Photo credit: Nick Dunlop With cause marketing becoming an increasingly hot topic, many companies are "cause washing" their brands, similar to that of greenwashing, in an attempt to create the perception of social consciousness without an authentic connection to the cause. Other companies use charit...

By and large, a cause marketing initiative works best when a company is deeply committed to a particular social issue, and incorporates a greater platform for change than merely transactional efforts. While it has value to tie the proceeds from sales to a particular cause, it has the potential to co...

Pardon me for the self indulgence. Citizen Brand is three years old today. I'm glad I have made it this far and appreciate all of you who have checked in from time to time to peruse my observations on the......

Today - 10/15/2008 - is Blog Action Day. Last year, it was about the Environment. This year, it's about Poverty . Bloggers, podcasters and videocasters around the world have decided to address today the same topic - Poverty - to raise awareness and trigger a discussion. Blog Action Day is a global p...

By now, you may have seen or possibly even purchased a (RED) product. If you haven’t, here’s a little background from the Product (RED) website: (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most ic...

I'm writing an article on the role of social marketing and cause marketing in fighting HIV/AIDS.  I found your blog and am hoping you can give me some advice concerning cause marketing and HIV/AIDS. Kristine Q.   I'm curious why a company would chose to support the cause of HIV/AIDS, as op...

Dear Partners, Thanks for your many calls and gentle ribbing last week on the New York Times article Bottom Line for (Red).  No, it didn't present cause marketing in a very positive light.  But I was happy that all of you responded with a chuckle rather than anger.  We're lucky to hav...

I just can't believe the idiocy communicated in today's NYTimes article on the Bono/Bobby Shriver cause marketing venture called Red. The NYTimes covers all the bases ... One bunch of bleeding hearts doesn't think Red is generating enough money. In just over a year it's generated $22 million to figh...

And I'm not the least bit ashamed. This week, Lee Scott, CEO of Walmart, delivered a speech to his store managers called The Company of the Future . I urge you to read it. In the speech, Scott sets forth a series of pro-social goals for the corporate behemoth. He says in effect, that with enormous p...

Jeff Brooks over at Donor Power Blog has pumped some much needed fresh air into the putrid talk around the United Way's new Pennies for Change program, which allows consumers of participating credit card companies to donate a penny whenever they use their card.  The program is simple and will p...