Alison DaSilva

As Executive Vice President of Cone’s Knowledge Leadership and Insights group, Alison DaSilva is responsible for tracking and identifying trends to keep our clients on the leading edge within the rapidly evolving landscape of Cause Branding, Corporate Responsibility and Brand Marketing.

For the last nine years, DaSilva has led the development of Cone’s groundbreaking benchmark research, exploring the attitudes and behaviors of American consumers, employees and executives towards corporate involvement with social issues and responsible business practices. Recent studies include: the 2008 Green Gap Survey, the 2007 Cone Cause Evolution Survey, the 2007 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey, the 2006 Cone Millennial Cause Study and the 2005 Disaster Response Survey.

Based on the needs of the marketplace, DaSilva responds by helping to create innovative products and services. For example, in 2007, she launched a first-of-its kind Cause Branding ROI tool to demonstrate both the business and social outcomes of cause-related initiatives.

During her tenure at Cone, DaSilva has built Cause Branding initiatives and advised clients such as AXA Financial, Morgan Stanley, the American Heart Association, Dell, Intel and Target. She helped create some of the nation’s leading cause programs, such as AXA Achievement which is now one of the nation’s largest providers of scholarships and post-secondary support.

To further keep Cone on the pulse of the industry, DaSilva serves as a contact for the media and grows Cone’s alliances with key influential groups such as BusinessWeek, The New York Times, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, USA Today, the Cause Marketing Forum and CECP. As an expert on cause programs, DaSilva co-authored an article in the July 2003 Harvard Business Review entitled “Causes and Effects.” She has been a featured speaker at many conferences, including the AMA, Conference Board, Council on Foundations and National Society of Fundraising Executives.

DaSilva joined Cone from the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm for the world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. While at the Jimmy Fund, she helped establish a cause-related marketing practice and forged partnerships with leading national companies, such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Jiffy Lube, Burger King, Taco Bell and True Value Hardware, among others. She worked with these companies to generate public awareness, build employee morale, unite franchise groups and increase customer loyalty. DaSilva raised over $8 million during her three-year tenure at the Jimmy Fund through such corporate partnership programs.

DaSilva received her B.A. from Indiana University and her M.S. from Boston University’s School of Communication. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and two sons.

Follow Alison on Twitter: @Alison_DaSilva