⭐ Join Our 2026-2027 Cohort ⭐

7 Teams

Pairing one nonprofit, one independent impact artist, and a squad of corporate agency volunteers.

New York City

Collaborative workshops and strategy clinics hosted in Manhattan.

8 Sessions

A structured mix of in-person and hybrid sessions running from November '26 through March '27.

A PSA is a message designed to:

1.) Inform the public about an important issue
2.) Connect people to resources
3.) Spark conversations that can shift
cultural understanding

The Co-Lab Experience

Program Outputs

Every team moves through the accelerator with a goal of transforming a critical community message into a live, professional media campaign. By the end of the five-month cycle, participants will have produced:

A Deployed PSA Campaign: Guaranteed ad placement across F.Y. Eye’s digital display network in neighborhood hubs, health centers, and community spaces throughout New York City. We also actively advocate for donated public media space across the city whenever possible to expand the campaign's reach.

A Strategic Campaign Blueprint: A comprehensive creative and distribution strategy document tailored to the nonprofit’s target audience, outlining goals and outreach approach.

A Creative Asset Suite: A package of visual assets that the nonprofit can amplify across social media, email newsletters, and website landing pages, and for later distribution via their own media plan/purchased media. As well as a designed pitch deck to bring new stakeholders and funders to the table.
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Education + Connection

The Co-Lab is an active, collaborative workspace, rather than a traditional agency-client model. Team members co-create together. All sessions build off of the last and include guidance from skilled professionals in the nonprofit, creative, and advertising sectors. This includes:
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Learning Labs: Led by industry experts on public interest communications, design thinking, and audience research.

Team Working Sessions: Allowing immediate workspace to co-design and implement strategies from learning labs.

Tools and Worksheets: Each team is given custom materials every session to navigate the creative process step-by-step.

Feedback Opportunities: Via group discussions and office hours each team is given multiple opportunities to refine campaign plans and art with input from F.Y. Eye and industry experts.

The Commitmment

To ensure every campaign receives the focus and dedication it deserves, the program relies on a structured, collaborative schedule across all team members.
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‍Active Attendance: Presence is mandatory for all eight cohort milestones for the nonprofit, the artist, and volunteer team members. Hybrid sessions are held twice a month on Friday mornings from November 2026 to March 2027.
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‍Asynchronous Momentum: Between formal sessions, teams dedicate 2 to 4 hours per week to collaborative development reviewing drafts, refining strategy, and locking in production assets.

Nonprofit Stewards: F.Y. Eye builds the launchpad, but the nonprofit will steward the campaign long-term. Nonprofits must be prepared to invest time and energy after the program ends to maximize the strategy and asset toolkit built during the program.

Three Ways To Join:

For Volunteers:

The Co-Lab gives you the space to stretch your creativity, collaborate across disciplines, and use your craft to support causes that matter locally. This is a unique opportunity to see your work in action across New York City, build your portfolio with real-world social impact work, and connect & compete on Pitch Day.

Desired Skills: Strategy, Account/Project Management, Art Direction, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Public Relations, Media Planning + Buying, and Data Analysis.

Team Size: 3–5 Volunteers per team (including a designated Volunteer Lead)
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‍Applications for volunteers open on 9/1/26.

For Nonprofits:

The Co-Lab equips your 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the tactics, tools, and talent to launch a bespoke advertising campaign. If you are looking to promote equity, expand access to resources, and improve the lives of historically underserved New Yorkers, this accelerator provides the dedicated creative support and guaranteed public media exposure needed to capture the city's attention.

Capacity Mandate: You must name three staff members upon application who will attend all sessions.

Application Scoring Rubric

Nonprofit Application

For Designers:

The Co-Lab offers NYC-based independent visual storytellers a unique, paid platform to turn your creative craft into real change. Collaborate with passionate community leaders to translate complex human experiences into compelling public art. This is a space where you lead the visual execution as the team's Creative Lead, supported by a structured strategy framework and direct peer-to-peer feedback loops with fellow cohort artists.

Technical Qualifications: Applicants must be independent visual artists with proven, hands-on experience in Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite, and professional digital design workflows.

Compensation: Selected artists receive a guaranteed financial stipend for their work throughout the 5-month cycle.

Designer Application

Nonprofit + Artist Info Session: August 14, 2026 (RSVP Here)
Nonprofit + Artist Applications Close: August 31, 2026
Volunteer Applications Close: September 29, 2026
Nonprofit Finalist Interviews: September 16- September 18, 2026
Decisions: Week of October 2, 2026_{Program dates to be shared with program finalists.
Please email any questions to colab@fyeye.org by August 11, 2026 for Nonprofit and Artist applications.}** Frequently Asked Questions **