Cause Talk Radio: The Cause Marketing Podcast

Starlight Foundation helps nonprofits get the supplies they need using an online portal called Wish List. Not every nonprofit has or needs an online list. But many organizations are in need of supplies. Here's how you can get the supplies and products you need.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and I talk to Mollye Rhea, Founder and President of For Momentum, an Atlanta-based cause marketing agency. #GivingTuesday is quickly approaching on December 2nd. Last year's #GivingTuesday saw a 90 percent increase in online giving. This is one day that nonprofits can't afford to take off. No worries if you haven't started. Mollye has some timely advice on how your nonprofit can still make a profit on the biggest giving day of the year. We also talk about the role social media plays and on which platforms nonprofits should focus. Finally, Mollye talks about For Momentum's FREE Power of Partnership #GivingTuesday Toolkit, which includes free planning tools and worksheets. If you're planning to take part in #GivingTuesday — or just thinking about it - you don't want to miss this episode.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Missy Sherburne, Chief Partnerships Officer at DonorsChoose.org about their fundraising success with flash-funding, crowdfunding and corporate partnerships.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Richard Swart, the Director of Research on Crowdfinance at University of California at Berkeley and author of the World Bank’s Report On Global Crowdfunding, on how to strategically use crowdfunding for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Companies across America are partnering with community organizations and crowdfunding platforms to leverage their social reach and extend their CSR messaging. It's becoming an accepted CSR activity, with very little downside and incredible potential. For Richard, crowdfunding happens when people are asked to vote with their wallets to support a product or project - instead of with their "likes" or social media impressions. It began in the arts community in 2008 when groups used crowdfunding to get their films backed. From there it was adopted by nonprofits and for-profits alike.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to marketing and communication expert Craig Bida about Millennials and the future of social responsibility. Millennials are a huge audience — roughly 80 million strong. They — and their commitment to social impact and making the world a better place — can’t be ignored. Craig offers some examples of how companies are changing the way they do business to bring about the change on which Millennials are so insistent. Craig explains how companies need to engage Millennials top-to-bottom in a company, and not just on a carefully orchestrated volunteer day. With social impact taking a hold in many major companies, the key to success with Millennials will be commitment and execution. Is your company ready? Tune in now!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Amy Shapiro, Manager of Cause Marketing at New Balance about SparkStart, a new global initiative that's focused on encouraging physical activity in children. It's much needed as one of every ten school-aged child on the planet is overweight. To launch SparkStart here in the states, New Balance has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Through August 31st, when you buy New Balance shoes they will donate 30 percent of the sale price back to BGCA in the form of new shoes. For the end of September, New Balance is planning a global volunteer week for employees. Employees worldwide will have the opportunity to work with activity-focused nonprofits in their local communities. Finally, Amy discusses the challenge of picking the right cause and choosing the best activities to create impact. Tune in now to learn more about an ambitious, global initiative that's off and running!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Maria Veltre, Chief Marketing Officer, Fifth Third Bank, the 12th largest bank in the United States. Maria discusses two of the bank's cause marketing efforts. First, with Pay to the Order of each new customer who opens a checking account with direct deposit and makes three online bill payments, Fifth Third will give $150 to the customer and donate $150 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). Fifth Third also donated an additional dollar for each time the #paytotheorderof hashtag was used on social media. The second Fifth Third Bank program is Homeowner Reemployment. The bank has partnered with NextJob, a nationwide reemployment solutions company, to offer an industry-first program that gives unemployed mortgage borrowers job search assistance, including one-on-one dedicated coaching, weekly webinars and online job search software, fully paid for by Fifth Third Bank. No other bank offers this service to mortgage customers! Tune in now. This podcast will show you how a bi

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Mark Feldman, founder and managing director of Boston-based Cause Consulting, about the potential hazards and potholes of employee engagement. We all know that employee engagement is one of the hottest forms of cause marketing, but how can companies and nonprofits feed the fire without getting burned? The key, according to Mark, is knowing how employee engagement is different from the volunteer programs that preceded it. And viewing employee engagement as just volunteering is the first pothole to avoid. Mark gives the example of Boston Beer Company's Brewing the American Dream, which provides low and moderate income food and beverage small business owners with the mentoring they need to achieve their dreams. Boston Beer has helped new business owners and, in turn, has strengthened its own business with employee engagement. Boston Beer CEO Jim Koch has seen firsthand the value of involving employees in a meaningful cause. You will too! Tune in now!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to David J. Neff, author and consultant, about the thing we've all heard of, but know nothing about: Bitcoin. The author of a recent report on the disruptive impact of digital currency, David makes case for Bitcoin. What should nonprofits know about Bitcoin and its potential impact? What are the risks and benefits? David also discusses how nonprofits can prepare for Bitcoin, and how embracing digital currencies can lead to other innovations that will change nonprofits for the better. Finally, David throws down the gauntlet and challenges Megan and Joe to open our very own Bitcoin accounts. Not one to back down from a challenge, Joe immediately commits Megan to running her entire life on Bitcoin for the next thirty days. But really, listeners, this is a fascinating episode and David with his nonprofit background, mastery of technology, and knowledge of Bitcoin is just the right person to help you weigh the pros and cons of digital currencies.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Darian Rodriguez Heyman, co-founder of BetterWorld Wireless, a company that's aiming to make people feel GOOD every time they use their phone. Darian explains that when you switch to BetterWorld Wireless, which is backed by a great group of supporting nonprofits, a person in need will receive a free mobile device loaded with content to help break the cycle of poverty and empower their life. Sponsored by You. Darian explains how BWW adopted Tom's Shoes' one-for-one model, but applied it to mobile. He and his is partners view mobile as a tremendous opportunity for social good — if it can be leveraged with skill, experience and compassion! Tune in now to learn about a company that is hoping to turn the smartphone — perhaps the most popular invention in history, according to Darian! — into a good-phone for a better world.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Elle Lansing of KIND Healthy Snacks about KIND Causes. Elle discusses the company’s “Kind Movement,” which seeks to inspire and celebrate kind acts of every form. KIND Causes is one of the core programs. Its goal is to crowdsource ideas to make the world a little kinder. To encourage these ideas, KIND awards support to organizations and individuals to make kind acts a reality. All of KIND’s activities — cause related and other — are meant to live out the promise and potential of their brand. Cause is just one component of this. They also discuss how KIND approaches its cause activities, and its insistence on leading with an outstanding product to build passion they can direct toward cause activities. The only place where “cause” should come before “product” is in the dictionary! Are you running a cause business, or do you hope to start one that will grow into the next KIND? This is episode is for you!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Christy Duncan Anderson, Executive Director of the Safeway Foundation. Safeway, a supermarket chain with over 1,300 locations in the United States, has embarked on a new campaign called Hunger Is, which is fighting hunger in America. Christy discusses the collaboration of several key partners in the campaign, including the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Share Our Strength, FRAC and Feeding America. It's a unique combination of organizations that together are enhancing the impact of hunger relief on local communities. Christy also discusses how Safeway used shopper data to develop the Hunger Is campaign, and to choose the best fundraising vehicles for the effort. Whether you are a retailer who wants to launch a cause marketing campaign, or a nonprofit that's eager to partner with a large retailer, this episode is for you! Tune in now!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Paul Dunn, Chairman of B1G1.com, a Singapore-based company, about a buy-one, give-one model that allows supporters to link their everyday actions and purchase to 900 social projects around the globe. Paul discusses how 1,300 businesses are currently participating, and have logged over 42 million giving impacts. B1G1 tracks giving and results and real-time so people feel connected with the projects they support. Paul explains how an upfront membership fee to B1G1 covers expenses and allows 100 percent of donations to go directly to the project. This helps B1G1 put impact first. Tune in now for an episode that talks about one of cause marketing's most popular tactics — buy-one, give-one — and an organization that is taking it worldwide!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Rich Maiore, Senior Vice President, at Cone Communications, about the "Boston Strong" battle cry that has defined a city since the Boston Marathon attacks last April. Rich reflects on the rise of Boston Strong and whether its outgrown its initial philanthropic purpose. They also discuss the role businesses can play after tragedies and disasters, and how to maximize their impact. Boston Strong brings up a whole host of issues. But perhaps the most pressing is the role of business and consumerism when tragedy and disaster turns a community upside down. Tune in now!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Christine Rizk, co-founder and president of Boston-based Fashion Project, about how her company is turning high fashion into cold cash for nonprofits. The mission of Fashion Project is to change the world one piece of clothing at a time. They collect high-end clothing from donors and sell them online. 55 percent of the money raised goes to a nonprofit of the donor's choosing. Christine discusses the challenge of starting and running a cause business, and how important partnerships with retailers and celebrities have been to Fashion Projects' success. One partner - Nordstrom - has given Fashion Project $40 gift cards to encourage donors. Tune in for a great story of how two Harvard Law School grads passed on a career in law to match high fashion with high social impact!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Adam Braun, the founder of Pencils of Promise (PoP), a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. Adam is also the author of a great new book, The Promise of a Pencil. Adam shares how he started Pencils of Promise with an investment of $25, and how five years later his nonprofit is responsible for building over 200 schools. Yet Adam concedes that fundraising didn't come easy to him! Adam explains why "nonprofit" isn't the right word to describe his work. He prefers "For Purpose." Of course, Adam also discusses his for-profit partners and PoP's cause marketing efforts. Tune in for this powerful discussion!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Chris Noble, CEO of CauseMedia Group, about the controversy surrounding the water to wine “Miracle Machine.” Developed by the clean water organization Wine to Water, global public relations agency MSLGROUP and two wine industry experts, the Miracle Machine turned water into wine in three days — or so they claimed. But two weeks after announcing the machine, the hoaxters came clean and announced it was all a prank meant to promote the mission of Wine to Water. Chris, Megan and Joe debate whether it’s okay to trick people for a cause. Most causes, especially small nonprofits like Wine to Water, have trouble getting noticed amid the marketing, clutter and noise generated by big brands. Nonprofits need to be creative on how they market themselves. But does this justify trickery? We weigh the pros and cons of this interesting, controversial and disruptive cause campaign. We also suggest next steps to Wine to Water to ensure that the Miracle Machine ultimately leads

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to John Ludlow, a causepreneur, do-gooder and Austin-based consultant who's attended the popular interactive portion of the South by Southwest Conference five times. John is also a past guest on CauseTalk Radio. Thanks to John, we get the inside scoop on the #sxgood track at SXSW. John, Megan, and Joe talk about several cause promotions at the event and whether good is growing — or heading south at SXSW. Are you a nonprofit, causepreneur or cause marketer who's weighing attending SXSW in 2015? We have the answers on today's show. We might even have a place in Austin where you can stay!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Bryan de Lottinville, Founder & CEO of Benevity about his "Goodness Programs" for companies. Benevity designs software that helps companies create impactful and engaging employee giving, volunteering & cause marketing programs. Bryan talks about how his company is focused as much on the ROI for companies as delivering a powerful social impact for the charities they seek to help. But the real winner are employees who gain a powerful portal for giving. Bryan also reflects on the potential for merging employee activities with consumer cause marketing to create a hurricane of giving! Tune in now!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Alisha Greenberg, the founder of Rounding Third, a sports philanthropy consultancy, and director of the sports philanthropy program at George Washington University. Alisha discusses the growth of sports philanthropy in the United States, but especially outside of the country where it's beginning to gain steam. With the Olympics just finished, she also talks about athletes that have turned Olympic glory into support for good causes. Specifically, she talks about her work with three-time Olympian Tracy Evans and her work in Rwanda. Another hat Alisha wears is director of the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy, which is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She shares how the award process works and the type of athletes and sports organizations they seek to honor. If you're interested in how sports and marketing intersect with philanthropy, this is the episode for you. Tune in now!