National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation plays a critical role in fueling the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs, yet reaching and motivating prospective innovators to apply for seed funding required a focused, modern approach. EFK closed that gap over the last 6 years by developing a targeted digital media and social media advertising campaigns designed to inspire action and demystify the application process. Through strategically crafted ads and engaging video content, EFK brought the Seed Fund opportunity to life. The result was a cohesive, high-energy campaign that elevated awareness, sparked interest, and drove qualified applicants to take the next step toward funding their ideas.
The National Science Foundation plays a critical role in fueling the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs, yet reaching and motivating prospective innovators to apply for seed funding required a focused, modern approach. EFK closed that gap over the last 6 years by developing a targeted digital media and social media advertising campaigns designed to inspire action and demystify the application process. Through strategically crafted ads and engaging video content, EFK brought the Seed Fund opportunity to life. The result was a cohesive, high-energy campaign that elevated awareness, sparked interest, and drove qualified applicants to take the next step toward funding their ideas.
Client
Industry
Services
Awardee Spotlight Series
GRAIN WEEVIL
Video
The EFK team traveled across the United States to capture awardees in their real environments, pairing documentary-style video with smart, targeted digital media placements in scientific, research, and industry-specific outlets.
Break through
your breakthrough
When Innovation Meets Funding
EFK’s creative for the National Science Foundation’s Seed Fund brings the idea of innovation to life by visually placing researchers inside the moment of discovery—surrounded by equations, prototypes, and ideas in motion. The bold headline, “Break Through Your Breakthrough,” reframes innovation as a continuous journey, challenging founders to push beyond their first success toward what’s next. By spotlighting NSF as a critical funding partner, the work underscores how NSF investment helps turn bold ideas and advanced technologies into scalable innovations with real-world impact.
Tech Topic
Video Series
We love a clear, human-centered way to tell complex stories. For the Tech Topic Area Video Series, our creative execution brings National Science Foundation–funded research to life through clean, modern animation that puts scientists, technology, and impact front and center. The animation style is intentionally minimalistic and streamlined, allowing the science to shine while reinforcing NSF’s role in advancing discovery, collaboration, and real-world innovation—turning each video into an accessible, experiential moment that connects research, people, and possibility.
LIFE SCIENCES
ELECTRONICS AND ROBOTICS
ENVIRONMENTAL TECH
Got funded?
Using vibrant, high-contrast color palettes and expressive portraits, the creative puts founders front and center—capturing the joy, relief, and momentum of getting funded. Oversized, declarative typography (“WE GOT FUNDED”) immediately communicates success, while subtle scientific cues—molecular diagrams, equations, and periodic table elements—ground the work in NSF’s deep-tech credibility. Clearly signaling that NSF funding isn’t abstract or out of reach—it’s real, achievable, and built for people like you and your startup.
Results
38% ↑
Project Pitch Starts
76.30% ↑
Website Sessions
96.25% ↑
Unique Visitors
65.1M+
Total Impressions Served
18,733
Project Pitch Starts
1,018,636
New Users
NJ DHS Community Outreach
Through DHS, the Garden State Community Outreach (GSCO) initiative was created to connect underserved communities with vital state resources available to them. GSCO faced the challenge of ensuring that residents across New Jersey—spanning urban, rural, and multicultural demographics—could access these services easily and effectively. To achieve this, EFK launched a multi-faceted awareness campaign, leveraging American Rescue Plan funds, to amplify outreach through digital and OOH media, door-to-door canvassing, and community events.
