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June 9, 2011 at 3:12 PM by Cone Communications

With the warm weather finally here, many farmers markets are officially open for the season. It’s so refreshing to buy food from the person who produced it- it simplifies today’s high-tech society and gives our bodies a break from the often factory-produced, over-processed food we eat.

 

Every month, Cone’s Green Team provides our agency with a tip to help us minimize our environmental impact and support social issues. In May, the Green Team encouraged fellow employees to get some fresh air and fresh food at local farms and farmers markets. Becoming a “locavore” for the next few months will provide a boost to the economy, minimize your environmental impact and introduce you to exciting, healthy new foods.

 

The helpful infographic below (courtesy of eLocal) explains the environmental benefits of buying local, which include reduced energy in transportation and packaging, as well as the economic benefits. For example, did you know that national chains reinvest 33.6% of their revenue in the community, while local businesses reinvest 64.8%?

 

To help support these local businesses, Cone’s Green Team provided a list of Boston-area farmers markets with dates and times. For fellow Bay Staters, Mass Farmers Markets will send you a weekly reminder about the dates and times of your local farmers market – via text, email or voicemail – and LocalHarvest.org is a resource for finding markets across the country.

 

Finally, there’s no judgment cast for those who give into temptation and buy a new, colorful vegetable. When you purchase food locally and in-season, you reduce the environmental impact made when food is shipped hundreds – or even thousands – of miles to reach your plate. Not only are you directly benefitting local farmers and artisans, but your body will thank you for eating fresh produce. Buying local, seasonal fruits and vegetables is also a great opportunity to try new flavors and experiment with different recipes.

 

So go ahead, don’t be afraid to buy something new even if you don’t yet know how to prepare it – how about some locally grown fiddleheads. Whether you’re an omnivore, carnivore, vegetarian or vegan, stop by your farmers markets and be a “locavore” today!

 

 

-Rachel Swirsky and Karen DeVincent, Assistant Account Executives and Green Team members

Tags: environment cone local Farmersmarket greenteam

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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 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM by Research & Insights

Three years after Cone conducted its 2008 Green Gap Survey, the latest look at Americans’ perceptions of environmental marketing claims proves not much has changed. Sadly, consumers are still confused and overwhelmed, according to the 2011 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker.

The data reveal many consumers misinterpret common phrases used in environmental marketing – thinking terms such as “green” or “environmentally friendly” indicate a positive impact on the environment (41%) – giving products a greater halo than they may deserve. Despite their misinterpretations, consumers don’t take environmental claims lightly. Most say they will punish a company by boycotting a product (71%) or even a company’s entire suite of products (37%) if they find an environmental claim to be misleading.

A recent controversy at risk of consumer backlash is the case of S.C. Johnson’s “Greenlist” label on its Windex and Shout products. A civil lawsuit raised questions about consumer deception, saying the Greenlist label implied third-party verification, when in reality it is a self-imposed label and rating system. Although the 2011 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker found that a majority of consumers (51%) interpret an environmental “certification” on-pack to mean it has been verified by a credible third party, the Greenlist case proves this is not always an accurate assumption.

There is hope for marketers taking an authentic look at their companies’ environmental impacts – a majority of consumers (75%) say a company does not need to be environmentally perfect, as long as it is honest and transparent about its efforts. But consumers do want companies to help them better understand the environmental terms they use (75%), even by providing detailed information on-pack so they can make informed shopping decisions at the point of purchase (79%).

Americans today are interested in environmentally responsible products, yet they clearly need more information to make the right decisions. Generic claims will no longer cut it among discerning consumers; therefore, corporate claims must be accurate and properly aligned with consumer perceptions. Companies must be transparent to garner trust or risk facing the consequences.

The full 2011 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker is free to download on the Cone website.

 

 

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 transparency environment sustainability marketing labels research cone

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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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February 24, 2011 at 8:57 AM by Sarah Kerkian

Cone launched its new agency speaker series last week with a presentation by filmmaker and activist Socheata Poeuv whose award-winning documentary, “New Year Baby,” resonated deeply with many of our staff.  New Year Baby, a film about the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, begins with a stunning revelation about Poeuv’s family, survivors of the genocide, and takes us through a highly personal and poignant story as she visits Cambodia to learn more about her parents’ past. 


When Poeuv spoke to us after the screening, she focused less on the plot of the movie and her animated family and more on the storytelling techniques she employed, which made for a riveting film that both educated and inspired its viewers.  A few of the lessons she shared struck me as universal truths for any cause-related video, whether a 30-second spot or a full-length documentary:

1. Showcase the “at stake.” This is the heavy, consequential implication of the issue you are facing.  It may innately be personal – in Poeuv’s case, the role of the Khmer Rouge in redrawing her family tree – but it should be told in a way that’s universal, to ensure it resonates with every viewer.
   
   
2. Ensure an ebb and flow of tension and relief. A moment of humor or a change in perspective is a courtesy to viewers to make sure they don’t drown in the heavy moments of your video. The issues at stake are grave, but the seriousness of the message won’t necessarily be lost with a moment of levity.  In fact, audiences need, and often respond to, lighthearted moments, too.  Releasing built-up tension can help your audience better absorb the gravity of the situation without being overwhelmed.
   
   
3. Provide a resolution. In “New Year Baby,” the resolution was Poeuv and her family’s return to their home in the United States. It signaled they learned something deeply unsettling about the past, but still have hope for the future. No matter the issue, what a critical, uplifting and persuasive message to leave with an audience:  there is hope for the future, and by the way, here’s how you can get involved.

Has your organization told a compelling story about your cause using video? Consider entering it into the DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards taking place now on YouTube.


- Sarah Kerkian, Insights Supervisor, @sarahkerkian



Tags: cone causebranding children parents bestpractices activism global entertainment

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November 12, 2010 at 1:27 PM by Research & Insights

Veterans Day weekend is a great time for retail promotions, as shoppers get a head start on holiday gift hunting. But it’s also an opportunity for companies to pay homage to our veterans and active military and to build goodwill among consumers. After all, 85 percent of Americans believe it’s important for companies to support military nonprofits, according to a survey by Cone. A few initiatives we’ve seen this year for Veterans Day include:



Dunkin Donuts is donating a pound of coffee to the USO for every two pounds purchased in-store or online (up to 100,000 pounds).

Outback Steakhouse offered a free Bloomin’ Onion and beverage to any military personnel who ate at the national restaurant chain on November 11 as part of its ongoing “Thanks for Giving” program.

JCPenney and JOE Joseph Abboud partnered with IAVA this October to give away $1 million worth of apparel to 5,000 returning Iraq and Afghanistan troops. The initiative aimed to help veterans transition back to the civilian workforce by providing professional attire.

Southwest Airlines dubbed November “Military Heroes Month” and kicked off a number of veteran-appreciation initiatives including: providing customers with postcards to write a letter of appreciation to military serving abroad, a commemorative exhibit at the San Antonio airport and a special welcome home to Operation Freedom Bird veterans at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Microsoft dedicated its citizenship website, Facebook page and blog to inspiring U.S. military veteran stories. The web makeover is part of its ongoing commitment to help prepare veterans and their spouses with the skills and resources needed to be successful in today’s workplace.

Walmart announced a five-year, $10 million commitment to help improve the employment outlook of veterans.

These approaches are all distinct – some are traditional cause programs benefiting military nonprofits, while others are just designed to honor our veterans and active military through in-kind donations – but each leverages the company’s unique assets to serve veterans’ needs and connect in ways that resonate with their consumers and employees.

Stay tuned for more on consumer holiday cause shopping trends and data in the coming weeks.


Tags: causebranding research cone trends holiday

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November 9, 2010 at 12:44 PM by Craig Bida

In response to the USA Today KINDNESS blog post declaring the death of cause marketing as we know it:

Billions of dollars have been raised, millions of consumers have been engaged and untold lives have been impacted across the globe.  Rest assured, cause marketing is alive and well.

But don’t just take our word for it. An overwhelming 83 percent of Americans want to see more companies support social and environmental issues, as revealed in Cone’s 2010 Cause Evolution Study. This is particularly true among moms and Millennials – the consumers driving spending and the social agenda – who are virtually unanimous in their desire to see companies stand for something.

Most professionals have long-agreed that simply tying a ribbon to a product is not a meaningful strategy for either business or social growth.  And it doesn’t build brands either.  Instead, what sets brands apart today is:  1) supporting issues aligned with their business growth and diverse stakeholder needs, 2) meaningful engagement beyond the transaction and 3) trusted, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Over the last two decades, cause marketing has changed our social fabric, giving consumers a way to contribute to critical issues like women’s health, education and preventable disease.  Today, we are on the cusp of innovation as we evolve from transactional to transformational.  Look to the future for dynamic, collaborative problem-solving against new (and emerging) issues, bold public commitments to drive impact and brands built on transparency and trust.

Lofty?  Perhaps.  But achievable, when put in the hands of the consumer through cause marketing.


- Craig Bida, Executive Vice President

Tags: youth causebranding research cone trends

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October 19, 2010 at 12:20 PM by

Craig Bida joined Cone last month as executive vice president of Cause Branding and Nonprofit Marketing. Craig has more than 20 years of experience in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, including an 11-year tenure at Procter & Gamble.

Though he’s been with us for less than four weeks, Craig already feels like family. We’re excited by the energy and experience he brings to the agency, and look forward to his contributions – including future posts on this blog!

To learn more about our newest executive team member, read his interview with PRWeek’s Kimberly Maul.


Tags: causebranding nonprofitcausebranding cone

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October 1, 2010 at 2:12 PM by Research & Insights

Although moms stand out as the most socially conscious segment of consumers, according to the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study, it comes as no surprise that their Millennial-aged children (18-24), are close at their heels. Ninety-four percent believe cause marketing is acceptable, and more than half (53%) have purchased a cause product/service in the past 12 months (vs. 88% and 41% respectively for the average consumer).

 
The Millennial segment provides the clearest view of the nation’s future cause consumers – and the outlook is good. Nearly three-quarters (73%) are willing to try a new product they’ve never heard of if it supports a cause. And, more than a quarter (26%) are willing to pay more for products associated with a good cause.

Ford is looking to capture the attention of this segment through the allure of cause marketing. As part of a new collaboration with Pandora, a Web radio station popular with digital-natives (a.k.a. Millennials), Ford will make a donation to one of two charities, chosen by featured artists John Legend and Jewel, every time Pandora users share a “mixtape” by either musician. This is sure to strike a note with Pandora’s Millennial users, while also promoting the integration of the Pandora service into Ford vehicles.

More than their counterparts in other age categories, Millennials are even willing to keep the greater good in mind when making decisions outside the store – 87 percent consider a company’s cause commitments when deciding where to work. Companies are putting this into practice, for example Deloitte (client) uses its community involvement initiative as a core recruiting differentiator.

Millennials are entering our workforce and marketplace with a fierce sense of social and environmental responsibility. Whether companies are trying to recruit the next generation of talent or differentiate on the shelf, aligning with a cause is a powerful way to prepare for the future. 


Tags: causebranding youth research cone trends employee

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September 24, 2010 at 1:07 PM by Research & Insights

Today we salute moms. But first, let’s just call them what they really are – Supermoms. According to the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study, moms are by far the nation’s most active cause consumers. A near-unanimous 95 percent (vs. 85% average) find cause marketing acceptable and 61 percent (vs. 41% average) have purchased a cause-related product in the past 12 months. With moms making 80 percent of household purchasing decisions, this is good news for companies engaged in cause marketing.



But what is it that makes Supermoms stand-out cause consumers? We see today’s moms as multitaskers – they work, shop, act as chief health officer, often balance checkbooks and tuck the kids in at night. With busy lifestyles, moms today are looking for a double impact when they shop. Cause marketing is no doubt an effective strategy for companies to help the socially conscious mom attain her emotional and practical needs.

One program hitting the mark with this demographic is Quaker Oat’s Chewy Granola Bars’ “Afterschool Rocks” campaign. The brand has enlisted a host of kid-friendly musicians to lend their songs to the brand’s online music library, all with goal of raising awareness and support for afterschool programs. In addition, parents can get codes for free downloads by purchasing specially marked boxes of the product. Though just one application of cause marketing to moms, the Quaker Oat’s campaign fulfills both practical (purchasing snacks) and emotional (support for afterschool programs) demands of this conscious consumer base.

Moms are clearly passionate about cause consumption – both for themselves and their families. How will your next cause campaign connect with moms, while also satisfying their desire to give back?


The full 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study is free to download on the Cone website.


Tags: causebranding nonprofitcausebranding research cone trends

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September 22, 2010 at 5:01 PM by Research & Insights

You’ve heard from us, but we want to know what you have to say. So we reached out to some of our favorite bloggers and experts who have valuable insights about the world of cause to get their reactions about the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study findings. We asked them what stood out or surprised them from the study. Here’s what they said:

 

On the overall findings:
“The 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study is a treasure trove of insights into our field's oft-debated questions: Should programs focus on one issue or emphasize consumer choice? (the former.) Are consumers more impressed by programs that describe major corporate donations orlink donations to their purchases? (slightly in favor of the latter.) Do Americans reduce their won donations after making cause-related purchases? (rarely.) Everyone managing corporate cause initiatives should read it -- at least twice!”

- David Hessekiel

President, Cause Marketing Forum, Inc.

On moms:
“What this study found about moms, in particular, didn't surprise me as much as it helped confirm my broader view of women and sustainability. ”Having a baby changes everything," and women with kids are all the more expecting shared values and authentic social and environmental commitment from brands. These Cone cause marketing insights are key in that they hint at an even bigger, developing sustainability story that all companies need to tend to.”

- Andrea Learned
sustainability and consumer behavior expert

 

On Millennials:
“Cone's findings are beautifully aligned with what we're seeing in the field. Today's socially conscious youth are REALLY good at tugging mom's purse strings, and it's hard to argue when your kid says, ‘We shouldn't buy such-and-such, it's bad for the environment, let's buy this one instead.’ That said, I'd like to see brand managers invest more heavily in their consumer’s ‘cause’ literacy rates.This need is articulated in the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study, but at a slightly lower percent than I would have thought, which surprised me – especially with regards to the Millennials. (I'd imagine this will come up with GenZ.)”

- Lee Fox
Founder, KooDooZ

 

On employees:
"What surprised me most about the Cone Cause Evolution Study was how much of a role frontline employees played in getting consumers to donate. 70% of Americans said they are more likely to donate to a cause if an employee recommends it. This puts the frontline employee in a very influential role, one I think none of us ever fully appreciated."

- Joe Waters
Director of Cause Marketing, BMC

Blogger, Selfishgiving.com

Tags: youth nonprofitcausebranding employee causebranding research cone

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September 17, 2010 at 1:47 PM by Research & Insights

Economic turmoil. Environmental disasters. Corporate corruption. When it comes to the role of business in society, the last two years have been turbulent at best. Despite the hardships Americans have faced, their purchasing behavior and appetite for cause-related products and services has soared, according to the just-released 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study. This 17-year benchmark study explores Americans’ attitudes and expectations of companies to support social and environmental issues.
Americans’ enthusiasm for cause marketing emerged from the turmoil fully intact and continues to strongly influence their purchase decisions:

• 88% say it is acceptable for companies to involve a cause or issue in their marketing;
• 83% want more of the products, services and retailers they use to benefit causes;
• 85% have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports a cause they care about; and,  
• 80% are likely to switch brands, similar in price and quality, to one that supports a cause.

Not only are consumers willing to switch among similar brands, they are also willing to step outside their comfort zones. When it supports a cause:

• 61% of Americans say they would be willing to try a new brand or one unfamiliar to them;
• 46% would try a generic or private-label brand; and,
• Nearly one-in-five consumers (19%) would be willing to purchase a more expensive brand.

The data signal a ripe opportunity for companies to engage consumers on a new level – one that fulfills both their needs for goods and to do good. Consumers are insisting companies support social issues and it clearly serves as a powerful differentiator in an increasingly competitive environment.

The full study is free to download on the Cone website, which includes a look at the role of employees as cause ambassadors and two of the most socially driven consumer segments in history – moms and Millennials.

Cone EVP Alison DaSilva discuss the research in a video announcement of the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study.


Tags: economy trends research cone causebranding nonprofitcausebranding

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September 15, 2010 at 10:55 AM by Research & Insights

Cone EVP, Alison DaSilva, discusses the findings of the 2010 Cone Cause Evolution Study.

 

Tags: economy causebranding research cone trends

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September 7, 2010 at 6:11 PM by Research & Insights

Cone is pleased to be recognized as a leader in sustainability communications in the just released “Green Quadrant: Sustainability Communications Agencies (US),” conducted by independent research firm Verdantix.


This is the second commendation for Cone’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) discipline this year, as it was earlier named a top five corporate responsibility agency by CR Magazine.


Tags: Leadership sharedresponsibility corporateresponsibility cone awards

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June 15, 2010 at 3:53 PM by Chris Mann

I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 Cause Marketing Forum Conference in Chicago this month, and as always, David Hessekiel and his team did a great job encouraging conversation on hot topics in the industry.

 

Many of the discussions I heard and was a part of at the conference - and afterward - have been around legal issues (Ed Chansky scared everyone in a good way), transparency (Cone's Mike Lawrence helped to simplify it for everyone) and choosing the right partners (Komen & KFC is still being talked about heavily).

Ultimately, the common thread running through all of these topics is the need to engage stakeholders in your cause branding and corporate responsibility activities. At Cone, we call this "Shared Responsibility" and feel strongly that it's where the industry needs to go.

To have the greatest social impact, companies must move beyond philanthropy and transactional cause marketing toward supporting issues that are material to business growth and allow for stakeholders to be engaged in collaborative solutions.

Margaret Morey-Reuner from Timberland (Cone client) spoke directly to this concept during the “CSR Meets CM” dinner, sharing how Timberland has actively engaged consumers through its Earthkeeper program to provide input and be "Voices of Challenge."

No one company or nonprofit can do it alone. By embracing Shared Responsibility, not only can you better identify and avoid potential legal, transparency and partner selection issues, but you can also empower stakeholders to help drive innovation and become true advocates for your efforts. 

- Chris Mann, Account Director


Tags: causebranding cone engagement sharedresponsibility conferences transparency

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June 11, 2010 at 1:25 PM by Research & Insights

Is the sustainability message sustainable? This is the question posed for a session Cone will lead today for The Conference Board, and as many of us in this space know, the answer is an unabashed “yes.” For those still unconvinced, here are a few supporting points:

• Investment in CR Steady: 86 percent of companies say investments in green products and green product development will be the same or higher in 2010 than 2009. (GreenBiz.com)

• Consumer Expectations Remain High: 85 percent said their expectations of companies to make and sell environmentally responsible products and services during the economic downturn was the same or higher. (Cone)

• Reporting on the Rise: Nearly 40 percent of firms on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index filed non-financial reports last year, a one-third jump over 2008. (Corporate Register)

• Experts Agree Sustainability Works: 88 percent of global thought leaders agree that improving sustainability performance improves overall brand image. (GlobeScan)

There are many telling examples that showcase how sustainability is not just holding steady, but actually gaining steam, but yesterday’s Environmental Leader highlighted a particularly compelling case. U.K.-based Marks & Spencer launched Plan A in 2007, with 100 sustainability-focused commitments to achieve in 5 years. The program has effectively weathered the economic turmoil to stay on point to meet its 2012 goal. In fact, the company has achieved 62 of its original targets and is slated to achieve all except seven by 2010 – two years ahead of its original schedule.



The company this year ALSO added 80 new or extended commitments with a goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015. The icing on the sustainability cake is that not only is the company meeting or exceeding its original goals, Plan A became cost positive in 2009. This year, Plan A generated a $73 million dollar profit that was reinvested in the company. And if there's one thing that makes a corporate initiative sustainable, it's a financial return.
 
See Marks & Spencer’s “How We Do Business Report 2010” for complete details about its commitments, including candid stakeholder feedback about the activities – and, yes, responses from the company on how it’s addressing these concerns.


Tags: corporateresponsibility cone economy sustainability conferences bestpractices campaigns research

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May 28, 2010 at 12:49 PM by Research & Insights

Consumers rule the roost when it comes to online conversations. Technology, paired with low trust in business, has created the perfect environment for consumers to broadcast their objections to business practices and programs. And communicating your well-meaning cause effort is no guarantee the chatter will always be nice.


Case in point: the online backlash to KFC’s “Buckets for the Cure,” which was met with seething criticism by both consumers and seasoned cause marketers. The disconnect between the issue (breast cancer) and the product (fried chicken) was the main point of contention. As the conversation simmered, both the fast food chain and the nonprofit partner came under attack. The fact that this partnership has raised millions to-date is lost, perhaps forever, amid the perfect storm of skeptical consumers and critical chatter online.

The best defense? A good offense. Engage the would-be activists early in the process to better predict what issues could arise. In fact, our research found that consumers want to be engaged in the decision-making process for your social or environmental efforts. To help influence initiatives, consumers are willing to take part in a variety of activities, including participating in a survey (70%) or emailing, calling or talking with the company or an employee (32%). By providing these forums for consumers to voice their opinions, organizations will be better equipped to react to possible criticism and adjust their programs accordingly.

And the benefits don’t end there. When their ideas are put to work, consumers are more likely to buy those products and services (60%), feel more loyal to the organization (54%) and are more likely to recommend it to others (51%). So before you tie a ribbon on your soon-to-launch product, why not ask your consumers what they think about the cause, the nonprofit partner and the details? They’ll be eager to engage, and it may just swap a future headache for a brand halo.



Tags: research cone engagement advocacy sharedresponsibility

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May 21, 2010 at 12:21 PM by Research & Insights

For more than 30 years, we have been helping organizations address social and environmental issues (Cause Branding) and change the way they operate for maximum business and societal benefit (Corporate Responsibility). Today, we see a convergence of these distinctive yet synergistic business strategies taking place. We call this intersection of business and society “Shared Responsibility,” and believe the future of sustainable business rests in this alignment – where companies will collaborate with their stakeholders to help address the social and environmental obstacles that stand in the way of greater business opportunity.



In light of this emerging perspective, we fielded research to explore how companies can take a “Shared Responsibility” approach and more effectively collaborate with consumers to help solve social and environmental issues. The Cone 2010 Shared Responsibility Study revealed that despite great opportunity, companies are not quite making the grade when it comes to engaging consumers. Key findings include:

• Eighty-four percent of Americans believe their ideas can help companies create products and services that are a win for consumers, business and society; yet, only half (53%) feel companies are effectively encouraging them to speak up on corporate social and environmental practices and products.
• Three-quarters (75%) of Americans give companies a “C” or below on how they’re engaging consumers around key issues.
• If a company incorporated their ideas, consumers say they would be more likely to buy its products and services (60%), more loyal (54%) and more likely to recommend the company (51%).

Issues today are far too complex and significant for any single entity to address on its own. Shared Responsibility requires the combined resources, ingenuity and sweat equity of business, government, NGOs and consumers. To explore how consumers want your organization to engage them on key issues, check out the full results of the study or read more about where we see Shared Responsibility playing a role.


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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.

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May 7, 2010 at 1:15 PM by Research & Insights

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Have you thought of a gift for the special women in your life? Flowers, jewelry or a nice brunch may be indulgent – but a truly memorable gift would be getting mom to care for her health.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the American Cancer Society* (ACS) is launching a movement to encourage mom to do just that. Called Choose You, this initiative is inspiring women to put their health first and make lifestyle choices that will help them stay well and help prevent cancer. Choose You is primarily focused on women, but also invites men to join the movement and encourage the women in their lives to put their health first. A celebratory launch took place on Tuesday, where celebrity ambassador Ellen Pompeo illuminated the Walgreens’ Times Square digital billboard, the world’s largest, with images of women and men who joined the movement. This was followed by a star-studded honorary luncheon, including Gabourey Sidibe, academy-award nominated star of Precious; JuJu Chang, co-host Good Morning America; Kiran Chetry, CNN’s American Morning; and representatives from Choose You’s National Presenting Sponsors, Sprite Zero and Walgreens. This luncheon also brought together influencers on women's health to hear directly from ACS executives and scientific leaders.


But the movement doesn’t end with the glitz of the launch. ACS is making it easy for individuals to make a wellness pledge online (quit smoking, adopt healthier eating habits, etc.) and gain the support of their peers throughout their journey to a healthier lifestyle. Participants benefit from the emotional and financial backing of their supporters (who can pledge “support donations” to ACS on behalf of their friend's or loved one’s goal). When they achieve success, supporters’ donations will go to ACS. If unsuccessful, the participant's pledge will go to ACS. The structure is a win-win for both the cause and the individual, transforming the model for how to fundraise and incentivize behavior change online.
 
ACS will sustain the movement offline with a multi-faceted, year-round approach that reaches women wherever they are – online, in-store, at the workplace or in local communities – through a variety of targeted initiatives.

And mark your calendars – ACS has established May 12 as National Choose You Day, asking employers to give their workers 30 minutes to do something to promote their health. This annual event will be a reminder of the campaign – and will ensure it is re-energized each year. Suitably, the day of recognition will fall close to Mother’s Day every year, meaning it is always an appropriate time to remind the women close to you to focus on their health.

*ACS is a client of Cone, who helped develop and execute this campaign.


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March 29, 2010 at 3:42 PM by Cone Communications

A couple of weeks ago I attended the Economist’s Corporate Citizenship Conference in New York City. The discussion focused on the role of business in our society and the opportunity to do well by doing good. There was much discussion around the different approaches companies are taking: various CSR programs, NGO partnerships, sustainable product launches, etc.


I think most would agree that there is a positive bottom-line impact to make the case for corporate responsibility, acting sustainably or whatever you choose to call it. But still many companies are hesitant to open that door. During the conference, one of the panelists said that companies need courage. That comment really resonated with me – and I think it’s true. Courage is an important trait many companies need in order to start looking at themselves with a critical eye and begin adopting strategies to become more responsible corporate citizens.

This idea holds true in several ways:

The courage to admit that your shareholders are just one of your many stakeholders

• Having recently witnessed the failure of many of our financial institutions and massive layoffs combined with big bonuses, it’s hard not to view companies as in the business of making money to pay off corporate leaders and shareholders, above all else. Somehow they have shifted towards this narrow focus of shareholder maximization, leaving all other stakeholders in the dust –  employees,  communities,  consumers. Responsible corporate citizens are recommitting to this broader spectrum of stakeholders and addressing the interdependency among them in order to achieve more sustainable growth.

The courage to collaborate

• While companies have an important role to play in society, they are just one part of the equation. Some of the most impactful efforts are born through partnerships between companies and NGOs. One of the programs highlighted at the conference was 10,000 Women, a program supported by Goldman Sachs. Its mission is to provide 10,000 underserved women around the world with a business and management education (starting in places like Afghanistan). Goldman Sachs works with multiple academic and NGO partners throughout the world to develop curricula and help reach women in need. Goldman Sachs sees this program as more of an economic investment versus charity. They believe these women will play a critical role in building local economies and ultimately help drive future business. In the meantime, the program is empowering these women and changing their lives in extraordinary ways.

• Companies also need the courage to collaborate with their competitors. We often see companies within the same industry developing separate standards to meet their definition of sustainable practices. This can result in confusion among suppliers as they try to adhere to multiple sets of standards. Competitors need to find common ground and come together to harmonize standards and unify efforts. One example of this is the Leather Working Group which brings together competitors in the leather shoe industry, including Timberland and Nike, to agree upon one set of standards and positively impact a critical piece of their supply chain for themselves, for the industry and for social good.
  
  

Courage to be transparent and authentic

• Being responsible also means being transparent and honest with your stakeholders. This can be a scary proposition for many companies unwilling to take the risk of exposing potential skeletons in the closet. But only by being aware can companies fully understand their impact and make the changes required to act more responsibly. It’s easy to talk about the great things we are doing, but it’s much harder to share those areas that need improvement.
  
  

The courage to innovate

• Being responsible (vs. reactive) means being proactive and able to adapt to change. Some of the best examples of responsible corporate citizens are also some of the best examples of innovative companies – Method, ZipCar, Aveda, all come to mind. P&G has taken this innovation for social good and turned it into a new product line called “Future Friendly”. Launching this month, this new line consists of environmentally friendly products to address the needs of the “Sustainable Consumer”. This line will enable P&G to help the earth while driving value via a niche consumer segment.

What do you think? Do companies require courage in order to be good corporate citizens? Please share your thoughts below.


- Erica Vogelei, Account Director


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March 12, 2010 at 11:28 AM by Research & Insights

As more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. vie for the attention of potential donors and supporters, the newly released 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker reveals a powerful, if unexpected, ally – for-profit companies. According to the new survey, more than three-quarters (78%) of consumers believe a nonprofit’s partnership with a trusted company or brand makes a cause stand out.

 

We have long known such cross-sector partnerships benefit companies, but the results of this survey reveal the nonprofit is perched under the same halo. Not only do many consumers feel better about a nonprofit when it partners with a company (56%) – they are also more likely to support it:

• 59% of Americans are more likely to buy a product associated with the partnership;
• 50% are more likely to donate to the nonprofit;
• 49% are more likely to participate in an event for the nonprofit; and
• 41% are more likely to volunteer for the nonprofit.

American consumers are highly attuned to nonprofit-corporate partnerships in the marketplace today and, as a result, want to see the complete picture. They are seeking details of partnerships (61%) before deciding to support the cause, and they want to see results – 75 percent want to hear about the effect on the social issue or the0 money raised for the cause. In light of this penchant for detail, fewer than half (45%) think nonprofits and companies disclose enough information about their partnerships.

Leading nonprofit brands can harness the power of strategic corporate partnerships and, by offering complete details and a compelling call-to-action, enhance relationships with existing supporters and rally new cause ambassadors.

For additional results and insights from the 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker, download the release and fact sheet from our Web site. 

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January 8, 2010 at 11:58 AM by Research & Insights

 

Despite what the pundits may say, few of us are really certain what 2010 will bring – will the economy bounce back or get worse? Will nonprofits survive or fold under the fundraising pressure? Will the environmentally conscious lifestyle continue to resonate? So instead of predicting the future, we’d like to pause and look back at what has occurred in our portfolio of research – these highlights show powerful growth in just a couple of years for cause-related and corporate responsibility initiatives and may signal a positive outlook for the year ahead.

 

Cause Research:
Growth in Cause Acceptance: Americans’ acceptance of cause marketing increased from 66% in 1993 to 85% in 2008.
Growth in Global Focus: Since 1993, there has been a 6% decrease in consumers indicating they want companies to focus on the quality of life locally, within local communities and a 5% increase in desire for companies to support the quality of life globally, in countries around the world.
Growth in Differentiation: Americans' likeliness to switch to brands associated with a cause increased from 66% in 1993 to 79% in 2008.
Growth in Purchase: Consumers’ cause purchases almost doubled between 1993 and 2008, rising from 20% to 38%.

 

Environmental Research:
More Interest: 35% of Americans have greater interest in the environment today than they did one year ago.
Higher Expectations: 35% of Americans have higher expectations for companies to make and sell environmentally responsible products and services during the economic downturn.
They’re Watching You: 70% of Americans indicate they are paying attention to what companies are doing with regard to the environment today, even if they cannot buy until the future.

 

New Media Research:
More Interaction: 78% of new media users now interact with companies or brands via new media sites and tools, an increase of 32% from 2008.
Better Service: 68% feel better served by companies or brands present in new media, up from 57% in 2008.
Stronger Loyalty: 72% feel a stronger connection when companies or brands are present in new media, up from 56% in 2008.
Marketing is Okay: Consumer willingness to be marketed to via new media increased a dramatic 72% in one year - from 25% to 48%.

If the past year is any indication of what the year ahead holds, bring it on! As you plan for 2010, what questions do you have? What are you curious about? We’re listening to your comments - please share your outlook below.

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October 27, 2009 at 12:44 PM by Research & Insights

Last week, 13 winners of the 2009 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards were announced, giving due credit to this often-overlooked but powerful marketing element.

 

Over 4,800 nonprofit professionals voted for taglines that best delivered the vision and mission of the organization, putting power in the hands of practitioners who live and breathe nonprofit branding. Winners spanned a range of issues and represented organizations that focus on local, national and international causes, indicating that any nonprofit can benefit from a clearly communicated brand.

 

A theme among the winners is a clear connection to the organization’s mission. Essentially, the winners followed the simple yet often disregarded best practice of “say what you do.” In fact, Cone’s research showed nonprofits who clearly state their issue focus in their brand names reaped the benefit of stronger consumer relevance – a key component to strong reputation. For more tips on how to foster a strong nonprofit brand, check out the "10 Essentials for Enhancing Brand Power," part of The 2009 Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 report.

 

For the full list of tagline winners, check out the Getting Attention blog.

 

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October 23, 2009 at 11:57 AM by Research & Insights

Cone’s latest research, the 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study, shows consumers are actively engaging with companies and nonprofits through new media channels … but are they putting their money where their mouse is? The answer is divided.

 

 

When it comes to corporate responsibility practices, 62 percent of new media users polled believe they can influence business decisions by voicing opinions via new media channels. And although they report contributing their point-of-view on an issue (24%) or contacting a company directly to share feedback and grievances (23%), new media users are equally or more likely to bypass dialogue and act with their wallets:

• 30 percent indicate they have made a purchase based on POSITIVE information learned about a product, company or brand; and,
• 23 percent indicate they have switched brands or boycotted a company based on NEGATIVE information learned about a product, company or brand.

Yet, in the area of cause, consumer engagement and awareness is not fully translating into dollars. Although nearly eight-in-10 (79%) new media users believe companies and nonprofits should use these channels to raise money and awareness for causes, fewer than one-in-five (18%) have made a donation.

 

And some argue that’s quite OK.

 

As About.com’s nonprofit expert Joanne Fritz points out, using new media is “about making friends, not getting donations. If nonprofits focus on engagement first, the donations will come.” A sentiment nonprofit blogger Nancy Schwartz shares, saying she sees new media as “more about friendraising than fundraising.”

 

Do you agree – is it sufficient that new media is driving powerful awareness today, even if donations aren’t always quick to follow? Share your point-of-view by casting your vote in our latest blog poll.

 

For more information about the study, read the press release and download the fact sheets.

 

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October 14, 2009 at 4:58 PM by Cone Communications

On October 1, 2009 Carol Cone had the unique honor of speaking at the EngageNow Conference in Calgary, Canada directly following the Dalai Lama. She was so moved by the experience that she decided to share her thoughts here. To view a brief video clip of her speech, visit the event blog.

 

Now that I have met His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, and he has deeply touched my head and heart, I continue to look to his wisdom. So many have asked what it was really like to meet him, so I’d like to briefly share my experience with you.

The first time I saw him in person was among a crowd of 15,000 spectators. When he entered the arena, I felt a warm white light inside of me. Really. Truly. It calmed me and filled me with serenity. The arena full of people was so completely mesmerized; you could hear a pin drop. As he talked, his comments on universal responsibility gave me hope for mankind, to make peace with one another and the planet.

The second “meeting” was in a more intimate setting among a group of 1,200 at the Telus Centre in Calgary, where I would follow him on stage. While his energy was a bit lessened, (even the Dalai Lama who travels 300 days a year, with a jam packed schedule of multiple speeches and meetings a day, combined with 5+ hours of meditation can become burnt out) his message deeply penetrated the audience. “Be kind to one another. Help others to gain peace inside yourself.”

When I met him and he grabbed my hand, I felt so humbled, and grateful for just a moment of his presence. His look into my eyes deepened my resolve to share his message through my work, speeches, friendships and acquaintances.

When I came across blogger Justin Dixon’s list of “20 Quotes from the Dalai Lama,” I wanted to share them. So much wisdom from a “simple monk.”

Enjoy.

----------------------------------------------------------

“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.”

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October 5, 2009 at 7:08 PM by Cone Communications

Recently I “spent” two days with the Dalai Lama at the EngageNow conference in Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by the University of Calgary, the focus of the event was to inspire and create active participation in local communities throughout that city.

I was asked to speak at the conference, joining a global roster including F.W. de Klerk, Sir Richard Branson, Stephen Covey and His Holiness. Certainly I was honored to join such accomplished individuals. “When will I speak?” I asked the event organizers. “Directly following the Dalai Lama.” Humbled and curious, I inquired, “Why?” The answer was that they felt my life’s work and message about the power of business authentically embracing social issues would provide a perfect bridge for the audience.

 

 

A request like that causes one to deeply reflect. I reviewed my work spanning over 25 years guiding companies to genuinely embrace social issues. Our clients approached this strategy quite personally. Paul Fireman at Reebok, Jim Preston at Avon, Bruce Rohde at ConAgra, and more recently, Clarence Otis at Darden, Jim Rohr at PNC, Christina Gold at Western Union and Steve Loranger of ITT. Each desired to authentically and sustainably engage with a cause. Intuitively they knew this could be a powerful way to inspire employees, engage more fully with customers while enhancing their reputation and make a social impact.

 

In each case, the work with these companies resulted in innovative and long-term commitments to many causes, new awareness and increased funding, with each showing significant results. The issues and approaches varied: human rights, breast cancer, childhood hunger, youth enrichment, economic opportunity for migrants and access to clean water. While each CEO explained his or her vision in a different manner, they all had one thing in common: compassion.

Compassion? Frankly, in the years of our work, I never thought of it as the expression of compassion. That is, until I “spent” two days with this self-proclaimed “simple monk.”

 

Indeed, I had to ask myself, “Could business be compassionate?”

 

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September 2, 2009 at 5:14 PM by Cone Communications

I love The New York Times. A day without it is like a day without blue sky, low humidity and sunshine.

 

And I will show my age - I love the print edition. I savor the writing and the ability to mark key paragraphs and phrases, returning to them later in the day once more for their richness.

 

Sure, the ink gets on my fingers and the pages crumple, especially if I am on a plane or outside. Yet, I learn so much about so much by seeing the articles and ads juxtaposed.

I often read an article I never would have opened online, because of a photograph or just the way it is grouped together on a page or in a spread. As an avid learner and marketer, the ads inform in other ways. What is hot for back-to-school? How are companies relating to the environment or other causes? What’s on sale? What is new? What advocacy issues are being supported?

 

I fear, with great trepidation, the demise of the print edition. Each day, as the newspaper grows thinner, I worry more.

 

I also worry about losing the random information I gain by viewing articles I never would have read. I thrive on looking for patterns from this seeming randomness. I worry for younger readers too. That randomness is a powerful way to learn in a world where customization delivers only what you seek, or related items/events. Sure, I get daily Google alerts, follow Digg suggestions, use Twitter and Facebook and read various business and lifestyle magazines (whose pages grow fewer by the week/month, too). Yet, the unique layout of ads, stories, photo, captions and headlines, which all come together to tell a larger tale about the state of our region, country or world, is something only a print newspaper can provide.

Yes, my overall favorite is The New York Times. So please survive. My Kindle or computer just aren’t the same.

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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.

 

 

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August 7, 2009 at 10:24 AM by Research & Insights

Dawn, a P&G brand, has launched special-edition packaging and a social media and advertising campaign to revitalize its commitment to a cause it has supported for over 30 years – wildlife conservation. It’s all part of a trend we’ve seen in recent months as companies infuse fresh life into their existing causes, a rebirth if you will. That’s why we have coined this trend the “cause renaissance.”

This is just one of 10 hot cause-related trends we have identified in the marketplace over the past several months. Our list includes:

 

1. Cause Lite: organizations approach heavy issues with a light heart
2. Seasonal: when life gives them lemons…companies make lemonade campaigns
3. Home Grown: there’s no place like home…to focus a cause campaign
4. Feeding America: companies are feeding America by partnering with this eponymous organization
5. A La Carte Cause: brands put consumers in the driver’s seat and let them choose from a range of options
6. BOGO: the cause value equation is simple = you buy one + we give one
7. Ready, Set, Activate!: for these companies, consumer engagement doesn’t stop in the store
8. Service with a Smile: companies encourage volunteerism by tying it to some of America’s favorite indulgences
9. Cause Renaissance: if it ain’t broke…companies infuse new life into existing causes
10. Make Your Mark: the messages may be temporary, but the impressions are lasting

These trends reveal some interesting insights into the state of cause as we endure a reset global economy. Many of these examples are cause promotions, so it is clear that organizations are taking a back-to-basics approach to cause, seeking to connect with consumers and ultimately drive sales. Companies are also handing over much control to the consumer, giving him or her the ultimate voice in supporting the cause that matters most.

Intrigued? For details and examples for each cause trend, download the list from our Web site.  Then cast a vote in the poll to the right for which trend you think will stick.

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August 5, 2009 at 1:52 PM by Research & Insights

The following originally appeared in Cone’s inConetext quarterly newsletter. To read current or past issues, visit our Web site.

 

 

Sustainability, corporate citizenship and corporate social responsibility are just a few of the words used by C-suite executives to describe how businesses provide social, environmental and financial value for key stakeholders and society. It’s no wonder so many companies struggle with the sheer volume and complexity of corporate responsibility issues and stakeholder expectations when they can’t even agree on what to call it.

 

And today, new media have only complicated everything further by accelerating the communications process. The power of stakeholders is much stronger than ever before given their ability to assemble online, wresting control over the message away from companies. So, how does a company keep up? Creating a Facebook page or adding a widget is not going to cut it among today’s tech-savvy consumers and stakeholders, nor will it satisfy their skeptical stance on corporate responsibility marketing efforts. Like all other communications, a new media presence must have the right mix of strategy, messaging and audience to be a success. Cone helps companies navigate this journey from strategy and reporting to engagement and new media communications.

- Jonathan Yohanan, Senior Vice President

 

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August 3, 2009 at 3:10 PM by Research & Insights

We are humbled by Cone’s inclusion in Christine Arena’s article naming the “Foremost World-Changing Agencies” on the Fast Company Blog. Thanks to Christine for including us in her article and recognizing the hard work of our employees and clients to reach positive social and environmental outcomes.

 

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June 25, 2009 at 12:05 am by Research & Insights

Since yesterday’s launch of The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, we’ve had many great discussions about the research. Every conversation starts with the same question. “What is it about the Top 10 that makes them the Top 10?” The answer, in a word, is ENGAGEMENT.

Whether 100+ years old, or newer kids on the block, these nonprofits are experts at leveraging multiple points of consumer engagement. Many have bricks-and-mortar facilities (YMCA, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Goodwill, Boys & Girls Clubs) or in-your-face marketing (Habitat, American Cancer Society) that keep them top-of-mind with consumers, donors and other stakeholders.

 

Other common threads include:

• Their services have broad appeal to an array of stakeholders
• They are entrenched in hundreds or even thousands of local communities across the country with extensive consumer touch points
• They provide a credible voice and are a sought-after resource to help in difficult times
• They have successfully partnered with companies to reach a broader array of constituents with a clear call-to-action
• They have derived significant revenue through cause commerce (selling goods or services that help fund their cause)

It’s also notable that six of the Top 10 Nonprofit Power Brands are domestic social needs organizations (The Salvation Army, United Way of America, American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries International, Catholic Charities USA and Habitat for Humanity International). This sector is thriving as Americans turn their attention homeward since the devastating disasters of September 11 and the 2005 hurricane season. And, in these tough economic times, individual support of nonprofits providing life’s basic necessities has actually increased, and we expect this sector and its organizations will only sustain their upward momentum.

Visit our Web site to get branding insights straight from the Top 10, or to hear from the CEOs of the United Way, Catholic Charities and the American Cancer Society.

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June 25, 2009 at 5:04 PM by Cone Communications

In a career one gets few once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Being a judge for the 1st PR Lions  is certainly one of them.

 

While I looked forward to Cannes, my vision was an over-the-top glam week of parties, parties and more parties ending with awards, the global advertising businesses gushing self congratulations – think unrelenting double-cheek kissing (its France naturally), fist pumping in the air Gold Lion in hand, and all night carousing. (One of the agency winners even brought his dog on stage…4 times! Talented agency. Lucky dog?)

 

Perhaps that is true. Yet with digital media and a shattered world economy, things have really changed for the communications business. And in my experience, and that of my fellow judges, the new PR Lions and the content of winning campaigns mirror the emerging new “world” order.

 

First I feel the advertising industry has moved beyond just ads with spectacular creative – to a world of amazing ideas executed in multiple mediums. So many times the presidents of the various juries said “The lines have blurred between disciplines.” Great ideas, born from considered insight, executed in surprising ways that engage and deeply inspire audiences win the day.

 

Questions asked during the judging at the three concurrent juries – PR, Direct and Promo – revolved around their very definitions. Throughout our reviews we kept asking; “What is PR?” Besides shining a spotlight on great, breakthrough work, what message were we, as well as the other juries, trying to send to our communications colleagues around the globe?

 

At the awards ceremony Monday night, it was fascinating to see campaigns winning across disciplines. The Best Job in the World, winner of the PR and Direct Grand Prix, was such a simple idea that became a “shot heard ‘round the world”. The client, Tourism Queensland, sought to inspire visitors to visit. With a limited budget was born the idea: offer "The best Job in the World” – become the guardian of a magnificent island, with simple responsibilities – feed the fish, clean the pool, take in the mail (delivered via sea plane) and blog daily. All this for about $8800 per month, at a fabulous three bedroom villa overlooking breathtaking green and blue sparkling lagoons. Small space ads around the world announced the job; sent in a short video telling us why you should be selected: 35,000 responses, narrowed to 50, then 16 finalists flown to the island for a hands-on interview, then selection. Mountains of publicity, online submissions so clever providing non-stop entertainment, followed by mountains of publicity. The buzz throughout the judging, even before Cannes, this campaign was THE ONE TO BEAT! Just “brilliant.” CumminsNitro, Brisbane.

Another campaign winning multiple categories included Yubari Resort, The Store of Hope, The Great Schlep and Khede Kasra, among others.

 

 

Yubari Resort
Yubari was a small Japanese town, fallen on very hard times, $300 million in debt, with an aging population – what was the city to do? Beacon Communications, Tokyo, on a small budget, started with the right move: through research of the city’s history and personality, they found it to have the lowest divorce rate in Japan. Thus was born the idea of focusing Yubari as the city of happy couples. Their line, “No money, but love.” (Surely in Japanese that was more eloquent, but you get the idea.) A mascot was created to draw attention to the new positioning. Over 3,000 couples came to renew their marriage vows. The mascot soon took off with organic uses around the city, from the obvious T-shirt, to packaging of foods and other items.

 

Massive press covered the repositioning. Over 100 articles and tons of TV. The City gained much-needed word of mouth, exciting energy, more than $30 million in new revenues, 10% year-over-year increases in tourism and most of all – restored pride.

 

I just loved this campaign for its core insight, its highly cultural execution and deep results. I was so please my other judges agreed and gave it a PR Lion. When it won the Promo Grand Prix, I jumped out of my seat with joy, pumped my fist and cheered. It wasn’t slick. It wasn’t fancy, though the mascot was right on, not too Hello Kitty, just correct to represent a happy couple. The campaign reflected the inner spirit of Yubari in its better times, gave it hope and a new future. What a great PR result!!!!

 

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June 24, 2009 at 12:11 PM by Research & Insights

The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 is officially in the marketplace, and not surprisingly, amid all the chatter about who is ON the list, there is some about who is NOT. So, how did we choose the 100 leading organizations to evaluate? The answer is quite simple- we used Forbes 200 Largest Nonprofits list to give us a starting point. Check out additional info on the filter criteria.

 

We looked at 100 impressive organizations, but in the end that’s a fraction of the 1.5 million total nonprofits in the U.S., so there are bound to be some favorites that aren’t on the list. To the right, on our blog poll, we’ve listed a few notable absences. Who did you miss?

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June 23, 2009 at 5:40 PM by Research & Insights

• The YMCA of the USA’s brand is worth almost $6.4 billion, making it the nation’s most valuable nonprofit brand.
  
• The American Cancer Society is the single most relevant nonprofit among American consumers.
  
• The domestic social needs sector is the most valuable nonprofit sector in the nation.
  
• Yet, by not fully leveraging their powerful brands, some nonprofit organizations may be leaving millions of dollars in potential unearned revenue on the table.

 

Intrigued? Then check out Cone’s latest research – The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100 – released today. In collaboration with Intangible Business, Cone valued the brands of some of America’s leading social, environmental and animal organizations. We’re excited to share with you this first-of-its-kind research that explores the unique relationship between nonprofit brand image and financial performance, which culminates in the nation’s first complete list of the top 100 nonprofit brands.

 

On the Cone Research and Insights page, we share the complete list and accompanying report, as well as much more, including insightful commentary from the CEOs and executives of many of the Top 10 organizations (for a sneak peak at the Top 10 list, see below).

 

We’ll discuss the research in greater detail right here in the coming days, but first we encourage you to take a look. Feel free to share your thoughts with us here – we’re looking forward to a robust discussion around nonprofit brand value.

 

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June 22, 2009 at 9:57 AM by Cone Communications

Today we finally got down to the best part of the competition. We combined with all judges and Jury President Lord Tim Bell, to view the better entries from our previous voting. In all, we had 49 to discuss and debate. And debate we did! No shouting nor object throwing -- but certainly lots of laughs.

 

By now, we knew the basic positions of each jury member. To name a few: Jimmy Tay (CEO of Southeast Asia, H&K, Singapore) talks softly, but with deep insights; Penny Furniss (Founder and Creative Director of Sputnik, London) is snappy, funny and very direct; Bjorn Mellstrand (Managing Director from JMW Kommunikation, Sweden) sharp, in your face, vacillating from “boring” to “brilliant” as he swiftly assessed campaigns; and myself (always looking for the authentic insight related to a social issue). Then of course, there was “The Lord,” “Oh Lord,” “Praise the Lord” or “M’Lord,” as we kidded, Jury President Lord Tim Bell.

 

 

Debate. Debate. Debate. Often we had to ask for clarification regarding special cultural nuances for campaigns. The Japanese entries were especially different – I liked them a lot – but they have a very different flavor, some parts very campy, others poignant. At times we were extremely split as to their merit.

 

Today, as a group, we were exposed to many hometown phrases: “Looks bonkers to me,” “They managed to market themselves without looking like a tosspot,” “The link is so f…ing obvious. It’s solid,” and “Goes beyond the superficial to my heart.”

 

We had a few ad campaigns that sought PR, meaning publicity, for the efforts. One effort must have been created by “a group of advertising lads sitting around a table.” It was criticized strongly as Fake. Fake. Fake.

 

At the end of a very long day, we agreed on the shortlist. Each campaign will win either a PR Lion or a certificate. We will make those decisions tomorrow.

 

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June 20, 2009 at 1:36 PM by Cone Communications

Today we finished the second round of the overall judging. Our team of five, again a new mix of judges, hail from Singapore, India, Germany, Argentina and USA. Lively debate continued, although overall, we were disappointed by most of the submissions in the following categories: internal, integrated programs and travel/tourism and leisure.

 

 

While I can’t divulge those I liked today, countries capturing my highest votes included: Japan and Australia.

 

To aid our deliberations, and to add more context to our numerical scores, we gave brief descriptions to each number. So, our “unofficial” characterizations follow below (Remember, 1–3 means drop from further review; 4–6 may make the final review; 7–9 absolutely in the finals.):

1 = No comment. Just silence. We were surprised these passed from the first round   of judging we did at home

2= Nix it. (In many cases a stunt – that really turned us off)

3 = BORING!!! (In many cases a stunt plus something else. Very unoriginal)

4 = Barely ok

5 = Cute

6 = Solid (There were a good many solids awarded. Strategic, ok creative, thorough execution, ok results – just not great)

7 = Very good. Just one or two of the four criteria weren’t superior

8 = Close to Brilliant. A hair off of all criteria being fulfilled and then some

9 = Brilliant. Lively “ahs.” Gave some of us chills. May also be considered for the Grand Prix!

Insights to future entrants: success comes from really original ideas developed from keen insights and ideally some research, with stunning creative, thoughtful execution and results described qualitatively and quantitatively. Again, make sure the goals are crisply defined, ideally quantitatively, and as specific as possible, AND the results round back to address the goals.

 

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June 19, 2009 at 12:51 PM by Cone Communications

Up bright and early today. Walked and ran three miles along the promenade with barely a soul in sight. Though there were lots of men planting flowers, cleaning the streets, keeping Cannes tres beau!

Today I teamed up with four new judges from the U.S., Brazil, Australia and France. Our categories were consumer marketing and social media. In all, there were 40 entries to individually view and discuss.

What is it really like to judge? It’s quite fun, actually.As I have great curiosity about programs around the world, this experience provides a bird’s-eye view into so many varieties and approaches to programs.We analyze one entry at a time, quietly reading, then view a storyboard and usually a 2-3 minute video.

 

 

Then it’s not so quiet anymore. We critique, debate, question “where did the idea come from?” and then bounce back and forth regarding its power, originality and results.After a while, each judge seems to have a recurring comment – “solid” said one, (meaning ok, but not great); “boring” said another (meaning really not original and not up to short-list caliber). Other comments included: “Is this all there is?” “Where’s the insight?” “Measurement tells us what?” and “How is it sustained?”

If we need clarity regarding the power of the campaign in a specific country, we seek out that judge and get excellent context. It’s very helpful to separate fact from hyperbole.

Candidly, a lot of the work was “solid” as the best descriptor.Ok, but not good enough and really not great enough to win a PR Lions. Interestingly there is a feeling among all the judges that, as this is the FIRST PR Lions, we have to set a standard for the future for great PR work.Brilliant strategy, fresh creative, thorough execution and real results, not just clips. How did the program increase reputation or sales, change a law, influence behavior?So many of the programs we wanted to like, but they fell down in the results section.

“Really amazing” and “wow” were few and far between.

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June 18, 2009 at 2:21 PM by Cone Communications

When USA Today asked me to be part of the judging panel for the first PR Lions at Cannes , I was deeply honored to join this preeminent global competition with 14 other seasoned public relations professionals from around the globe; from the U.K. to Singapore, Argentina to India, Sweden to Spain and beyond. Interestingly, it took 56 years for the Cannes Lions Festival to acknowledge the critical role of PR as part of the communications and marketing mix. Ah, good things come to those who wait.

 

Jury President, Lord Tim Bell warmly welcomed us Tuesday evening for a kickoff dinner at the Carlton Hotel. Joining Cannes Lions CEO Philip Thomas, we all toasted to the next era of the awards and to setting a new standard for public relations excellence in strategy and creativity.

 

 

Early kudos to the Cannes organizers for selecting a great PR jury. Today, during our first deliberations, all fell easily into our significant duty of short- listing the best campaigns. Unlike the other categories, the PR division was prejudged due to the more complex nature of the work. The initial 431 entries from 48 countries in 20 categories were narrowed to 322. Today, we divided ourselves into three groups, each given approximately 40 entries to judge against four criteria: strategy, execution, creative and results -- with strategy and results having a slightly greater weight across the four. Animated debate characterized all three groups, with Lord Bell occasionally overseeing the conversation with a sometimes quizzical look. He promised not to weigh-in until the final stage of the short listed entries, approximately 12% of the total.

 

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June 3, 2009 at 5:31 PM by Cone Communications

We’ve always set the highest standards for our performance and take pride in delivering exceptional work. The greatest honor we can receive is when our clients are satisfied with a job well done. But, we can’t help but be flattered when our peers recognize our hard work, too. Cone has enjoyed many successful awards seasons, and this year is no different. Whether for inspiring cause branding work or attention-grabbing marketing and PR, our work, and ultimately that of our clients, has brought us much recognition.

 

The season started off on a high note at the PR News CSR Awards, where Western Union was honored for its work in stakeholder engagement with its Our World, Our Family program, which it partnered with Cone to create. Western Union continues to garner a lot of praise for its work with migrants across the world, including an award from the Center Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, who presented it with its Excellence Award in Corporate Philanthropy, a very prestigious honor in international corporate philanthropy.

 

Cone had an even bigger showing at the Cause Marketing Forum Awards with Timberland receiving the evening’s highest honor, a Cause Marketing Golden Halo, for its commitment to making a difference in its communities. Cone then swept the Best Health Campaign category with The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Start! program winning the Golden Halo and Jiffy Lube International taking a Silver Halo for its Maintenance Partners for Life.

 

The awards kept coming during the Publicity Club of New England Bell Ringer Awards ceremony as Western Union won the Bell Ringer for best community relations campaign, the AHA won for its Start! Heart Walk special event and Jockey International grabbed a Bell Ringer for best television news placement. Not to be outdone, ALPO, Ben & Jerry’s and T-Mobile USA each earned Merits.

 

A much-deserved congratulations goes out to all!

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May 22, 2009 at 11:53 AM by Cone Communications

In March, Betty Crocker announced Stirring Up Wishes, its new partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help bring magic to the lives of Make-A-Wish kids across the country. Cone is supporting the program launch through a spring promotion called 12 Wishes in 12 Weeks, during which Betty Crocker is giving each Make-A-Wish chapter the chance to receive funding for one of 12 wishes it’s granting to Make-A-Wish this spring. The best part is that you can help Betty Crocker grant these 12 wishes by voting online for your local Make-A-Wish chapter.

 

With voting scheduled to close on Monday, May 25, the Memorial Day long-weekend is a great opportunity to take a few minutes and visit the Web site to support your local Make-A-Wish chapter. The more votes a chapter receives, the greater the opportunity for them to receive a chance to win a wish from Betty Crocker. While on the site, learn about Wish Kids’ special wish moments and help Betty Crocker celebrate their stories by baking their favorite cupcakes for friends and family at your Memorial Day cook-out.

 

- Kimberly Leistinger, Senior Account Executive

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May 14, 2009 at 4:44 PM by Cone Communications

Carol Cone had the privilege of traveling to San Jose, CA this week to speak with members of the Entrepreneurs Foundation at a roundtable entitled “Anatomy of a Corporate Soul.” Please click here to view her presentation.

 

Thank you to everyone who attended!

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April 28, 2009 at 10:28 AM by Cone Communications

Cone employees spend a lot of time developing environmentally responsible strategies and initiatives for their clients, but last Thursday, they rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty.

 

 

In celebration of Earth Day, a group of Cone employees took time out of their day to help make Boston a bit greener. Under the instruction of Earthworks, “a community-based non-profit organization committed to planting a healthier and more sustainable Boston,” the group fertilized and prepared soil at a Cooper Community Gardens site that will ultimately become an edible landscape, comprised of a variety of fruit, nut and berry plants.

 

The excursion was part of Earthwork’s Urban Orchards Program, which strives to connect individuals with one another and with the natural landscape of their neighborhoods. By involving local communities in reviving and maintaining open spaces, Earthworks empowers people to create more ecologically sustainable neighborhoods.

 

The Earthworks project was just one part of the Green Team’s efforts to engage employees in Cone’s commitment to environmental responsibility. While Earth Day comes but once a year, Cone’s commitment is ongoing—the Green Team meets on a monthly basis to continue to identify opportunities to make Cone a greener place.

 

-Erin Zwaska, Assistant Account Executive

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April 22, 2009 at 3:03 PM by Cone Communications

 

Today, greenbiz.com highlights the activities many companies are undertaking to celebrate Earth Day internally.  The activities, according to the post, fall into one or more of four major categories: on-site events, creating or acknowledging “green teams,” awarding and recognizing achievements and engaging in community service efforts.

At Cone, we’re pleased to report that we’re engaging in all four.

 

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February 20, 2009 at 10:55 AM by Research & Insights

Economy does not eclipse environment. It’s not a tongue-twister; it’s the very real, very encouraging takeaway from Cone’s newly released research, the 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey. The brief survey explored the environmental attitudes and shopping behaviors of American consumers during today’s economic crisis and found that American interest, shopping habits and expectations of companies to act responsibly have not been blunted by the state of the economy. Key findings include:

• Purchasing: 34 percent of American consumers indicate they are more likely to buy environmentally responsible products today, and another 44 percent indicate their environmental shopping habits have not changed as a result of the economy
• Interest: 35 percent of Americans have higher interest in the environment today than they did one year ago
• Expectations: 35 percent of Americans have higher expectations for companies to make and sell environmentally responsible products and services during the economic downturn

Another key takeaway: Even if they are not buying today, consumers are still holding companies accountable for their sustainability efforts over time. A full seven in 10 Americans say they are paying attention to what companies are doing regarding the environment today, even if they cannot buy until the future.

As Andrea Learned states on her blog, “Don’t assume your brand can give up on ‘green’ to ride out these tough times. If your customers are sticking to their environmental ways through thick and thin (or at least trying very hard to so do), they’ll expect you to do the same.”

Please click here to access the complete 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey release and fact sheet.

To see Cone’s past consumer environmental research, including the 2007 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey and the 2008 Green Gap Survey, please visit www.coneinc.com/research.

 

 

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November 5, 2008 at 5:22 pm by Jillian WilsonMartin

My work at Cone is never boring. With each new account, I get the opportunity to learn about new industries, new issues, new programs and new organizations. I get to talk to new and different people about ideas, problems and solutions I wouldn’t learn about otherwise.

 

It was in this capacity that I was introduced to College Summit, a nonprofit committed to serving the 200,000 academically capable, low-income students who graduate from high school but do not enroll in college. It’s approach? Harness the positive power of peer pressure by training a core group of influential students to drive a college-going culture in their classrooms.

 

The training starts with a four-day workshop for 20% of rising seniors. The workshop is held on a college campus and students get a head start on college applications by learning how to effectively write a personal statement, meet one-on-one with a guidance counselor, learn the basics of financial aid and gain concrete skills in self-advocacy. Armed with real experience, these students then return to their schools and spread their enthusiasm to their peers.

 

 

Inspired by College Summit’s model, I considered volunteering as a workshop writing coach, utilizing my paid volunteer time as part of Cone’s Hours for Good program. College Summit’s only criterion is that you are a college graduate, but I was hesitant. I assessed my skills: I knew I was capable of writing memos and issue toplines, but would I be able to guide a group of students through the complex and emotionally draining process of creating a personal statement? My account team encouraged me and I bit the bullet. Before I knew it, I was on my way to Amherst College for what would be one of the most powerful four days of my life.

 

After receiving a thorough training, I met the members of my team – seven teens from inner-city NY. Immediately my nerves kicked in and I clung to the curriculum like it was a life raft. We followed the book and did a 10-minute free write. Then I asked students to read their work aloud. The first student to read shared an eye witness account of his grandmother’s murder. He was seven when it happened. We all started crying.

 

And the tears didn’t stop. For the next three days, my students shared their deepest fears, personal struggles, challenges, fondest memories and biggest dreams. We shared and we cried and we wrote. The students recognized new traits in themselves through their writing. They were surprised to discover they are courageous, smart, resilient, eloquent, funny and strong. And they were empowered when they realized these qualities looked pretty damn good on a college application.

 

Today the students in my group are back in school and are working to inspire their peers to take the same steps they did – to believe they are college material and to make their dreams a reality. As a team, we made a pact to reunite at their college graduations; if not sooner. Until then, I’m signed up to use my Hours for Good with College Summit again next year.

 

To learn more about College Summit and find out how you can volunteer as a writing coach, click here . 

 

- Jillian Wilson, Senior Account Executive, Cause Branding

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August 20, 2008 at 11:03 am by Cone Communications

 

The first-ever PRWeek Blog Competition continues, and What Do You Stand For? is still in the running!

 

Competition has heated up, as half of the original 32 PR blogs have been eliminated in

round 1.  Help us make it to the next round by taking a minute to show your support !

 

Voting for round 2 ends on August 22nd at 5:30 p.m. EST, so place your vote early!

 

We thank you for visiting, reading and commenting.  Hope to see you in the finals!

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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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February 25, 2008 at 9:00 am by Cone Communications

On Valentine’s Day, a new survey on tween and teen dating relationships commissioned by Liz Claiborne Inc. and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline was released exploring how relationships among young adolescents are “fueling high levels of dating violence and abuse.” The results of this survey reveal a disturbing truth: a significant number of adolescents, as young as just 11 years old, have either directly experienced dating violence or know someone who has.

 

According to the survey:

• Nearly half of teen girls who have been in a relationship (48%) say they have been victims of verbal, physical or sexual abuse by their boyfriends   

• 62 percent of tweens who have been in a relationship say they know friends who have been verbally abused

• 20 percent of 13-14 year-olds in relationships say they know friends who have been struck in anger by a boyfriend or girlfriend   

And yet...

Only half of all tweens (51%) claim to know the warning signs of a bad/hurtful relationship

This last statistic immediately caught my attention and caused me to wonder, if tweens/teens were educated early on to recognize the signs of abuse, what impact could this have on the reported incidence of abuse? If more children and those closest to them, including parents and teachers, knew how to recognize the signs of abuse, what impact could this have? As the research shows, dating violence and abuse impacts us all and is beginning to appear at an alarmingly young age. There is one simple and important thing each of us can do starting today to end this cycle of abuse, and that is to educate ourselves on the warning signs.

 

Below is a list of 10 of the most commons signs of domestic violence and abuse, compiled by Safe Horizon , the nation’s leading victim assistance organization. I encourage you to take just a few minutes to familiarize yourself with them and share it with your family and friends.

 

Does your partner ever...

1. Accuse you of cheating and being disloyal?
2. Make you feel worthless?
3. Hurt you by hitting, choking or kicking you?
4. Intimidate and threaten to hurt you or someone you love?
5. Threaten to hurt himself or herself if he or she does not get what he or she wants?
6. Try to control what you do and whom you see?
7. Isolate you?
8. Pressure or force you into unwanted sex?
9. Control your access to money?
10. Stalk you, including calling you constantly or following you?

 

The results of this survey, while disturbing, provide valuable insight into how and when to intervene. We need to educate parents, teachers and tweens about the connection between early sexual experiences and increased levels of dating violence and abuse. Please take this post as invitation not only to learn the signs, but also to respond with any additions to the list, anecdotes, thoughts or feedback based on your experiences or relevant reports/studies you have discovered.

 

For more information about Liz Claiborne’s “Love is not abuse” program, please visit http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/index.html .

 

~Jaemi Bowers, Assistant Account Executive

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December 10, 2007 at 10:15 am by Cone Communications

We're excited to share some recent accolades Cone and our clients have received:  

• The American Heart Association's Start! America event received top honors in the Event PR Category at the PR News Nonprofit PR Awards, which recognize the best of the best in nonprofit communications. It is an exciting honor to be recognized for the Start! initiative's innovative efforts to raise awareness and inspire action around the importance of physical activity for Americans.
  
  Start! America was lauded for its integrated approach, as the event appealed to both business- and consumer-oriented press through celebrity and CEO engagement, its design that enabled sponsors to activate and promote their participation, and its ability to engage busy professionals through a variety of fun activities in the hub of New York City's financial center.

• PNC Financial Services Group was honored as one of the "10 Best Corporate Citizens" in the financial industry by Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO) Magazine. CRO Magazine is the publication for the CRO Organization, made up of individuals at publicly traded companies who manage compliance, legal, ethics, human resources and investor relations functions.
  
  PNC was recognized for its commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen through initiatives like PNC Grow Up Great , the 10-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for school and life.

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August 29, 2007 at 9:35 am by Cone Communications

Many people ask me, "What is Cone's cause?" I am pleased to report that, in our case, indeed the shoemaker's children have shoes.

As we recommend to many clients, we too have a platform that acts as an overarching umbrella to our cause efforts. Its name is "Hours for Good."  The mission of our platform is to make the world a better place through the sharing of data (our research), best practices (from our client work and observation of the industry) and our hands on experiences over 25 years. We wanted to share our knowledge because since our founding, our philosophy is that a "rising tide" rises all ships!

We have four key programs under our cause platform. First, is our industry wide information sharing via speeches (we give over 50 a year), published reports, white papers, media interviews, teleseminars and online media.

Second we periodically take on big projects.  In 2000, I personally funded the building of a Habitat house in Boston.  Throughout the summer, teams of 10 from Cone sawed, hammered, measured, painted, set shingles and moved brush and dirt. We loved every minute of it, especially when we handed the keys of the home to its new owner, a single mom with three children. Following Katrina, we created a year long fundraiser called Making Change for Katrina, a nationwide spare change collection campaign to fund Habitat homes in the Gulf. As you can tell, we are a big fan of Habitat.

Third, annually we host an all agency day of service, most recently volunteering at the Renaissance School in Boston, working with young children on a variety of learning projects.

Fourth is our highly flexible, "Hours for Good" agency volunteerism initiative. Supported by 40 hours of paid time off, our colleagues can select any project that interests them, from our local community of Boston to efforts abroad.

We all are very proud of the work of Kiva Starr. For the second year, she spent three weeks in Africa, using her Hours for Good to volunteer in orphanages and rustic schools. Personally, I am awed by the courage and dedication Kiva brought to her assignments. She literally jumped overseas into communities of extreme poverty, helping children of all ages in so many ways....from learning to tie a shoe, in some cases a first pair, to attending school to learn English, again being in school a first experience.

So, "What do we stand for?"  Building the Cause Movement, helping expand the knowledge and work of so many others, and, through our colleagues, leaving many handprints in backyards throughout the world.

-Carol

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