It was a privilege to join cause gurus Joe Waters of Selfish Giving and Megan Strand of Cause Marketing Forum on Cause Talk Radio on Philanthropy Day. I am pleased to share the interview as I explore with Joe and Megan how the cause movement has grown in Canada. I identify key cause trends, including more partnerships among nonprofits and the hot new area of employee engagement.Joe's dubbed me the Canadian Cause Queen - Queen of snow, cold and cause!
Using Your Brand to Create a Movement
The long-term success of any community initiative (nonprofit or corporate!) depends on a critical mass of like-minded people—supporters who feel a sense of connection and are inspired by the organization’s mission and values. To breakthrough an organization cannot be all things to all people. So instead, it spends time making sure that it is offering the right things to the right people.
Standard Life: Standing for Something
Internal and external pressures are demanding that pure profits can no longer be the sole motivator for business. Rather than just traditional wealth creation, business has the opportunity to use its scale, resources, and innovation imperative to be a catalyst for a better world and to reinvigorate and empower business at the same time.Standard Life engaged JS Daw & Associates to help strengthen and deepen its existing community investment (CI) program.
YMCA Calgary: Articulating a Social Purpose
The YMCA has been serving Calgary for over 112 years, and it is part of the fabric of our community. The YMCA Calgary (the Y) offers health and wellness programs, community outreach and newcomer programs, day and residential camping, leadership development and childcare. Since the Y offers such a wide range of programs and serves so many demographics, their communications have often lacked an overarching story about their impact and value in our community.
Building a Social Purpose Community Investment Brand
This June I was pleased to be invited to speak at a meeting of the Calgary Community Investment Council. When I first attended a meeting of the CCIC the membership was small but growing as the value of community investment was realized. Thanks to those pioneers the organization has grown to well over 100 strong. There is a shift occurring in the world of community investment. CI now means co-creating for social and business value.
Social Purpose + Meaning: The New Nonprofit Imperative
Business has focused on social purpose and nonprofits need to put social purpose on their agenda. How do you create and engage your stakeholders in your social purpose cause? Find and express your organization's higher purpose and focus on impact and outcomes not programs and projects! Organizations that stand for a clear and inspiring social purpose and bring commitments to life through outcome driven action will deepen relationships, foster loyalty, build sustainable organizations and achieve positive social change.
Purposeful Brands for Greater Good
The last few years have seen a huge increase in purposeful brands that not only look to improve their bottom line, but the community as well. Whether its in the form of a social enterprise, B-corp, or simply a company that has chosen to highlight their true purpose, this is a very exciting trend that will continue to change the way business operates in community.
Strategic Purpose + Sustainable Profits: The New CSR Imperative
I am pleased to share with you my recent speech from the Women’s Executive Network Leading Edge Corporate Social Responsibility. “These days brand is king. Companies want to improve their image as good corporate citizens in both the marketplace and in the community. For this to ring true they need to do a lot more than talk the talk.”Leading Edge Corporate Social Responsibility is the title of the session today. So what does this mean and how can you embrace the new thinking and practices to power increased results for your company and society.
Why Every Community Investment Program Needs a Brand
Companies today have so much going on and it can be difficult for community investment programs to get the attention and engagement they deserve. It’s a common concern we hear from our clients, especially if a CI program is viewed as peripheral to the core business. I am a passionate advocate for the need for nonprofits to strategically build and manage their brands.