less Guerilla than Outdoor ads for Amnesty International Spain. I thought it was worth including these.

This signs says: ‘More than 4000 condemned until death are waiting for their execution. No to Capital punishment’. In case you can't tell, the guy is sitting in an electric chair.

* hands say "wrong opinion."

The following are a series of transparent ads done by Amnesty International highlighting injustice and hardship across the world. The Copy reads: "This is not happening here, but this is happening now."

4. Aids Campaigns.

This was a stunt by Act Up, sponsored by Benetton and without French government approval.Not long afterwards, the old eroded top of the obelisk was replaced by a gleaming golden pyramid to protect it. Probably not a coincidence that the top was made so sharp.

To promote the use of condoms in Buenos Aires, Argentina the government covered the city's central Obelisk with a giant pink colored condom. It was part of World AIDS day on 1st December. The idea was taken originally from the French version of this idea.

Here is another example that is debatably guerilla, but probably more of just an Outdoor ad that interacts in an interesting way with the environment. I thought this one was particularly noteworthy in that it conveyed the idea that you can't know if someone is HIV+ unless they tell you, and also that many HIV+ people don't even know that they are. Very smart and effective advertising.

5. Anti-Pollution and Environmental Campaigns

CO2 from car exhaust destroying a balloon earth. Copy on the blown up balloon reads: "The World Can't Take Any More CO2." This one is simply genius.

Along similar lines in China from the World Wildlife Fund.

6. Green Belgium World Water Day Initiative

GREEN Belgium's goal is to give access to potable water to as many children as possible. For World Water Day, more than 500 of these Green Belgium stickers were stuck in washbasins in cinemas, pubs, restaurants, public toilets, universities and stations in nine Belgian cities and in Mexico City (where the 2006 World Water Forum was held)

7. Homelessness Guerilla ads.

* I featured this next one once before on a blog post, but I thought it was so great I had to mention it again for those of you who haven't seen it.

* cross reads: "every winter, hundreds of homeless die on the sidewalks. react."

If any of these ads made you feel charitable, here is a list of links to donate to charities associated with some of these innovative guerilla advertisements.

Amnesty International

The Foundation for a Smoke Free America *or maybe someone could redesign their ugly site...

Act UP - Donation for AIDS

Donate to Aids Research

Coalition for the Homeless

Salvation Army

Green Belgium Donation -not sure how this one works.