Porter Novelli Melbourne’s pop-up public relations agency jack + bill has ended 2014 with three crowd funding campaigns helping to raise more than $55,000.

jack + bill is an offshoot of Porter Novelli Melbourne and is an Australian-first initiative with the sole commitment of identifying and supporting emerging ideas and talent. Its name is derived from the agency’s entrepreneurial founders, Jack Porter and Bill Novelli, and launched in Australia in 2011 with the ambition to reframe the pro bono public relations tradition.

This year, jack + bill partnered with Pozible to offer pro bono public relations, social media and graphic design support for three selected local crowd funding initiatives.

jack + bill turned the traditional pitch process on its head by inviting crowd-funders to showcase their unique campaigns in front of an industry panel and audience in August, with three campaigns selected by popular vote from the crowd, based on their proposal, unique vision and community benefit.

Traditional and social media, stakeholder relations, branding, web development and opinion leader outreach were embedded in three-month campaigns for Bamboo Monkey (sustainable fashion), Bike Cabs (bicycle rickshaws in central Melbourne) and Foster Care Association of Victoria.

Porter Novelli Melbourne managing director, Peter Kent, said the jack + bill model and the success of crowdfunding initiatives provided new challenges for young staff.

“The three campaigns our work supported now have the capacity to help change transport norms in Melbourne’s CBD, support a sustainable clothing venture, and motivate more care for kids in crisis,” said Kent.

“jack + bill pushed our people to think and work in new spaces and strive to deliver results with a measureable outcome – help each campaign achieve its funding target.”

jack + bill was led by co-founder and PN Social Lead Mandy Griffiths working with Porter Novelli’s emerging team of James Kaufman, Kate Allison, Katie Sheppet, Phoebe Saunders, Chanelle Shibata, Alex Mleczko and Josh Oakley.