Philanthropy in Five

Last week, Bill Gates gave a speech in Rome, calling for UN agencies to adapt a more corporate-like management style by setting targets on productivity growth. This obviously worked quite well for Microsoft, making Mr. Gates the richest man in the world in the process, but is more productivity the right answer for feeding the world’s hungry?

Read On »

It was Jon Stewart that first made the reference. He called Bill Gates “Batman” to his face on his TV show. Why Batman? I think he probably meant Bruce Wayne, Batman’s civilian identity: the eccentric millionaire industrialist, who is also a philanthropist, sworn to do good and serve a greater ideal of justice. Of course, [...]

Read On »

Is there a business case for corporate philanthropy? The Conference Board’s Matteo Tonello, in an academic article also posted on Harvard Law School’s Corporate Governance blog, believes the case is solid.

Read On »

If swapping some of your marketing budget for philanthropy sounds like a bad business move, Epic Media Group is here to prove you wrong. Epic is one of several corporations recognizing the value of philanthropic investments to improve brand value and give back to the community. On the surface, this shift may point to improvedbusiness [...]

Read On »

Toyota is transforming their corporate philanthropy to be “by the people and for the people” with the advent of their 100 Cars for Good program. The company will donate 100 cars to charities across the United States. The winners will be determined by the voting public on a daily basis this summer, putting their philanthropy [...]

Read On »

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s price index topped off at an all-time high this January, reflecting the skyrocketing global food prices and teetering stability of the market. These increases pose a severe risk to developing countries that depend upon agriculture for both subsistence farming and as the sole source of income for many [...]

Read On »

There has been a lot of discussion about the difference between philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The line between the two can be fuzzy at times. The Harvard Business Review lauds Goldman Sachs, Nike and Intel for showing exceptional results due to their philanthropic efforts, but their approaches look very much like strategic business initiatives. [...]

Read On »

By The Sequoia Lab Team Now more than ever consumers are purchasing with a purpose. In the fourth annual Edelman Goodpurpose® study, experts indicate that what consumers want goes beyond just form and function to include a positive community impact. As a business leader, are you doing the best job possible to develop sales if you [...]

Read On »

The Sustainable Haiti Coalition is a platform of collaboration that coordinates resources for a suite of sustainable solutions. I spoke with co-founder Douglas Cohen, on the phone. He told me that, “ethical leadership and triple bottom line values are the criteria for participation.” They are helping to facilitate the work of Haitian Diaspora members engaged in providing resources for sustainable ventures.

Read On »

In this current economic climate, money is tight for many people, the unemployment rate is in the double digits, and more people fall under the poverty level than has been reported in more than 50 years. Many of those who escaped the most severe consequences of our economic crisis are walking a fine line between [...]

Read On »

For those of you that read my post on day one of WBF, I’m happy to report that the conference took a sharp turn into green space, at least while Al Gore was on the stage.

Read On »

Social entrepreneurship—the art of creating programs with a transformative business model focused on bringing about large-scale, positive change—plays a critical role in building a more sustainable future by increasing income, improving environmental quality, creating jobs, and enhancing quality of life. But just like any start-up, there comes a time when a great idea needs an [...]

Read On »

“This is a once-only opportunity to build a whole new country from scratch, perhaps to offer something of the good wishes the new nation should have been given 200 years ago,” writes AA Gill in the London Times, in a gut-wrenching account of living conditions in Haiti today, three months after a crushingly destructive earthquake [...]

Read On »

A majority of non-profit organizations in three parts of the country – New York City, New Jersey and Washington D.C. – expect to hire staff in the year ahead. Most will also raise salaries, or at least keep them steady, according to a trio of surveys by Professionals for Nonprofits, a staffing firm. According to [...]

Read On »

Obviously, one of the benefits of being socially and environmentally responsible today is the investment it makes in sustaining people and planet in the long term. No one represents this concept better than Seventh Generation, a company built upon the principle of preservation by considering the impact our everyday decisions will have on the next [...]

Read On »

Allison Parris is not the typical company I profile in my Philanthropy in Five series. I actually read about them in a fashion magazine, and fell in love with one of their cocktail dresses. So, I fully admit that my initial interest was fueled purely by vanity. But as I dug deeper, I found that [...]

Read On »

Philanthropy and green tend to go hand in hand because they’re both rooted in consciousness — for the planet and for the people who inhabit it. And as I attempt to highlight in this series, it’s not only perfectly acceptable for profit to be part of that equation, but it actually helps sustain those conscious [...]

Read On »

As someone who’s committed to giving back, and who also writes a blog series spotlighting change agents, I often seek out kindred spirits whose work is truly making a difference in the world. And I’ve been fortunate to connect with cause innovators like Lee Fox, Andy Sternberg, Joe Waters, Michael Hoffman, Scott Henderson, Chris Noble, [...]

Read On »

This series focuses on all of the companies who have adopted philanthropy as part of their business model, and spotlights their efforts as a way to help shift the paradigm toward adopting a socially responsible mission. One common element I’ve observed is that many companies dilute their giving by opting to support a multitude of [...]

Read On »

If you’ve spent any time on the social web, you’ve probably come across Geoff Livingston, marketing strategist, communicator and PR pro with a no nonsense approach to business. He’s best known for his decisive commentary on the social media space at The Buzz Bin, recognized by the Washington Post as one of the top ranked [...]

Read On »

In my cause marketing series, I rant communicate often about the critical need for businesses to ensure their philanthropic efforts are strategically aligned with core values over using it as a sleazy marketing tactic to fake consciousness. And I am continually searching for clever analogies to drive this point home as I believe it is [...]

Read On »

I first connected with Scott Henderson on Twitter, where we became instant friends, united in championing cause marketing and trading insights around sustainable business. Since then, he has been a continual source of knowledge as someone who is perpetually plugged into the philanthropy market, quickly identifying and evaluating a company’s true commitment to the causes [...]

Read On »

In addition to promoting the concept of for-profit philanthropy, this series is designed to spotlight the amazing individuals who are creating new vehicles for change and innovating social good. One such individual, who is embarking on a journey to make taking social action easier, is John Brennan, creator of I’mDoingMyPart.org and winner of the Social [...]

Read On »

One of the primary benefits of a philanthropic business model is the ability to provide ongoing funds for nonprofit organizations. Fundraising is one of the most critical areas for nonprofits to be able to fuel their efforts in generating awareness of their cause, and affecting real change. Removing the need to fundraise so heavily allows [...]

Read On »

One of the primary goals of the Philanthropy in Five series is to feature companies who are committed to giving back, and serve as a framework for making social consciousness the standard way of conducting business. In similar fashion (bad pun intended), Nicole D’Alonzo is launching Socolite.com, an online destination for spotlighting the philanthropic efforts [...]

Read On »

Philanthropy comes in many forms. It can manifest as corporate giving or cause-related transcations or volunteer programs. It can be donations of time, money or expertise. Or, in the case of Karmic Leads, it can be a database of job listings designed to help individuals and small business owners connect with relevant opportunities, at no [...]

Read On »

In the midst of of what many have termed “Philanthropy 2.0,” where nonprofits are harnessing the power of the web to generate awareness and support for their causes, a UK-based mobile services company called mCharity launched to help charities raise new donation revenue, market to potential donors and communicate with existing supporters and fundraisers using [...]

Read On »

Values-based companies are becoming more prevalent in our increasingly conscious marketplace, where the foundation is deeply rooted in a mission of giving back. By building with the end goal of making a difference in focus, all of the internal business practices, manufacturing – and even packaging – are developed in ways that not only give [...]

Read On »

What fuels a successful philanthropic program is not merely the alignment of a cause to core company values, but partnerships with organizations who help to deliver that giving experience for customers. By working with partners who can solidify the purpose behind the program, companies can benefit from increased brand loyalty, customer retention and sales, all [...]

Read On »

In my recent cause marketing interview with Social Actions, I highlighted the importance of making doing good as easy as possible for consumers. In an age where time is at a premium, most people can’t expend resources researching charities or dedicate a significant amount of hours volunteering or getting actively involved with causes. But that [...]

Read On »