Our CreateAthon 2026 Reflection

Written by

multiple authors

Updated on

November 9, 2026 2:29 PM

What happens when we pull an all-nighter for good? Go inside our 24-hour CreateAthon to see how we delivered 24-hours of branding, campaigns, and more for three impactful local nonprofits.

Our 20th annual CreateAthon is in the rearview, and now that we’re a bit more rested, it’s time to reflect. CreateAthon is our annual creative blitz when we press pause on client work and donate 24+ hours to local nonprofits, helping them tell their stories and do even more good in our community.

We've already looked back at what two decades of CreateAthon add up to. This time, we're taking you inside the all-nighter (ornament making, spooky snacks and all).

So what keeps a creative agency up and making through the night? It starts with motivating missions, intentional brain breaks, the race toward revals, and a little help from our friends. Here’s a look at how that all came to life.

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Mission-Based Storytelling

This year we partnered with three incredible partners that were each looking for distinct strategies and deliverables to further their momentum. We split into three teams, one for each nonprofit, giving every partner the right mix of strategists, designers, writers and makers. Then each team huddled up with its partner for the official kickoff to hear their story, talk through their goals and align on the most important deliverables. By the end of these meetings, every team had its challenge they set out to solve:

Nashville Launch Pad runs a network of safer, street-free overnight shelters for unhoused young adults, open and affirming to LGBTQ+ folks and their allies. We set out to help with a refreshed brand, storytelling videos, and a website that makes it easier to volunteer and give.
Saddle Up! has spent 35 years helping children and young adults with disabilities grow through therapeutic, educational and recreational time with horses. Ahead of a facility expansion, we worked to introduce the Room to Ride, Room to Thrive capital campaign to donors and bring their brand-new logo to life, just in time for their 35th anniversary.
Unscripted removes barriers to the power of improv, using play to build joy, resilience, and real human connection, especially for those who need it most. With multiple programs for communities, we were on a mission to put strategy first, giving their marketing a clear direction and a brand refresh to match.

Brainstorming and Brain Breaks

In between video capture and campaign concepting, our team broke for Surprise & Delights — short breaks that give the team a chance to recharge and have some fun while we’re at it.

Our first pencils-down was a ceramic ornament-making class led by our 2025 CreateAthon partner, Buchanan Arts Center. Stepping away to work with our hands for a bit was a welcome reset — and for those keeping score, our very own Caroline Cline's sweater ornament was the best of the bunch.

As the sun went down, the teams kept right on strategizing, designing, and editing. Later in the evening, we paused again for a spooky charcuterie hour and a round of Guess your Halloween Character before heading back in for the long haul.
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Morning Show and Tell

At 9am it was time for the big reveal. One by one, each team presented their work for the first to the nonprofits and each other. We can honestly say this part never gets old.

First up was Team Saddle Up! Who created:

Capital campaign pitch book honoring 35 years and introducing plans for their new building
Storytelling video sharing the mission and vision
Brand usage guidelines for their new logo, colors, and fonts as well as templates with the updated look and feel
Newsletter strategy and templates for their volunteer, programming, and donor newsletters

Next came Team Nashville Launch Pad, who pulled off:

Refreshed brand identity and logo system, keeping their signature dark blue
Brand guidelines and a toolkit of flyers, brochures, social templates, and more
Mission storytelling video and social assets featuring their staff and volunteers
Website updates to clear up the paths to volunteering and giving

Last but not least, was Team Unscripted presenting:

Marketing and positioning strategy
Messaging guide and audience personas
Storytelling video about the power of improv as well as Unscripted’s impact and mission
Brand guide with a family of logos, fonts, colors and a library of illustrations (whoopie cushion included)
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It Takes a Village

If there’s one thing we learn from our nonprofit partners, it’s how many helping hands go into making an impact. We’re so grateful to all of our partners who donated time, resources, fuel, and even media placements for our nonprofit partners.

And to Nashville Launch Pad, Saddle Up!, and Unscripted, thanks for letting us be part of your stories.

Want to see more of what we've made over the years? Browse our past CreateAthon recaps. Want to learn more about CreateAthon and how to get involved? Email jesse@redpepperland.com.