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Dear ,
Definition of a nanosecond: The time between the end of a CMF conference and when I start considering speakers for the next gathering.
Part of the challenge is trying to predict who will still be "hot" 365 days later.
Looks like my crystal ball was on the money this time around. The companies and causes appearing at our May 27 & 28 conference keep popping up in articles and releases, online videos, tweets and blog posts. For example:
" P&G: Doing Good is Good Business" is the headline on an excellent Cincinatti Enquirer piece on Procter & Gamble's strategic philanthropy, the subject of Randall Chinchilla's closing keynote presentation. Brandweek notes that Tide's Loads of Hope campaign is the focus of the brand's most significant packaging change in 60 years.
President
Cause Marketing Forum, Inc.
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CM: It's Not Just Packaged Goods |
At a time of economic crisis, you'd think that the ranks and types of companies engaged in cause marketing would be shrinking.
Au contraire.
Take a look at a few of the new players we've noted lately:
Spot something new and different? Let us know! |
| Using Online Contests to Pick Beneficiaries is a Hot Tactic |
 Two years ago Amerian Express broke new ground using social media by engaging consumers to nominate and vote for charitable projects through The Members Project. Last year it further evolved that award winning campaign.
Last fall TripAdvisor allowed consumers to vote on how it should give away $1 million.
On Sunday Target enlisted visitors to its Facebook page to vote for one of 10 charities eligible to receive a portion of $3 million the retailer is giving away.
A recent New York Times article provides a good round up of many of these programs.
For the winners, of course, the money is marvelous. Also a plus: these programs often push groups to develop expertise in using online tools to move supporters
A note of caution: It's important for nonprofits to exercise judgement in choosing which contests to enter and which to sit out. In strategic philanthropy as in politics, get out the vote efforts can be huge resource drains. |
