This year, ad agency Free Range Studios–dubbed the Creative Agency with a Conscience–will be offering their annual Youtopia grant to a progressive nonprofit. But here’s what’s really interesting: for the first time ever, they will also be offering a grant to one socially conscious for-profit business as well.

The design firm, who is known in some circles as the most successful cause-based viral movie maker, is offering up to $15,000 worth of design and/or strategic communications services from their menu of core offerings: strategy consulting, identity design, web design, print design, and online movies. Finalists will be featured on the website, where everyone can vote on their top picks for the best projects trying to change the world.

Past winners include Sustainable Table, for whom Free Range Studios created the award winning viral video, the “Meatrix“, now viewed over 20 million times and translated into 43 languages. Take the red pill and learn the truth about the reality of factory farming. They are also the brains behind the popular “Grocery Store Wars,” where organic fruits and veggies battle it out with the dark side of the farm–Star Wars style.

So why is the design firm branching into helping for-profit businesses with their annual giveaway? According to co-founder Jonah Sachs, it’s because they realized that the power to create social change is no longer exclusively in the domain of nonprofits and political campaigns. In a recent article in Ad Age, Sachs writes,

This is a lesson we’ve learned from our clients, such as Gary Hirshberg at Stonyfield Farm and Tom Szaky at Terracycle. These guys are entrepreneurs making huge progress in creating healthier, more sustainable food and ending waste, respectively. Activist Annie Leonard, with whom we made the viral video hit “The Story of Stuff” taught us that you can’t buy your way out of the current ecological crisis; but RSF Social Finance, a client that finances for-profits, helped us understand the hugely positive impact that consciously invested money can create.

And this is something they should know well, because that is the core principle behind their own business model as well. Recently, they even became a B Corporation, a new business structure that is taking socially conscious companies by storm. The classification is reserved for those focused on the triple bottom line - people, planet, profit. As the lines between for-profit and nonprofit are continuing to blur–in a very exciting way for social change–we must change the way we approach businesses devoted to doing good. Which is exactly what Free Range Studios is doing through this year’s Youtopia grant. They are focused on helping to bring social change, so why not help this new market class with a rapidly growing impact potential? It’s the perfect way to celebrate their 10-year anniversary in this exciting new market that embraces doing good while doing well.

So attention all you budding social entrepreneurs and dedicated non-profits–don’t miss this great opportunity for an infusion of creative juices and some serious digital know-how. Applications for the Youtopia grant are due October 31, 2009. Don’t miss it.

Photo image of “Change” sign courtesy of davidreece’s photostream/Creative Commons