filter by tag: currentevents

March 5, 2010 at 2:15 PM by Knowledge Leadership

Donations for relief efforts in Chile pale in comparison to those for Haiti. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports in an interview that a mere $250,000 raised by Americans three days following the Chile disaster, which starkly contrasts the nearly $97 million raised three days following the Haiti earthquake. Despite experiencing a stronger earthquake, Chile’s existing building codes and infrastructure better prepared it to cope with damages. However, several other factors may have influenced the difference in donations:


Consumers Are Tapped Out – Many Americans responded to the Haiti crisis by taking part in the widespread text-to-give campaigns promoted by major relief organizations, through which the American Red Cross alone raised $32 million. Mobile giving was a fast and easy way to respond to the crisis, but some may simply be overwhelmed by donating to the second major disaster in a two-month period. In addition, there has seemingly been more media attention for the Haiti disaster, which continues to capture headlines amidst the Chile crisis.  

Call To Action Was Less Urgent – The Chile government’s call for aid didn’t take place for several days after the disaster which influences donor urgency. According to The 2010 Cone Text-to-Give Trend Tracker, more than one fifth (22%) of respondents indicated they would donate to causes via text message only when the need was urgent.

Haiti Activated Grassroots – In Haiti, the need for donations was immediate and urgent. Individuals were activated to help not only through popular donation campaigns by organizations such as the American Red Cross and Yele Haiti, but also through their own grassroots efforts that utilized events and social media. The Wall Street Journal this week highlighted some of the more extraordinary methods for individual fundraising, such as a skydiving nun and pajama-clad office workers.

Celebrity Involvement – The star power that surrounded Haiti undoubtedly drew additional attention to relief efforts. Whether sports stars making a statement on the courts or a star-studded telethon, celebrities came together for the cause and inspired other Americans to do the same.

None of these factors are the responsibility of any one stakeholder. Governments, relief organizations, businesses, influencers and consumers need to work collaboratively toward a common solution for maximum impact, and we saw this collaboration in top form following the earthquake in Haiti. The sobering reality of the back-to-back earthquakes of 2010, however, made it clear that no two disasters, or their resulting relief efforts, are the same. What will you and your organization proactively prepare to do when another disaster strikes?


Tags: crisis donation currentevents cause fundraising global newmedia

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February 12, 2010 at 11:46 AM by Knowledge Leadership

Americans were quick to react to the Haiti disaster last month, donating millions of dollars in a matter of hours. A driving factor in the lightning-fast fundraising was the ease of donating through the Web and mobile devices.

 

 

The results were so impressive – the American Red Cross raised more than $32 million alone through its mobile text-to-give effort – that Cone wanted to explore how, and why, many Americans engaged in text-to-donate campaigns. We fielded a brief, two-question online survey with Invoke Solutions to explore the trend, and the results revealed 13 percent of respondents donated via text message following the earthquake. Although this number may seem low given the massive support for relief organizations, it represents well over a 100 percent jump from Cone’s 2009 Consumer New Media Study conducted just last fall. In that survey, six percent of American adults said they had donated to any cause via mobile phone over a 12-month period.

Most of the 13 percent who texted a donation to Haiti indicated they did so because it was the fastest and easiest way to respond to the urgent need (8%). But the survey also indicated that the success of text-to-give efforts for Haiti may be more than just a flash in the pan. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) said if they donate once through a text message, they are more likely to donate again.

 

Mobile donations are clearly building traction with American donors, but what does this mean for future fundraising efforts? Nonprofits looking to engage supporters through this channel should note the other survey findings:

• 27% of Americans are more likely to donate via text message if there is a credible endorser (person, company, nonprofit)
  
• 27% would be more likely to text a donation if a company/organization “matched” their gift
  
• 22% would use text messaging to donate to causes only when there is an urgent need
  
• 19% would rather text a donation to a cause or nonprofit organization than through other means (e.g., write a check or donate online)
  
• 18% are now more likely to text a donation to their favorite nonprofit organization if it is an available option

We may have reached the tipping point for mobile donations after the earthquake in Haiti. It will be interesting to watch if and how nonprofits adapt this technology to their own causes through urgent, yet strategic appeals.

About the 2010 Cone Text-to-Give Trend Tracker:
The research presents the findings of an online survey conducted in February 2010 by Invoke Solutions among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,183 adults. The margin of error associated with this sample of this size is ±3%.

Tags: donation currentevents newmedia nonprofitcausebranding fundraising

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January 15, 2010 at 12:02 PM by Knowledge Leadership

All eyes are on Haiti this week, and before anything, we must say that the thoughts and prayers of the entire Cone family go out to the people of Haiti. As nonprofit organizations and government agencies quickly deploy their emergency resources to come to Haiti’s aid in the aftermath of this tragedy, American citizens are just as quickly responding through their own channels – digitally.

 

 

With laptops and smartphones at their fingertips, donors are setting records with lightning-fast fundraising tools. Convio, a company that provides donation software to charities, processed more than $20 million as of January 13th – more than it did on December 31st, which is typically the biggest fundraising day of the year. And it wasn’t just online donation that was successful, text-to-donate campaigns saw big numbers too. The American Red Cross has raised $8 million to-date through its mobile campaign, and Yéle Haiti, the nonprofit of musician and Haiti-native Wyclef Jean, has raised more than $750,000 through a similar mobile effort.

Cone’s research on cause and new media this fall found that Americans are using such tools for awareness, but not necessarily translating this into donations. This situation debunks the myth that they won’t donate – for now we know when the need is urgent and the request is easy, citizens will respond through every tool at their disposal. One lesson to emerge from this devastating tragedy is that having new media communications and fundraising capabilities in place before the need is urgent will help mobilize your cause when the situation is dire. And despite the urgency of a message, those that are clear, concise and show ongoing results are lessons all organizations can heed when developing new media communications in support of their causes.

To see Cone’s list of guidelines and resources for companies responding to natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti, please click here.

Tags: crisis currentevents donation charity fundraising newmedia cause

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October 16, 2009 at 2:35 PM by Cone

It’s 8pm. Do you know what your children are watching? Or your friends, your neighbors or your co-workers for that matter? Beginning Monday, there’s no need to worry because there’s a strong chance it’s something good.

For two weeks, major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Disney, CNN and more will unite in the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s “I Participate” campaign to flood the airwaves with do-good messages. Dozens of popular shows - from sitcom to reality, from The Office to Dr. Oz - will infuse their regular programming with relevant messages about volunteerism and giving back to the community. The diversity of shows will reach multiple audiences with do-gooder messaging that would be hard to achieve without the collective effort.

 

Photo Credit: iparticipate.org

Some will weave the message into scripts, others will feature celebrity PSAs or promotional graphics and voiceovers, but in any case, the effect is sure to reverberate. As Evan Hochberg, national director of community involvement at Deloitte (Cone client), said in his recent op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, “When Steve Carell and his co-workers on The Office are touting volunteerism, it's fair to say we have reached a tipping point in the service movement.”

And it’s not just TV that is setting out to inform and inspire. USA Today and the Huffington Post both launched new platforms this week that provide a forum for stories and discussions that motivate and uplift. And yesterday, the blogosphere came together for another annual Blog Action Day to address climate change, hoping to spark attention and discussion of the global issue.

See which of your favorite shows will incorporate volunteer messages next week, and as you watch, consider: Did the messages stand out? Enhance or interfere with the show? Resonate with you? Inspire you to do more? Come back and share your thoughts.

 

Tags: currentevents celebrityengagement

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September 25, 2009 at 12:11 PM by Knowledge Leadership

The 5th Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting (CGI) wraps up today, leaving in its wake a list of new commitments to solve the world’s most pressing problems. The event is structured to spark action – boasting discussions, not presentations, and requiring results. Former president and meeting host Bill Clinton states, “If you don’t make a commitment or you make one and don’t keep it, you don’t get to come back. That’s what started it, that’s what makes it run.”

 

 

The results of the initiative to-date prove the effectiveness of this model: $46 billion in funding has been directed toward causes such as education, climate change and healthcare since the CGI inception in 2005.

 

Cross-sector collaboration is the other key tenant of the CGI. This year, a record 960 attendees representing 84 countries took part, including heads of state, celebrities and nonprofit and corporate leaders – a true Who’s Who of cross-sector leaders and dignitaries with personal passion for societal solutions. The media buzz alone surrounding the event helped spur action by attracting attention and notable donors to important causes. This year’s event focused on harnessing innovation for development, strengthening infrastructure, building human capital and financing equitable sustainable future. For the first time, the event also focused on narrowing the gender gap.

 

Action speaks loudly. As President Obama stressed during his kickoff speech, “You can't just be an advocate of someone else doing it, preach lofty goals and wait for someone else to act. You have to step up." Could his words hold true for G-20 Summit leaders gathering this weekend in Pittsburgh?

 

Tags: sharedresponsibility CGI philanthropy currentevents charity

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September 11, 2009 at 11:50 AM by Knowledge Leadership

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: employees september11 corporateresponsibility currentevents corporategiving

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September 4, 2009 at 12:46 PM by Knowledge Leadership

Even cold water can’t douse the fire that reusable water bottle company SIGG found itself under this week. The company was berated in the news for deceptive claims after its CEO acknowledged that the liners of bottles produced before August 2008 contain traces of BPA, a substance that has raised significant health concerns in recent years. Elaine Shannon, editor-in-chief of the Environmental Working Group, notes SIGG’s current crisis is less about the actual presence of BPA and more about how the company chose to address the issue. Although company officials knew of the traces of BPA since June 2006, they did not address it publicly until last month.

 

The lack of transparency set off a torrent of angry blog posts, tweets and online articles by consumers who felt betrayed. The company has already begun to fight the damaging criticism through letters from the CEO and by establishing a program where consumers can opt to exchange their old bottle for a new one. However, the long-term damage to the brand and business will probably be deep.

 

 

Today’s 24/7 new media environment is forcing companies into greater transparency about their products, services and business practices, but just as some dig in their heels, there are also those companies who are going quite willingly. In the cleaning products and alcohol industries, not without their share of judgment for the social and environmental impacts of their products, two companies are raising the bar.

 

SC Johnson – Early in 2009, the company began voluntarily disclosing product ingredients via a Web site, toll-free hotline and on product labels. It will continue to add products over the next three years, aiming to have all ingredients for air care and home cleaning products available to the public by January 2012.

 

Brown-Forman – The spirits maker recently launched a Web site dedicated to addressing leading alcohol-related social issues, such as youth and alcohol and marketing and access. The site will serve as a forum for the company to share its own positions on the issues and also invites dialogue by allowing visitors to submit comments. Although it remains to be seen how it will use this public feedback, the company is nonetheless demonstrating its willingness to proactively acknowledge difficult issues and work toward collective solutions. According to Jim Bareuther, executive vice president of global business development, “It is an opportunity for us – and for all interested parties – to contribute to the ongoing dialogue and discussion about the role of alcohol in society and how to curtail abuse and promote responsible consumption.”

 

Those companies who take an active stance in providing concerned stakeholders with complete and accurate information and an opportunity to voice their positions will reap reputational benefits over the long-term, as well as the opportunity to continually innovate and improve their products, services and communications.

 

The need for transparency is not limited to the area of corporate responsibility and reputation. In its September 2009 brief, Trendwatching.com discusses “Transparency Triumph” as an important consumer trend, shaping both the marketplace and society.

Tags: newmedia corporateresponsibility currentevents transparency

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August 28, 2009 at 11:22 AM by Knowledge Leadership

‘Tis the season for major storms and Ana, Bill, Claudette and Danny have already joined the festivities. Although it’s said that hurricanes are arriving fashionably late this year, there is still an active forecast ahead, and The American Red Cross is encouraging the public to be proactive. Its new campaign, “Do More than Cross Your Fingers,” focuses on disaster preparedness and is using a multi-channel approach to urge consumers to develop an emergency kit and plan. It features an online resource center, offline media outreach, celebrity spokesperson Jamie Lee Curtis, corporate partnerships with Clorox and FedEx and an online store where consumers can purchase emergency kit items.

 

 

As the hurricane season carries on, consumers may not only be thinking about their own emergency plans, but also how they can help others in the event tragedy strikes. To aid fellow citizens in the aftermath of natural disasters, consumers will seek to donate time, money and goods to organizations addressing domestic needs. One of the biggest motivators for consumers when choosing a cause or organization to support is the assurance that their contributions can have a direct and significant impact on the issue, and it’s easy to see these results when it’s in our own communities or on the local news. For this reason, it is no surprise that the domestic social needs sector was found to be the most valuable in The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100.

However, it’s important to remember that natural disasters require more than reactive support after a storm hits, as there is often long-term rebuilding necessary for full recovery. By proactively partnering with service organizations that provide relief for and recovery from national disasters that are close to home, companies can position their brands in a relevant way around an issue that resonates with all Americans.

Check out Cone’s guidelines for how companies can most effectively support disaster relief efforts.

Tags: campaigns causebranding currentevents environment

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May 22, 2009 at 11:36 AM by Knowledge Leadership

The Humane Society of the United States is showing a softer side for one of its former animal cruelty targets. The nonprofit organization has partnered with football sensation turned convicted dogfighting offender Michael Vick to become its anti-dogfighting campaign spokesperson. Wait - what?

 

That’s right, the very organization that rallied against Vick and helped put him behind bars in 2007 announced he will become the face of its campaign. The incentive for Vick is fairly clear. Looking to repair his damaged reputation following his fall from the sporting spotlight, he likely sees aligning with the cause as a direct route back into the public’s favor.

 

 

For The Humane Society, however, the choice to engage a man prosecuted for animal cruelty is harder to grasp. But the organization is using the outcry to its benefit. The aftermath of the scandal actually gave The Humane Society and other animal organizations a unique opportunity to draw upon public attention and address the issue of animal fighting. As his sentence comes to an end, the organization believes working with Vick will provide a direct line of communication to the urban youth it is trying to reach with its anti-dogfighting message. Vick himself grew up exposed to dogfighting and claims he didn’t question its immorality when he became an adult. Perhaps like drunk driving offenders or former drug abusers who take to the speaking circuit to share their “lessons learned,” Vick may supply an authentic voice to the campaign the organization couldn’t achieve with another spokesperson.

 

Partnering with celebrities, as we’ve discussed in previous articles, is always a perilous venture, but joining with one so blatantly in conflict with your organization’s mission is nothing short of treacherous. The Humane Society is taking the controversial decision in stride, claiming it will “reserve judgment until he demonstrates that he's part of the solution rather than a further part of the problem.” Time will tell how the public, Humane Society supporters and animal rights advocates react to this unlikely partnership. Frank, ongoing communication from the organization will be critical.

 

Tags: engagement celebrityengagement currentevents advocacy marketing campaigns

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March 27, 2009 at 1:11 PM by Knowledge Leadership

New research finds that 63 percent of workers in the U.S. feel their companies should be doing more to reduce their power consumption. A simple step? Power down PCs.

The PC Energy Report 2009 found that businesses in the U.S. are wasting $2.8 billion a year in energy costs by failing to turn off computers. According to the report, “If all the world’s 1 billion PCs were powered down just one night, it would save enough energy to light up New York City’s Empire State Building – inside and out – for more than 30 years.” Shutting down office computers during the evenings and weekends when they are not in use can save individual organizations thousands of dollars each year, while helping to minimize overall office energy use.

This weekend is a perfect time to start. Saturday, March 28th marks the third annual Earth Hour event – a global initiative organized by the World Wildlife Federation to raise awareness about climate change. At the time of this story, an impressive 2,848 cities, 21,014 businesses, 6,299 organizations and 8,742 schools within 84 countries signed up to participate by turning off their lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.

 

Take this symbolic act, which is designed to raise awareness, a step further to something that can have a sustained impact on your energy use and your bottom-line: encourage all employees to ensure their computers and monitors are turned off for the entire weekend. Earth Hour is an awareness builder, but only if it translates to true, ongoing action.

Tags: currentevents research environment

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March 5, 2009 at 9:32 AM by Knowledge Leadership

Philanthropy that’s focused, yet flexible enough to respond to the changing business and social climate is the smart approach leading companies are taking today. Companies such as Wal-Mart, GE and Visa have said they are allocating more funds and/or in-kind donations to address immediate domestic needs. One of the most pressing is childhood hunger. In the U.S., 1 out of every six children (more than 12.4 million) are going hungry, and as the economy deteriorates, this number will only grow.

To make it easy for people to take meaningful action in the short-term, Tyson Foods is joining Share Our Strength, Hum. Minds at Work., Kompolt and MediaSauce in a new collaborative initiative called the Pledge to End Hunger. For every pledge made on the site (as long as it reaches the 1,000+ goal), Tyson will donate 35 lb of food (enough to feed 140 children) to a food bank in Austin, TX where attendees will soon gather for the annual SXSW Interactive Festival. The two states that generate the most pledges may also have an opportunity to receive their own truckload of food if the tally passes 1,000.

You likely have hundreds of followers and friends on your Facebook and Twitter networks alone, so simply visit the site and pledge- to give, volunteer or help spread the word.

Tags: newmedia Volunteer charity currentevents campaigns

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January 6, 2009 at 3:18 PM by Kristian

On Dec. 30th, the US government expanded its multi-billion dollar bail-out of the auto industry with a $6 billion capital extension to General Motors’ finance division. It did this with the underlying fear that the company and its counterparts, Chrysler and Ford, may not survive the year and with the knowledge that a majority of Americans (6 in 10 according to a CNN/Opinion Research Poll conducted on December 3, 2008) are opposed to using taxpayer money to fuel a turnaround. 2008 was, no doubt, one that will remain etched in history as a year of reckoning. But, what real change will transpire in the New Year? Will 2009 be a turning point?

 

 

Indeed, a sea change may be on the way. Some influencers, like John McLaughlin, political commentator and host of The McLaughlin Group, have gone as far as to predict the rise of a new era of socialism, saying:

“Capitalism… will be the ultimate casualty of the global economic crisis of 2008. Governments everywhere are implementing socialist measures. The golden age of capitalism is kaput. Managed capitalism is what rules.”

Others, like President-elect Obama have proposed solutions to the culmination of events in 2008 via government-led regulatory reforms for business, as well as increased public and private social responsibility. Whether it be in the form of increased assistance to the underprivileged through tax relief, improved health care access and making universal early childhood education available, or the call for new personal engagement in local civic programs, charitable giving and volunteerism – the focus on the greater good for the incoming administration is unmistakable.

 

If changes like these take place, we might expect to see the role of corporations in cause-related activities to be diminished as government and individual involvement increase in caring for communities. However, as Ed Moed points out in his blog Measuring Up, brand reputation is a critical driver in purchase decisioning and consumer confidence. Certainly, companies that have acted unethically, are associated with failures as massive as the Big Three and are not perceived to be giving their fair share back to the communities and consumers that support them are likely to continue to be punished. In a down economy, price and quality will undoubtedly rule. But in fact, Cone’s recent research shows that most Americans (78%) believe companies should maintain or even increase their financial support of causes during a down economy, proving that significant consideration will be given to those that act in accordance with the newly re-birthed American commitment to the greater good.

 

How this is defined remains to be seen. Will it be manifested in greater compliance with environmental standards, increased fair wage and benefits offers, more transparency in financial and business reporting, new focus areas for strategic philanthropy, etc.? Will consumer expectations change? Will government be effective in incentivizing reform? The true answers will reveal themselves in the months and years to come. Since it’s a perfect time to make resolutions, I am going to resolve to hope and prepare for the best.

Tags: research Obama currentevents

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December 31, 2008 at 10:57 am by Knowledge Leadership

Some say the tradition of a midnight kiss on New Year’s Eve ensures good tidings in the coming year- and this year, Proctor & Gamble will ensure this is true for the benefactors of Operation Smile. For every kissing couple spotted on their Scope “ Kiss Cam ,” the packaged goods giant will make a donation to the nonprofit, which raises money to treat childhood deformities. This campaign is not only a great way to promote their mouthwash product when people are likely to get up close and personal with one another, but also a wonderful way to give back during the holidays.

 

 

The cause partnership will be carried into the New Year with an in-store promotion to benefit Operation Smile through March 2009. Scope’s brand manager anticipates they will raise enough money to help 200 children.

During these hard financial times, various companies are digging deeper to give back, with the hopes of not only making a difference in the lives of others, but also hoping to benefit from the additional reputational boost during times that are also tough on business. Cone’s 2008 research shows that 85% of Americans accept cause-related marketing such as the P&G “Kiss Cam” donation to Operation Smile, and 78% think businesses should continue to give the same or even more during tough economic times. Further creation of authentic, relevant and meaningful cause programs will be critical in the coming year, as businesses continue to compete for consumer attention during a time of tightening wallets. It will be the recognized leaders in charitable giving during hard times that will be strongest coming out of the economic downturn, making now more critical than ever for businesses to show they care.

 

Happy New Year!

Tags: currentevents research causebranding

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December 16, 2008 at 8:50 pm by Carol

I always remember breakthrough articles related to cause. While few and far between they provide tremendous inspiration to me and many of  my colleagues, clients and friends.

 

Six years ago, Geoff Colvin at Fortune wrote a full page editorial about the power of causes on employee commitment and morale. In November 2004, Marc Gunther, also at Fortune wrote Money and Morals at GE, about the new values-based culture CEO Jeff Immelt was instituting to inspire green-related innovation as well as an enticing workplace for the emerging millennial generation. 

 

This week came Jonah Bloom's editorial:  'Recession Provides a Chance to Build a Better Capitalism.'  Better capitalism reported by AdAge?...I read it with vigor. 

Here is his critical point: conspicious consumption is no longer a sustainable answer to our lives.  We already have enough. Building brands for tomorrow can and should embrace a different type of capitalism, one that incorporates society and the environment into emerging businesses as well as established ones.

 

Bloom talks about the opportunity in 2009 and beyond for marketers and their agencies to harness and reflect the mood of the country --  that voted for change--  to advocate 'for a new era in business where companies and products are analyzed, valued and attract investment based on a range of metrics that reflect the challenges of the world we live in..' As well they take new approaches to branding, marketing and sales that build in sourcing, operations, and product/service functionality that just makes sense to a new type of consumer, ones that desire to share their values with the businesses they buy from and work for...

 

This is so so very exciting to hear from AdAge.

 

For those of you who have followed Cone and our work since the early 80's, we have always advocated for business to bring their values to life through authentic and sustainable engagement with social issues. Now a quarter of a century later, with our world upended, for this philosophy to become the norm, rather than the exception, is encouraging for our people, planet, our communities and our children's futures.

 

Jonah ends his editorial with this commentary:  'Next year we will have a chance to wean ourselves off the crack of consumption at any cost to our brands and our planet and instead focus on profitability, sustainability and social responsibility.  Maybe next year can be the start of something good, a different take on commerce...'

 

This year we went through a robust discussion of Cone's future as a strategy and communications firm.  After much discussion we settled on something we felt was just right:  Our firm's vision: Better Business. Greater Good.

 

My New Year's wish is that we all answer this call.  Our collective futures may depend on it.

 

Thanks Jonah for this invaluable commentary.

Tags: cone economy currentevents

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December 12, 2008 at 1:07 pm by Knowledge Leadership

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship just announced it is seeking entries from companies who have demonstrated their responsibility through video for its inaugural International Corporate Citizenship Film Festival. We’re excited to see the winner revealed at the annual conference in 2009 because we’re also big believers in the power of video to showcase compelling stories about pressing issues. Not only does video have an almost unparalleled power to tug at the heartstrings, but it can also inform (build brand and issue awareness) and mobilize (generate funds or advocacy and drive change). 

 

ITT Watermark Video

 

Video was once typically associated with compelling TV advertisements (Whirlpool’s Habitat for Humanity spot on the film festival’s Web site is a great example), but social media channels have today provided new, less resource-intensive ways to produce and distribute pieces that educate and bring complex issues to the masses or specialized audiences (e.g., Dove or ITT videos). Increasingly, companies and organizations are turning the screen inward to rally their own employees or secure partners through videos not shared publically. They’re even handing the camera to those touched by the issue to tell the story in their words . Video may not be the most novel tool in the communication arsenal, but it continues to translate complex issues, capture attention and inspire unlike most any other medium.

A few best practices for communicating your cause via video:

• Humanize the initiatives – use real people affected by the issue to show the need
• Provide context (e.g., a few defining statistics) to illustrate why efforts are urgent, especially for complex global or business issues
• Show the impact you’re making on the issue, but don’t overstate or overpromise
• Ensure it is more than a boast about your accomplishments
• Be transparent with the details of your commitment – a requirement if you’re also selling a product or service that triggers a donation for the issue
• Offer a convenient venue for people to learn more about the issue and opportunities for engagement
• Spread the word – tap social media networks to encourage others  to advocate on your behalf
  

Tags: campaigns advocacy causebranding nonprofitcausebranding currentevents

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December 4, 2008 at 5:53 pm by Cone

All eyes were on the automotive industry this week, particularly when the Big Three CEOs made their trip down to Washington – in their hybrid vehicles.  According to Cone’s 2008 Green Gap survey , 71 percent of people consider the impact of the environment when buying a car.  It should not be surprising, then, that hybrid sales have dramatically increased over the past few years.  The introduction of the Toyota Prius, for example, left people waiting for up to a year to purchase.  When celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio were proudly driving around in them, it seemed like everyone wanted one.  More and more models were rolled out for consumers to choose from.  And, as gas prices climbed up to $4, people aggressively sought out more fuel-efficient vehicles. 

The recent decline in the overall economy, however, has left many people deciding to hold off on car purchases altogether.  Additionally, the recent drop in gas prices no longer presents the “urgency” once felt for fuel-efficiency and, ultimately, cost savings.  Does this spell the end of the hybrid boom?   Well, the good news is that while total vehicle sales plummeted in 2008 (down 15 percent in January through October,) hybrids were only down 3 percent .  Hybrids’ market share continues to climb.

As the Big Three CEOs present their plans to Washington, they will certainly talk about sustainability and fuel efficiency.  Let’s hope that they are authentic, because not only are these plans better for the environment, but they are what consumers are looking for.

   

Chevy Malibu Hybrid – driven to Washington by GM CEO Rick Wagoner

- Dena Pizzutti, Senior Account Executive

 

 

Tags: currentevents

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December 4, 2008 at 5:09 pm by Cone

This week is the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Networks’ buy local week . But does place still matter in this age of globalization?

 

For some, it seems to matter more. Recently, my husband and I visited a new local coffee house . Well, “house” might be an overstatement. It was more of a lab cum temple devoted to elevating coffee above its origins as the humble cup of joe. They roast the beans on the premises and spoke passionately about the various microclimates and artisanal flavors that are brought out by various climates, roasting techniques, water temperatures and brewing times. That might not come as a surprise to anyone who’s read about the Clover .

 

However, I was surprised that my new neighbors wouldn’t sell me a bag of beans, since the equipment I have at home isn’t good enough for their coffee. (No doubt, my husband will ensure that a burr grinder makes an appearance in our kitchen in the near future.) The java jocks were concerned that the ineffable highs and lows, the essence of place, the terrior, would be lost in translation.

 

Which brings me to the reason I’m blogging about this here: could place become a new cause célèbre?

 

 

The general awareness that place matters may have started with wine but foodies now consider it when selecting cheese, chocolate, tea, milk and countless other foods. The resurgence of interest in native plants , local culture and even capturing place-based memories all adds up to a new regionalism  even as communities wrestle with the implications of globalization. Will it mean homogenization or a dynamic network of connections between vibrant, distinctive communities ? In many ways, the choice is ours as consumers – and perhaps more importantly, as citizens.

 

How does place show up in your life? Are you buying local this week?

-Talya Bosch, Account Director

Tags: currentevents

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November 11, 2008 at 10:53 am by Carol

A year ago, at a dinner with some very talented senior communications professionals, we went around the table and stated who would run for President.  Hillary and Rudy.  We were all so convinced.

 

Mind you, many of these talented pros had technological knowledge deep in their blood.  Yet Obama was not mentioned by one.

 

When he beat Hillary, I knew he might just win. Yes not deeply experienced in our established political system, yet he was a community organizer.  He knew the streets, and knew how to listen, organize and build a base from which to gain results.  He knew the grassroots and how powerful roots can spread and grow to amazing heights. 

 

 

I am truly awed by Barack. I believe he is the 'real deal'  or perhaps WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). A very consistent, level-headed, authentic leader who knows how to reengage millions and empower those who never, ever felt power. He beat an imperial political system with an open-source, people-powered, technologically-based operation. Yes, he has a broad and wonderfully diverse political base. He also has a database of millions that he will use to govern. 

 

For those of you who aren't in his database, the simple message he sent on the night he won was so touching and right.....at 1:21am  he said:  We just made history. And I dont want you to forget how we did it....I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent and passion to this campaign....We have lots of work to do to get our country back on track and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next....But I want to very clear about one thing.....All of this happened because of you.

 

                                   Thank you, Barack.

 

We will have change. And we need it so desperately. He saw what was wrong with this country.....as the New York Times stated, 'the utter failure of government to protect its citizens.'

 

We have elected a man with great character. We have elected a man that truly embodies the spirit of what has made this country great: the American dream. We have been given reasons to hope again. We have given the world a refreshed view of our ability to be inclusive, bold and caring.

 

We have been wise to elect Obama at a time when our challenges are so great and when our collective energy, wisdom, and humanity will be called on to forge new social, economic and environmental systems. For our country and our world to thrive, we will need each other more than ever.

 

Perhaps the thank you should be in return: Thank you, Barack. 

-Carol Cone

                                        

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November 4, 2008 at 9:46 am by Cone

It’s Election Day in the United States, yet still too soon to say for sure what the outcome will be. (Lemme give a shout-out to my friends in Florida.)

While it seems hard to imagine any aspect of this campaign cycle that hasn’t been hashed and re-hashed – $150,000 wardrobe! Lipstick and pigs! Joe the Plumber-who-isn’t! – it may be worth considering this vote from the perspective of global branding. Yes, I said branding.

Now, when we talk about national brands, we often are referring to products and services that are promoted on the national level. When you’re talking about the way a sovereign nation is branded and perceived around the world, it’s worth asking to what degree the same rules apply. What factors influence “brand U.S.A.” – and how do those influences change over time?  

 

 

Of course, leaders help shape the brand identity, and as Ed Moed points out , there is a certain degree of wizardry in crafting a politician’s image. I’d suggest that the more successful align their brand attributes with the mother brand of national identity.

In what is perhaps the largest and longest-running experiment in participatory branding, nations boast a range of other brand ambassadors, from average citizens (think Michael Fay ) to Peace Corps workers. Corporate brands also influence perception – whether Union Carbide or GE . 

What does all of this mean for the U.S.? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the “shot heard round the world” may have ushered in the first real national cause brand. Think about it: there was an issue, an architecture for engagement, an authentic, lofty goal....

Today, of course, some say that the brand is defined only by the so-called “real America,” an issue Sam Ford explores a recent blog post . If we buy into that dualistic thinking and that narrow definition of the cause, we may run the risk of creating what Frank Shaw calls a brittle brand - a self-definition that lacks nuance – and perhaps true global relevance in the years ahead.

The votes cast today may decide the future not only of the brand, but of the cause behind it. Perhaps that is one reason why people around the world are following this campaign so closely. My mother is running a national campaign field office in New Hampshire, and has had visitors from Germany, Australia and South Africa stop in to see the process in action. The outcome will have a dramatic impact on vital issues in the U.S. and around the world. In a recent BBC poll , all countries surveyed prefer Obama to McCain in what Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times said could amount to a rebranding of America in the eyes of the world.

Of course, world opinion doesn’t always predict the outcome in U.S. elections. After all, a similar BBC World Service poll in advance of the 2004 U.S. presidential election found 30 out of 35 countries polled preferred Democratic nominee John Kerry over George Bush, who won re-election. Four years ago, the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland were among the few countries to prefer the Republican incumbent. For what it’s worth, all three now prefer Barack Obama over John McCain.

The renewed interest in the process amounts to a cause in its own right. The non-partisan Election Protection Coalition is mounting an impressive effort to promote equal access to the polls – and asking people to sponsor their hotline. NPR is encouraging folks to submit live reports of voting problems, and has joined with a dizzying array of other groups as part of the Twitter Vote Report . Starbucks is offering free coffee to those who vote, while challenging people to care as much on November 5th as we do today. Now, there’s a cause to consider....

-Talya Bosch, Account Director, Cause Branding

Tags: currentevents

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October 12, 2008 at 8:30 pm by Cone

Fifteen years ago, I was invited to Avon's headquarters in New York City to meet with senior executives and their CEO, Jim Preston, to discuss the emerging strategy of linking a company with a cause.

 

I will never forget that day.  In a very large boardroom, with Avon's mission in large brass letters on the wall, we discussed the company's desire to deepen its relationship with its consultants -- 500,000 in the US with almost a million more globally -- in an emotional and powerful way.  Jim talked about a new strategy he had heard about, cause marketing. 'Lets explore this,' he said.

 

 

From that meeting was born Avon's global citizenship platform - The Avon Worldwide Fund for Women's Health , and in the United States, the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade .

 

Both grew from the company's deep and authentic commitment to women -- to give them flexible jobs, training and personal development. They wanted to do more.

read more...

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August 19, 2008 at 8:00 am by Cone

The human story that's on top of the world right now is Michael Phelps.

 

Now you ask, what does commentary of Michael Phelps have to do with a cause and social issues blog? A lot. When the USA needs to express its power in a human way, you couldn't have a better ambassador than Michael.  He serves as a supreme example of how great an athlete can be, swirled with deep humility, boyish charm and thankfulness.

 

Michael and his 'epic' results have touched our hearts throughout the world.  His cause is about the power of the human spirit, the love of a parent, the supreme focus of an athlete intent on winning, of barriers between countries broken, and for a short period, a world at its best.  Yet he shares the glory with his teammates, handles the tsunami of accolades with grace and makes us proud to be Americans.

 

He sleeps, he eats (the amazing 12,000 calories) and he swims.  His focus is legendary and his results glimmering gold.

 

As NBC reported:  'The stakes for the truly great are different.' Michael achieved what may be the greatest victory in Olympic history forever. His future is vast. And based on his performance outside the pool, the United States and the world will gain as much gold, even perhaps more, from this supremely hard working, genuine young man. We need more heroes like Michael.

 

I cannot finish this without mentioning Dara Torres.  While Michael's luck sat on the micro edge of the fraction of a second, Dara's did not.  Yet she embraced her silver with grace and shared this message with the world:  'Don't put an age limit on your dreams.'

 

Thanks to Michael and Dara.  Your 'performances' add to our humanity.

 

-Carol

Tags: currentevents

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