Business3 min readBy Sasha Potapova

Social projects for business: why they matter and how to make them

A social project for business is not a charity post once a year. It's a way to show what the company stands for and to make people remember it. Animation is one of the most gentle and clear tools for this.

What the data says

Trust in brands is becoming one of the most important assets. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 special report on brands, 80% of people trust the brands they use — more than business, media or government in general. 73% say their trust in a brand would grow if it honestly reflects what is happening in society.

In Russia there are expectations of business too. According to a VCIOM survey (August 2024), 61% of Russians believe that the social projects of large companies should serve all local residents first of all, and they name support for healthcare (51%) and education (37%).

What the company gets

  • Trust and recognition. A story you want to come back to works longer than an ad campaign.
  • Meaning for the team. Employees are proud of projects that change something around them.
  • Partnerships. Foundations, NGOs, museums and media are happy to work with businesses that come with a long-term idea rather than a one-off campaign.
  • Content for years. A film, a series of videos or a platform keeps living after launch.

Why animation

Animation explains complex things simply and without pressure. It protects subjects when the topic is sensitive and makes it possible to show what cannot be filmed. It is also easy to adapt for different channels — from an in-store screen to social media.

Cases

Liza Alert × X5 Group. We made an animated video about bracelets for people who might get lost: a detailed, calm guide on how to join the programme. For a retailer it is an opportunity to do something useful right where it is closest to people. See the case →

The Predanie foundation. A cartoon about Nastya, who was helped to buy a special bicycle. We told a story not about need but about help that has already changed a life. See the case →

Klaxon Production × Talina Group foundation. An example of a company's charity foundation investing in animation to speak to children and families.

"A Planet Unfit for Life". A social project that brought together six agencies — an example of business and creative teams working on one theme.

How to launch a project

  1. A theme connected to your business. The strongest projects grow out of what the company already does.
  2. A partner with expertise. A foundation or NGO that knows the subject from the inside.
  3. Research. Conversations with subjects and experts before the script.
  4. A format that fits the goal. A video, a series, a platform, an exhibition — or several at once.
  5. A plan for life after launch. Where the project will be shown, who will talk about it, what the viewer will do next.

We take care of the whole path from idea and research to launch. You can come with just a subject — write to us, and we'll help you define the task.

Sources

  1. Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 — Special Report: Brands
  2. VCIOM: Corporate social responsibility (August 2024)
  3. Sostav: Why charity foundations invest in cartoons — the case of Klaxon Production and the Talina Group foundation
  4. Sostav: "A Planet Unfit for Life" — a project that brought together 6 agencies

Brief

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Write to us using the contacts below to discuss your project, or fill in the brief and we will get back to you

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