Pepsi Refresh Project: Difference between revisions

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The '''Pepsi Refresh Project''' (PRP) was a 2010 initiative by [[PepsiCo]] to award $20 million in [[Grant (money)|grants]] to individuals, businesses and non-profits that promote a new idea that has a positive impact on their community, state, or the nation. The project is completely separate from the Pepsi Corporate Foundation and uses money budgeted for marketing.<ref>Howard, Brian Clark: [http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/recycling-design-technology/pepsi-refresh-project "Pepsi Refresh Project Inspires Kids to Eat Veggies and Puts Solar Panels in New Orleans"] The Daily Green, November 15, 2010</ref>

More than 80 million votes were registered and, at its peak, 37% of Americans were aware of the Refresh Project.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/history-advertising-no-185-pepsi-refresh-project/1424314|title = History of advertising: No 185: The Pepsi Refresh Project}}</ref>

In early 2012, Pepsi abandoned the Refresh Project. One opinion is due to declining market share and falling to third place behind Coke and Diet Coke. <ref>Craig Bida: [http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/186127/why-pepsi-canned-the-refresh-project.html "Why Pepsi Canned The Refresh Project"] MediaPost, October 29, 2012</ref>

This project has been the focus of a 2013 Harvard Business School case ("The Pepsi Refresh Project: a Thirst for Change"), describing the process that Pepsi's marketing team, led by senior marketing director Ana Maria Irazabal, went through to come up with this idea.<ref>Michael I. Norton, Jill Avery, The Pepsi Refresh Project: a Thirst For Change, HBSP 512018-PDF-ENG</ref>

In early 2012, Pepsi abandoned the Refresh Project. One opinion is due to declining market share and falling to third place behind Coke and Diet Coke. <ref>Craig Bida: [http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/186127/why-pepsi-canned-the-refresh-project.html "Why Pepsi Canned The Refresh Project"] MediaPost, October 29, 2012</ref>

==Rules==

The PRP began on January 13, 2010 when the website, ''refresheverything.com'' began accepting ideas online. In contrast to the extensive requirements of Federal and Philanthropic organizations, the application process did not require skill in [[grant writing]]. The rules of the project state that the first 1,000 ideas proposed online each month will be considered for a share of $1.3 million available<ref>Ryan, Sean: [http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2010/11/10/this-side-up-campaign-competing-for-250000-grant-from-pepsi-refresh-project/ "This Side Up Campaign competing for $250,000 grant from Pepsi Refresh Project"] Richmond Biz Sense, November 10, 2010</ref> It took less than a week for one thousand "January" ideas to be submitted and the site stopped accepting ideas.

Voting started February 1, 2010 for the group of ideas proposed during January. On March 1, the first grants were announced<ref name=PEPSICO /> in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, the Planet, Neighborhoods and Education.<ref name=PEPSICO>[http://www.pepsico.com/PressRelease/Pepsi-Refresh-Project-Opens-First-Voting-Session-to-Public-With-More-Than-1-Mill02012010.html "Pepsi Refresh Project Opens First Voting Session to Public With More Than $1 Million To Be Awarded in February for Ideas That Move World Forward"] PepsiCo website, Press Release</ref>

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Up to 32 ideas may be selected every month in each of the following grant segments: $5K; $25K; $50K; and $250k. Individuals, non-profits, and socially beneficial businesses are eligible to compete in all categories.

In September 2010, the Pepsi Refresh Project was criticized for allowing a coalition of progressive, nonprofit organizations called the 'Progressive Slate' to participate in the project, accusing the company of violating its own terms. <ref>[http{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/business/01pepsi.html "|title=Pepsi Refresh Contestant Claims Rules Were Broken"]|first=Stephanie|last=Strom|newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 1, 2010}}</ref>

===Power votes===

Codes printed on Pepsi sodas cancould be redeemed for "power votes",<ref>{{cite web|title=Power Vote|url=http://www.refresheverything.com/power-vote|accessdate=16 July 2011}}</ref> in a way a hybrid of a [[loyalty program]] and [[crowd funding]]. The soft drink marketer had placed an alphanumeric code under the caps of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max two-liter and 20-oz. bottles, as well as 12-pack and 24-pack carton wraps. Each code was worth between five and 100 votes; participants entered the code on the Power Vote page on the Pepsi Refresh site to find out its worth.

== Metrics ==

The Pepsi Refresh Project generated more than 80 million votes and "37% of Americans were aware of the Refresh Project".<ref name=":02"/>

The Pepsi Refresh Project included the risks associated with digital promotions, due to the nature of the campaign. [https://sites.psu.edu/svbrungo/2018/07/19/case-study-the-pepsi-refresh-project/ "This was not corporate philanthropy. This was using brand dollars with the belief that when you use these brand dollars to have consumers share ideas to change the world, the consumers will win, the brand will win and the community will win. This was a big bet. No one has done it on this scale before]", declares the head of digital, [[Shiv Singh]].

==NFL==

Prior to [[Super Bowl XLIV]], the [[National Football League]] website hosted a one-week Pepsi Refresh Project contest for ideas suggested by NFL players. [[Drew Brees]] was the winner of the "Super Bowl Refresh Project" with more than half a million votes. A $100,000 grant was given to the Hope Lodge in New Orleans for no-cost housing of cancer patients and families.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=refresh-project "Pepsi Refresh Project"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018061526/http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=refresh-project |date=2010-10-18 }} NFL.com, February 5, 2010</ref>

==Gulf disaster==

In response to the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]], on July 12, 2010 a special competition was announced within the PRP: '''Do Good for the Gulf'''. An additional $1.3 million was committed to projects for communities in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas which were adversely affected by the disaster.<ref>Schwartz, Ariel: [http://www.fastcompany.com/1676942/pepsi-refresh-projects-do-good-for-the-gulf-campaign-takes-off "Pepsi Refresh Project's "Do Good For the Gulf" Campaign Takes Off"] Fast Company, August 2, 2010</ref> The application period was a full month, the response was overwhelming, and 32 projects were funded with grants,<ref>[http://www.refresheverything.com/blog/2010/07/14/do-good-for-the-gulf-be-a-part-of-another-winning-team/ "Do Good for the Gulf: Be a Part of Another Winning Team"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130215212/http://www.refresheverything.com/blog/2010/07/14/do-good-for-the-gulf-be-a-part-of-another-winning-team/ |date=2010-11-30 }} Refresh Everything website</ref> which ranged from providing mental health services for oil disaster victims, to building seafood farms to help employ displaced workers, to creating shelters for animals that lost their homes.<ref>Schwartz, Ariel: [http://www.fastcompany.com/1676942/pepsi-refresh-projects-do-good-for-the-gulf-campaign-takes-off "Pepsi Refresh Project Announces Do Good for the Gulf Finalists"] Fast Company, September 2, 2010</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

*[http://www.refresheverything.com Pepsi Refresh Project]

[[Category:Philanthropic organizations based in the United States]]