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Public institutions and nonprofits

From mission statement to economic infrastructure

International Energy Agency
US Chamber of Commerce
Council on Foreign Relations
Harvard University Press
Content Authenticity Initiative
Princeton University Press
Open Society Foundations
Salon des Entrepreneurs
Aspen Ideas Festival
New York Road Runners
TNBC Foundation
Artists at Risk Connection
Simons Foundation
The Century Foundation
Library of America
Independent Film Project
Hudson Institute
Human Grid
Creative Capital
Humanity United
NY Media Center
PBS SoCal

Public institutions and nonprofits are already economic engines, employing millions, anchoring local economies, and delivering services society depends on. Yet they operate with the financial fragility of organizations holding weeks of cash reserves, while deficits reach decade highs, service demand outpaces capacity, and funding becomes more politically contested by the year.

The opportunity is significant. Funders and policymakers are increasingly allocating based on demonstrated economic contribution, measurable outcomes, and governance transparency. The organizations capturing budget priority are those that have stopped leading with mission statements and started proving their value in the language decision-makers actually use.

To ensure their transformation is successful, nonprofits and public institutions must align brand, experience, and technology as one system. AREA 17 helps them make that happen.

Read our full public institutions and nonprofit market insights report here.

“AREA 17's Care Program has allowed us to focus on our needs and leave the site's needs to AREA 17. We determine what we'd like done, and meet weekly with AREA 17 to make it a reality.”

“Starting out as a house of 13 brands, AREA 17 worked diligently to transform us into a branded house with one contiguous experience.”

“AREA 17 ask good, pointed questions that help us refine our ideas to create something clear and impactful, and their engineers are knowledgeable and highly collaborative.”

“The AREA 17 team transformed our website into an online experience that conveys the beauty and wonder of our physical location while provoking the user to explore a vast archive of content.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have our website story, and new chapter in our historic narrative, guided by the creative expertise of AREA 17.”

“The impact of AREA 17's work with the IEA fully came to light in 2020. I can’t thank them enough for giving my team the tools we needed to respond to the crisis and collaborate remotely.”

“The new brand and website reflect the IEA’s ambition to make a difference in one of our biggest collective challenges: balancing the planet’s growing energy needs with the threat of climate change.”

“The brand value that we have created has allowed us to be immediately recognized and credible with our stated ambition.”

“There are agencies we work with and others we like to work with... AREA 17 is one of them! The team quickly understood our problems throughout our collaboration and responded boldly to them.”

“Our new website captures the spirit of American businesses everywhere as they work to serve people, solve problems, and bolster communities at home and around the globe.”

  • John Baronian
    IT Director, The Century Foundation

  • Jill Joyner
    Director, Product Management, New York Road Runners

  • Maria Teresa Alzuru
    Senior Product Manager, Council on Foreign Relations

  • Tricia Johnson
    Director of Communication Strategy, Aspen Ideas Festival

  • Christie Henry
    Director, Princeton University Press

  • Jad Mouawad
    Head of Communications & Digital, International Energy Agency

  • Jad Mouawad
    Chef de la communication et du numérique, International Energy Agency

  • Jad Mouawad
    Head of Communications and Digital, International Energy Agency

  • Aude Thomas-Criton
    Marketing & Digital Director, Salon des Entrepreneurs

  • Suzanne Clark
    President and CEO, US Chamber of Commerce

Public institutions and nonprofits index