filter by tag: employees

January 26, 2012 at 4:34 PM by Research & Insights

While charitable giving is finally back on the rise, so too are the pressures facing nonprofits in appealing to corporate partners. Gone are the days of writing checks to the CEO's favorite "pet" charity, as companies look deeper into the business case for philanthropy. Two new studies released this week demonstrate that employee engagement and ROI from product donations are often key drivers in determining which nonprofit organization to support.

 

 

A recent study by Forbes Insights found that 72 percent of the 311 global senior executives surveyed said they primarily donate to charities that also allow their employees to volunteer. Moreover, respondents cited that in addition to social benefits, the top two goals behind philanthropy and community involvement programs are employee motivation and increased skills/leadership. In the case of MasterCard, sending employees to volunteer with Grameen Foundation in Colombia gave staff on-the-ground experience in microfinance and mobile technology, as well as a new perspective of the financial reality of people across the globe. Employees returned armed with new skills to make a difference in their own communities.

Another recent report released from Indiana University examined the business case for product philanthropy. The report found that beyond environmental and social benefits, there is actual return on investment in donating excess inventory instead of liquidating or destroying it. Nonprofits are already cropping up to fill this need, including Good360, an online product donation platform used by some of the world's biggest brands.

While companies may be writing new rules for corporate philanthropy, nonprofits can come to the table prepared. Nonprofits can look to create a diverse spectrum of employee engagement opportunities from company-wide days of service for broad participation to leadership skills-based volunteering. Organizations that work to create sought-after business case metrics for corporate philanthropy will take the lead. While these pressures may be difficult for many nonprofits to manage in the short-term, the end result is strong corporate partnerships, a new group of ambassadors and enhanced capacity for greater social impact.

Tags: philanthropy product employees corporate donations giving

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October 28, 2011 at 1:45 PM by Research & Insights

From the raw materials producer to the end consumer, we all know sustainability is ultimately everyone's responsibility. And while companies are feeling the pressure from a variety of stakeholders to address sustainability issues, many are turning the tables to make sure key stakeholders are holding up their ends of the bargain, too.

 

 

Unilever Australia has engaged its own internal stakeholders by giving each and every employee a new, very important job title: "Head of Sustainability." To drive the point home, the company has distributed new business cards and job manuals to all employees in Australia and New Zealand, outlining how sustainability is core to everyone's job. And as Bart King of Sustainable Life Media reports, garnering full employee engagement is paramount, since Unilever has plans to double its size, while reducing its environmental footprint by half.

Although supply chain accountability is nothing new, the bar is also being raised for business suppliers. For the first time, the Carbon Disclosure Project, a consortium of more than 50 brands, is integrating a supply chain scoring system into its program. Members originally reported on their own carbon emissions, but the scope has expanded to the companies they do business with who must also analyze their own practices. Now businesses along the supply chain can choose to report and benchmark their progress or risk losing important buyers.

Gone are the days where the EH&S office tackled sustainability alone. Now, it's a concerted effort both inside and outside the company, where through job titles and metrics, everyone is being held accountable for making progress toward a more sustainable world.

Tags: sustainability employees supplychain stakeholders

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March 28, 2011 at 11:30 AM by Jillian WilsonMartin

What my clients want, they get. So when one told me I deserved a vacation, I listened! My husband and I jumped ship and booked a two week cruise to the Caribbean. It was relaxing, romantic and fun – and we enjoyed every minute (cue double rainbow – seriously, a double rainbow!).


But even with my new shades, I couldn’t help noticing Royal Caribbean International’s cause program. Overall, I was impressed, but, of course, I have some ideas on areas for improvement too.

Royal Caribbean has a number of community partnerships and prioritizes employee volunteerism as part of its GIVE (Get Involved Volunteer Everywhere) platform. Of all its programs, the most guest-facing is its partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since 2000, Royal Caribbean has hosted more than 1,000 Wish kids on its cruises and contributed approximately $3 million of in-kind services. During the cruise’s opening show, guests are introduced to the partnership via video, and throughout the trip, Make-A-Wish is included in various communication channels (e.g., in-room TV advertisements, featured tidbits in the daily “Cruise Compass” and a special flag is flown when a Wish family is onboard). These efforts culminate in a Walk for Wishes, in which guests purchase $10 Wishes at Sea T-shirts and join employees for a mile walk around the ship. On our cruise, guests donated nearly $2,000!


Amazing results, right? Absolutely! It’s a great cause, but it made me want more. While communications about Make-A-Wish on our cruise were abundant, they didn’t fully explain Make-A-Wish’s mission or Royal Caribbean’s results. Being the nosy person I am, I asked other guests (many of whom were international travelers) what they thought about the program and most of them didn’t understand who Make-A-Wish was or what they do. And they aren’t alone – while the cruise activities staff was highly knowledgeable about Make-A-Wish, waiters, chefs, stateroom attendants and others had little understanding and displayed minimal passion for the program. Also, the first time I heard of the partnership was onboard – where was the information when we were planning our trip?

Bottom line, Royal Caribbean and Make-A-Wish have a great program, but it could benefit from some of the market innovations we’ve seen this past decade. Royal Caribbean describes itself as the “Nation of Why Not” and I wish they would channel this energy for their cause. Why not leverage new media? Why not empower consumers through choice, personalization and deeper engagement opportunities? Why not incentivize employee participation? Why not highlight the partnership’s fantastic results and emotionalize the power of a purchase via social math?

I wish for the why not!


- Jillian Wilson Martin, Account Supervisor


(Full disclosure: Make-A-Wish is a former Cone client and Royal Caribbean participated in Destination Joy, a campaign Cone helped create in 2007.)


Tags: events cone awareness fundraising engagement employees causebranding

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March 18, 2011 at 12:37 PM by Research & Insights

Japan is facing the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history – a 9.0-magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami, which caused a nuclear crisis. The series of events is almost unimaginable, and though the damage is high the outpouring of financial support from consumers and companies is notably lower than other recent natural disasters, including the Haiti earthquake last year, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Why the discrepancy? It may have less to do with human compassion than with simple pragmatism.  Here are several factors at play:

• Factor 1: Japan is a developed nation with the third largest economy in the world. Its infrastructure and resources far outweigh that of developing nations where crises also occur, such as Haiti.
• Factor 2: The Japanese government has not issued a call for support from other nations, and in fact, turned down offers for assistance.
• Factor 3: Nonprofit organizations in Japan, such as the Red Cross, have demonstrated a similar reticence to accept outside assistance from global affiliates.
• Factor 4: Where do you start? As the nuclear crisis continues to escalate, there is not a clear understanding of where Japan’s biggest short or long-terms needs are.

With such reserve from the government and aid organizations, it is hardly surprising that consumers and companies alike may not be responding with the same fervor as we have seen in the past. Despite our tendency to make comparisons, disasters are not all created equal.

Companies looking to support Japan as it assesses damage must realize this disaster may call for a different approach than for those that came before. Japan has resisted some of the immediate support offered, yet that is not to say aid is not desperately needed. The domino effect of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis paints a picture of a disaster that will demand more than immediate assistance. The best strategy a company can employ is not to have a short attention span.

Instead of sending volunteers, financial assistance or other assets in the short-term, which may not be used effectively or may actually create challenges for distribution on the ground, companies should instead create a thoughtful plan that will help the nation in the long-term, once mass media attention has died down and the nation looks to rebuild. Having patience to assess the needs will prove difficult for companies and American citizens alike, because, traditionally, our country’s largest outpouring of donations and compassion occur as we see the faces of the devastation in real time.

It’s in all of our interests to see Japan recover quickly. With a plan already in place, companies will be prepared to leverage their unique assets when the call for aid finally comes. For now, sit back, assess what the need is, listen to what the ask is, then give what and where it is needed most.

 

Cone offers the following five evergreen tips for corporate disaster response planning:

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Tags: fundraising crisispreparedness donation corporategiving employees crisis

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March 11, 2011 at 10:47 AM by Research & Insights

Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Stories about women flooded the media, many featuring companies that have dedicated cause-related programs addressing everything from women’s health, to education, to self esteem. Amazing, forward-thinking programs recognize that women play a critical link in many of our global issues, and when we lift them up, society follows. With a topic so widespread and complex, companies must do more than create external programs. They must also look within their own walls to sufficiently recognize and reward the contribution of women.

Unfortunately, the statistics indicate this is not always happening: Women are under-represented in leadership roles, yet organizations with the highest rate of women in board leadership can increase return on equity by as much as 53 percent. Women are still paid significantly less than men in the workforce, despite holding more bachelor’s degrees and graduating with higher GPAs.

A gap exists that can be closed. The work by companies to empower women is not yet done. Businesses with an external stance on women’s issues should also look inward, to determine a strategy to empower women within their own walls. Women have huge potential to impact the global economy, and companies have the opportunity to foster and benefit from this momentum, sparking change from within. Women’s empowerment is not just a social issue, but also an operational and business imperative.


Posts under the Knowledge Leadership byline come from Knowledge Leadership team members Sarah Kerkian and Casey Brennan. Follow us on Twitter: @ConeLLC, @SarahKerkian, @CaseyB 

Tags: corporateresponsibility causebranding employees awareness

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March 3, 2011 at 11:57 AM by Ziba Cranmer

I am an athlete, I am a fan, and I am a woman.

As an athlete, I celebrate. I celebrate the skills and lessons I learned on the field (and truth be told, sitting on the bench).

As a fan, I cheer. I cheer because I love the feeling of solidarity and community that comes from a shared commitment to a local or professional sports team.

But as a woman, I cringe. I cringe because I know that some of our most celebrated sporting events, from the Super Bowl to the World Cup, are also the occasion of a terrible crime: the sex trafficking of tens of thousands of women and children.

Experts estimated that as many as 10,000 prostitutes descended on last year’s Super Bowl in Miami, many of whom were trafficked. And it’s not just American football. Tekla Roberts, a trafficking survivor and anti-trafficking activist, spoke of her first-hand experience at NASCAR races and golf tournaments.

A study by the Future Group noted that during the year of the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the number of known human trafficking victims nearly doubled. With more than 2 million people trafficked each year globally, most of whom are women and girls, the problem is obviously larger than sporting events. But because of its high profile, the sports industry has a unique opportunity to address this issue.

So what are the changemakeHERS among us doing to tackle this problem? Experts in this field often point to the 4P approach to combating trafficking: prevention, protection, prosecution and policy.

There are a few interesting examples involving individual Changemakers from the sports and airline sectors. One such example is Trafficking911, which launched its “I’m not buying it” campaign around the 2010 Super Bowl. Several athletes, including Dallas Cowboy Jay Ratliffe, got behind the effort and recorded a compelling video stating “real men don’t buy sex.”

The Airline Ambassadors, the industry’s relief and development organization, partnered with the nonprofit Innocents at Risk to educate airline personnel and issue procedural guidelines for addressing suspects of trafficking on flights. Free Generation International launched its “RED Card against Trafficking” campaign in conjunction with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but it struggled to find corporate partnerships willing to associate their brands with this important but difficult issue.

These efforts are commendable, but to really make change in an issue that crosses sports and countries, companies need to get involved. Having worked for the past seven years in corporate responsibility at Nike, I was incredibly fortunate to broker partnerships between my company and nonprofits around the world. We focused on supporting programs that leveraged the power of sport to bring about positive social change, from women’s empowerment to conflict resolution. But it is time for us to also work with this industry to address the dark underbelly of its own events.

I look forward to hearing ideas and solutions from the community of ChangemakeHERS about how to help the sports industry realize its full potential when it comes to empowering and protecting women.


- Ziba Cranmer, Vice President

 

This post was written for and posted by Ashoka's Changemakers Idea ExChange Blog as part of its 2011 HERS Campaign in celebration of International Women's Day.

Tags: causebranding superbowl cone events trends employees global

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October 1, 2010 at 1:53 PM by Research & Insights

Survey after corporate responsibility survey reveals the number one expectation individuals have of companies is to treat their employees well. Fair wages and benefits immediately come to mind, but have you ever considered a crisis preparedness plan as a benefit employees need and deserve? Does your organization have a plan in place? If not, you’re not alone, but you are at risk. Visit our sister blog, Brand Channeler, to hear Cone’s Chief Reputation Officer, Mike Lawrence, discuss why.

Tags: corporateresponsibility employees crisispreparedness

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May 12, 2010 at 11:17 AM by Research & Insights

Today, Cone is joining employers around the country to participate in the American Cancer Society’s first annual Choose You Day. The event encourages Americans to spend 30 minutes doing something healthy and is part of the ACS’s new Choose You movement.

Cone’s Choose You Day events include:

• An hour-long group yoga class
• A healthy snack station
• The 2010 Cone Choose You Walk/Run to the Boston Public Garden

Employees can also make an optional $5 tax-deductible donation to help support the work of ACS. As a thank-you for participation, Cone employees receive a Choose You flower pin along with materials to spread the word and teach others how to make health a priority on Choose You Day.

 

Join us! Find out more information about how to celebrate Choose You Day in your office or how to make a personal pledge for your health by visiting the Choose You site.

Tags: nonprofitcausebranding donation campaigns employees cancer Women cone health

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April 6, 2010 at 11:32 AM by Chris Mann

Cause sponsorships are a great way to enhance your existing cause branding platform, drive sales of specific cause products or introduce your marketing and sales teams to the power of cause through a medium they’re more familiar with. Here are some tips on how to make sure you are getting the most out of your cause sponsorships (or any sponsorship for that matter):

 

1. Make a commitment – Consistency and frequency are the keys to making your presence stick in people’s minds, so choose your cause sponsorship carefully and plan for a long-term commitment if possible. Think through why you are signing the sponsorship and envision how it could look one, three and five years out. Does the cause align with what your brand stands for or is it just a short-term vehicle to reach your target consumer? Is the property sustainable and do they have a solid growth plan? Are they interested in helping you reach your goals? Are you committed to helping them reach theirs? These are all questions you should be able to answer.
   
   
2. Put yourself in their shoes – Before you plan any activation, go see the sponsorship property in person. Talk to participants, fellow sponsors and event organizers. Even better, sign up as a participant yourself to get the full experience. Think about how you can add value for the event and its participants first and your brand/company second. Participants will be much more interested in what you have to say once you show them that you understand and want to add to their experience.
   
   
3. Show some love to the small & local – If your sponsorship is with a national organization or event series, make sure you have something for their local affiliates/chapters/offices. Oftentimes, the local staff doesn’t see the dollars you give to the national organization and have their own local sponsors to take care of. Find ways to offer volunteers, money and product on the local level to earn their support. You’ll get better communication and cooperation in return.
   
   
4. Activate for the behaviors you want – Word of mouth and referrals are more powerful than any other form of advertising or marketing. Plan your activation to encourage participants to use your product on-site in fun and visible ways. Find ways to specially recognize and thank participants who are already loyal customers. Reward them and they will reward you.
   
   
5. Help everyone share in the experience – Educate and involve your employees and customers about your sponsorship in advance and give them ways to get involved. Use all of your internal and external vehicles to talk about the cause sponsorship and offer direction on how to learn more, participate, donate, volunteer and spread the word.

Follow the above tips and you’ll be on your way to a sponsorship that helps your brand stand out, engages your customers and makes a real difference.

 

 

- Chris Mann, Account Director

Tags: marketing employees causebranding nonprofitcausebranding sponsorship

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March 22, 2010 at 10:43 AM by Jillian WilsonMartin

If you haven’t heard, today is World Water Day, an international day of awareness and action in support of our planet’s growing water needs.

For months, Facebook and Twitter have been abuzz about this momentous occasion, which should not come as a surprise given the water sector has been at the forefront of social media fundraising (think water Tweestival). From activating followers to participate in stunt events (longest toilet queue), to taking over users’ statuses for a week, water leaders are leveraging the power of social networks to support their cause.

 

ITT (Cone client) is no different. The company, a global leader in the transport, treatment and control of water, is conducting a social media campaign of its own in support of World Water Day and its corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark. ITT will donate $1 to safe water solutions for every new fan of ITT Watermark’s Facebook page between March 22 and March 26. Money raised will be evenly distributed between ITT Watermark’s nonprofit partners: Water For People, Mercy Corps and China Women’s Development Foundation. Given that experts estimate the global cost of providing water to someone for a lifetime is just $25 – or 25 fans in this instance - the campaign provides an opportunity for ITT to rally its stakeholders to make a real difference.

So why would a B2B company invest resources in a social media fundraiser? The biggest reason is the company’s employees. According to the 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study, 79% of Americans who are active on new media believe companies and nonprofits should use these channels to raise money and awareness for causes, and employees are no different. By engaging employees via social media, ITT is connecting with key stakeholders where they are.

 

ITT epitomizes a Cone best practice: offering a range of ways to support the cause. By providing a spectrum of engagement opportunities – from the easy, click-to-give campaigns – to the more time-intensive global volunteer trip, ITT is giving everyone a chance to get involved. On World Water Day, this is especially true. In addition to the Facebook campaign, ITT is activating its 40,000 employees through local awareness, fundraising and volunteer activities at its sites around the world, while hosting 11 employees on a volunteer trip to India.

 

To learn more, or to join the cause, visit www.ittwatermark.com/facebook.

 

- Jillian Wilson-Martin, Account Supervisor

Tags: causebranding employees campaigns global Volunteer newmedia Twitter

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September 17, 2009 at 3:07 PM by Research & Insights

Attention employers: your employees need some focus. OK, maybe not news to you, but we’re not talking about the memo that should have been done last week (hardly our business!). We’re referring to your employees’ company-supported charitable giving.

 

 

 

At a time when many companies are moving toward more focused corporate philanthropy, fewer may be tapping an underutilized resource – their employee giving programs. More strategic employee giving can provide a number of benefits for the company, its staff and the nonprofit beneficiaries, and like its name (“strategic choice employee giving”) implies, it can be both focused and flexible.

 

To learn about strategic choice employee giving and the role it plays in a focused corporate philanthropy program, download Cone’s latest insight, “Corporate Philanthropy: Are Your Employees Working Hard Enough?” and read on… Then take a moment to participate in our poll question on this topic to the right.

Tags: philanthropy corporategiving employees

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September 11, 2009 at 11:50 AM by Research & Insights

If there is an upside to the economic turmoil that’s plagued 2009, it is that it has renewed Americans’ spirit of service to others. And the icing on the giving-back cake is that, as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, September 11 is now recognized as the annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. A date already engraved in the memories of Americans, September 11 is well-suited for a day of service, to remember those lost and to celebrate those who volunteered time and even risked their lives to save others during the tragedy of 2001.

 

Photo credit: http://image.guardian.co.uk

 

However, the national call-to-service is not only aimed at individuals. It is also motivation for businesses and organizations to address the needs of the communities where they operate. Many organizations have already responded, establishing programs that motivate employees to roll up their sleeves and get to work for their neighbors.

To spur the business community’s involvement in economic recovery, the U.S. Chamber’s Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) created a collaborative campaign called “Together For Recovery.” And today, the BCLC is featuring various community service projects that companies are undertaking to celebrate the first annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. To name a few:

• IBM employees will volunteer in Washington, D.C., making quilts for children of deployed service members with Greater DC Cares.
• GlaxoSmithKline will host an employee volunteer project in the Harlem Children's Zone, during which GSK employees will lead class discussions with school children about H1N1 prevention and other healthy lifestyle topics.
• Hasbro’s employee volunteers will come together to assemble much-needed kits for two worthy organizations – World Vision and Birthday Wishes.

Although ranging in sector and scale, these organizations can serve as inspiration for others to come together for social good. When businesses or organizations encourage volunteerism, individual contributions can be elevated to an effective, collective effort for change. Are you doing something special to celebrate this day of service? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.

Tags: corporateresponsibility currentevents corporategiving employees september11

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August 25, 2009 at 2:49 PM by Research & Insights

This week on Brand Channeler, a Cone employee tells her tale of experiencing a “Covert Cause.” To the detriment of any cause promotion, without adequate details and cohesive communications, consumers may find companies’ efforts inauthentic. In this post, she leaves us begging the question, “what’s the point of a cause promotion if no one knows about it?”

Check out her take and more from Cone’s brand marketing group.

 

 

Tags: cone Reputation causebranding employees

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July 24, 2009 at 11:10 AM by Research & Insights

Worldwide, a record number of companies are reporting on their sustainability performance. Whether these companies are reaching their employees with these messages is another story.

 

 

Two new studies uncover a disconnect between corporate responsibility efforts and employee awareness. According to a Public Policy Polling survey, nearly one-quarter (24%) of survey participants indicated their company has made sustainability a top priority in business decisions, yet only 17 percent said sustainability efforts are frequently communicated to the workforce. The 2009 Corporate Citizenship Survey, conducted by a group of firms, found a more startling figure – a full 70 percent of employees say they are not aware of any socially responsible practices their own employer is taking. A company’s social and environmental practices can affect everything from recruitment to employee pride, loyalty and retention, so inadequate communication has far-reaching implications inside a company’s own walls.

 

What’s more, employees serve as natural brand ambassadors for their organizations. Failure to adequately educate them about corporate responsibility efforts and initiatives hinders a powerful, cost-effective and credible channel for reaching consumers and other external stakeholders.

 

Tags: environment research engagement employees corporateresponsibility

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August 6, 2008 at 2:55 pm by Cone Communications

My passion for helping children in need began while working with P&G and architecting its CSR platform Live, Learn and Thrive.  As a mother, the plight of children who cannot help themselves and are born into unfortunate circumstances is almost overwhelming.  I’ve done many things to help children and families, including a recent week-long humanitarian aid trip to Centro Buen Pastor – a facility that operates as a health clinic, school, church, and nutrition center in a poor barrio called Las Flores in San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic.  Because I’m lucky enough to be a Cone employee, the trip was considered official agency time – international volunteerism - as part of our Hours for Good program.

 

 

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Tags: employees cone

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