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Suggéré par le groupe de eco-coop.ca
eve.dufour@eco-coop.ca
simon.pelletier@eco-coop.ca
For decades, the decision to be an environmentally and socially responsible company has been based on the bottom line: Would it be profitable?
In terms of traditional accounting and the legal requirements of corporations, costs always outweighed benefits.But it now seems that this equation is starting to lean the other way as brands recognize the potential financial and reputational advantages they can gain by engaging with consumers around the shared ambition of building a better world.
We can see this already happening among some leading brands such as Pepsi, Google, Nike, Patagonia and Starbucks, who have all earned consumer respect for their involvement
ow did this come about? In large part, it is because the payoff for corporate engagement with customers has risen dramatically as a result of social media.
As the brand’s customers become loyal fans, they use their social networks to spread the word about that brand, driving even more new fans to join in. This dynamic may have its initial upfront costs, but it pays off in the end through an extended global audience of buyers and fans.
Transforming a brand into a socially responsible leader doesn’t happen overnight by simply writing new marketing and advertising strategies. It takes effort to identify a vision that your customers will find credible and aligned with their values.
The Seven StagesThe process of becoming a brand leader in the next decades will be an evolutionary one involving at least seven stages.
Unsustainable corporate self-interest
Self-directed engagement
C-suite reflection
Consumer facing self-interest:
Self-directed reform:
Brand leader:
Brand visionary:
Indeed, if we consider the online reach of companies like Facebook and Twitter, the offline reach of companies like Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, Coca-Cola and Walmart, and the fervent consumer loyalty that companies like Apple, Nike and Patagonia inspire, it’s easy to imagine how a web- and social-savvy population could coerce these companies — and any others who want to follow their example — into becoming the leading global brand visionaries of the future.
Describes exactly why Corporate Social Responsibility is the bomb right now. It's a "you better hop-in" bandwagon that most companies can't ignore now!
Bell Canada, for example, receives
9,200 requests for either philanthropic or sponsorship support each year
ell faces a major challenge in dealing with these
applications, and making the difficult decisions concerning which to
support and which to turn down, while striving to get good value for its
sponsorship investments. Overall, she points out, the objective is "to
connect to the things that matter"
Bell does
not sponsor individual athletes, individuals who simply have an idea or
cause they wish to promote, or business launches. If applicable, Foster
points out,
The applicant must be financially sound, and
Bell will be strongly impressed by organizations with low administrative
costs which can offer a partnership that will fit its corporate vision and
strengthen its position in the niches it wants to occupy.
crucial for Bell to have telecommunications
exclusivity in the project
s it a unique made-in-Canada concept?
Is it likely to attract
positive public attention?", "Is the applicant a Bell Canada customer or
potential customer?", "Does this proposal present an opportunity for a
commercial return for Bell?", and "Will there be a role for Bell employees
to play?" No organization, Foster points out, will ever meet all of the
criteria, "... but the more 'Yes's, the better your chances."
Offer proposals that make commercial sense to Bell Canada
Businesses can build stronger relationships with their stakeholders through their charitable endeavors. Helping others while helping themselves can lead businesses to bigger profits.
on’t forget your employees
Clarify your business’ values
Find out where your stakeholders are donating
First Steps
Picking a Charity
Determine the criteria for the potential charity
arrow it down: Search for charities that meet your criteria. Here is the tedious part. Giving USA cites there were more than 1 million charities in the United States in 2009. You may want to enlist another person or a committee to help with the selection process. GuideStar.org has a wonderful search function that allows you to pick through its database by criteria
Compare mission statements
Make sure organizations are registered
Transparency and accountability
Trustworthy non-profits will discuss their programs and finances
Give your partnership a trial run. Test your partnership by donating to a small project before doing a large campaign.
Charities are a fulfilling way to further the mission of your organization while helping the community in which you live and work. Keep these tips in mind the next time you conduct your next cause marketing or charitable campaign, and your organization will be sure to come out ahead.
This article is the bomb. We should rehearse it before pitching to a company and show how the process should be done and how we can help them go through it with Invup!
Fundraising Software, Online Payments, Donor Management
In addition to 4aGoodCause, ActiveGiving, Antharia|onDeposit, DonateNow, Donor Perfect, Donor Tools, eTapestry, GiftTool Solutions, Orange Leap, and Sage Fundraising 50, which we listed previously, you might take a look at these options:
Transparency and corporate responsibility are more important than ever to consumers as they struggle with purchasing decisions in a tough econom
despite the recession, 75 percent of consumers believe social responsibility is important, and 55 percent of consumers said they would choose a product that supports a particular cause against similar products that don't
the survey found that 70 percent of consumers are willing to pay a premium for products from socially responsible companies
That means companies have an opportunity to differentiate themselves if they can communicate clearly how they give back to their employees, communities and the environment, per the survey.
nearly 50 percent of 18-24- and 25-34-year-olds are more likely to take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company
An overwhelming number of marketers consider social media to be integral to their strategies this year, and 70% plan to increase their social media budget by more than 10% this year
found that the primary social media goal is to increase Facebook “Likes.”
social networking would take 11.9% of their overall budget this year compared with 13% for TV
s transitioning from living primarily as a Facebook canvas application to running off of its standalone website Causes.com
led to a two-fold increase in the amount of money the site raises in donations from its ‘Birthday Wish’ feature on a daily basis — $20,000 a day, up from $10,000 two months ago.
Causes gift cards in every Safeway and Vons location in California.
uses has now raised over $16 million, including a previously unannounced $5 million Series B round led by Case Foundation and philanthropist Ray Chambers’s MCJ Foundation, with participation from Founders Fund