Cause Talk Radio: The Cause Marketing Podcast

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Jon Olinto, co-founder of b.good, a Boston-based chain of farm-to-table burgers and fries joints with 54 locations up and down the east coast, about how his b.good leverages every aspect of its business to support the local community.

On the show, Megan, Jon, and Joe discuss:

• How b.good got started and how social good was mixed in right from the beginning.
• How b.good is sharing its mission of health and sustainability with its customers.
• How b.good invested in a farm off the coast of Boston to feed its mission and expand their work with at-risk youths.
• What b.good has learned through the years about involving customers in their social good experiments. Mobile has played a key role!
• How b.good balances talking about its food with sharing its philanthropic message when customers are in the restaurants.
• The work of the b.good foundation and the challenge of making money and giving it away.

Links & Notes

• b.good
• b.good on Facebook
• b.good on Instagram
• b.good Got a Farm!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Alison DaSilva, Executive Vice President, Cone Communications, about their latest study, the Cone Communications 2017 CSR Study. This year’s research shows that consumers care about CSR more than ever, with 89% of Americans saying they would switch brands to one associated with a good cause.

In addition, the tumultuous past year has only convinced consumers more that businesses need to be a force for change in society. The question is no longer What do you stand for? but What do you stand up for?

On the show, Megan, Alison, and Joe discuss:

• The background of the study and why Cone asked respondents to share what issues they wanted companies to stand up for.
• The universal expectation among consumers that companies balance profit with purpose.
• What were the hottest issues that consumers want companies to stand up for?
• The business imperative of being engaged in social good. No longer an option.
• How consumers - especially Millennials - are researching companies to confirm they are following through on social commitments.
• Consumer willingness to boycott a product or company is growing as a way to show dissatisfaction with a company's irresponsibility. 
• How Starbucks is a model of a company that is taking on challenging issues.
• Why Cone calls the study the "CSR Study" instead of using other names like "Purpose" or "Social Good." There are many words and terms that describe our field!

Links & Notes

• 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe speak to Cia Tucci, Vice President of CVS Health’s Store Brands and Quality Assurance Department, about the brand's recent decision to remove potentially dangerous ingredients from their line of personal care products.

On the show, Megan, Cia, and Joe discuss:

• What brought about the decision to address ingredients in personal care products.
• The important role customers played in the decision.
• Why these chemicals are being removed from personal care products.
• Consumer reaction to the decision and the nonprofit partners CVS is working with.
• CVS' plans to educate consumers on safe chemicals.
• Other brands that are planning to remove these chemicals from personal care products.
• What challenges CVS has encountered in eliminating the ingredients from 600 products.
• How CVS is making changes to position healthy foods closer to the front of the store.
• How CVS is communicating changes to customers.

Links & Notes

• CVS Health

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Pete Brace, Vice President of Pet Parent Relations & Communications for Merrick Pet Care, a leader in natural and organic pet food, about their 3-year partnership with K9s for Warriors. Merrick Pet Care is making a difference in the lives of vets with PTSD!

On the show, Megan, Pete and Joe discuss:

• How Merrick got involved with K9s for Warriors.
• How Merrick quickly grew the partnership to branded products.
• How K9s for Warriors helps veterans adjust to civilian life.
• Why private support is so critical to K9s for Warriors.
• How service dogs are chosen and paired with veterans.
• Merrick's release of Hero's Banquet and the success of the product since it went on sale in March.
• The importance of having a long-term commitment to the cause.
• The business benefit to Merrick of working with K9s for Warriors.

Links & Notes

• Merrick Pet Care
• Pete Brace on Twitter
• K9s for Warriors

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to A. J. Petitti, President of Petitti's Garden Centers, a 8-store chain based in Ohio, about their partnership and support for Cleveland Clinic's Children's Hospital.

The program has consistently raised over $100,000 thanks to an enthusiastic fundraiser at Petitti's stores and matching gift support from Scotts Miracle-Gro.

On the show, Megan, A. J., and Joe discuss:

• How Petitti's got involved with Cleveland Clinic.
• The challenges of launching their first cause marketing fundraiser and growing it from a modest start of $8,000.
• How Petitti's measures the impact of their cause marketing, both for the hospital and their business.
• How Petitti's got Scotts Miracle-Gro involved in the fundraiser as a matching gift partner, which doubled the campaign's success!
• How employees have responded to the program.
• How the hospital works with Petitti's to educate employees and show the impact of their hard work.
• The two other fundraisers Petitti's hosts during the year.
• A. J.'s advice to other businesses that want to help their favorite causes.
• How Petitti's tracks donations at the register.

Links & Notes

• Petitti's Garden Centers
• 108: How a Hospital Grew Its Cause Marketing from Zero to $750,000
• 10 Best Cause Marketing Promotions of 2015 (SLIDESHARE)

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Sarah Delea, President of the Mondelez International Foundation (MIF) on the impact and results from its school and community-based gardening programs on five continents.

MIF is the giving arm of Mondelez International, a world leader in biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages, featuring global Power Brands such as Oreo and Trident gum. 

On the show, Megan, Joe, and Sarah discuss:

• The background of Mondelez International and how the foundation got started with its Call for Well Being.
• MIF's global work and the success they've had with "aquaponics."
• How MIF is tracking the success of its work, and how they cross-pollinate good ideas around the world, including here in the United States.
• Success stories from China, Mexico and some of the cultural challenges MIF has had.
• How Joe can eat a sleeve of Oreos and still keep his sexy shape.
• The size of MIF and the important role partnerships play in achieving their goals.

Links & Notes

• Mondelez International
• Mondelez on Twitter

In this episode of Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Kari Hayden Pendoley, head of the Rodan + Fields Prescription for Change Foundation, the giving arm of skincare brand Rodan + Fields, about their charitable work with empowerment organizations and upcoming #RFGoNaked fundraiser.

• On the show, Megan, Kari and Joe discuss:
• The background of Rodan + Fields and their business model of Independent Consultants.
• How Rodan + Fields built cause into the business right from the beginning.
• The company’s work with buildOn, an organization breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education.
• How Rodan + Fields involves encourages its Independent Consultants to Support, Serve & Share with partners.
• Rodan + Fields’ upcoming campaign #RFGoNaked that encourages customers to post a public make-up free selfie to trigger a donation up to $500,000 to their global partners.
• How Rodan + Fields is using offline strategies to promote its online campaign.

Links & Notes

• Prescription for Change Foundation
• Rodan + Fields

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Alison McArthur, Community Achieves Coordinator for Metro Nashville Public Schools about the The Whirlpool Care Counts laundry program.

Whirlpool is fighting against education inequality by installing washers and dryers in schools to remove this barrier to attendance, and give students the confidence they need and deserve to get through class each day.

On the show, Megan and Joe discuss:

• How the Whirlpool Care Counts laundry program got started in Nashville schools.
• The little-known problem of children missing school because they don't have clean clothes. 
• How the program works in three Nashville schools.
• How the schools create a welcoming atmosphere for families so that they use the laundry center.
• The emphasis on collecting data so that Whirlpool and the schools know the program is working.
• How the program might expand in Nashville and across the country.
• How the program supports Whirlpool's business objectives.

Links & Notes

• Whirlpool Care Counts

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Jeremy McGilvrey, an entrepreneur, author, and trainer who's amassed a massive audience on Instagram. Jeremy is here to share his advice on how causes can use the Internet's hottest property to recruit and engage supporters and to raise money. 

On the show, Megan, Jeremy, and Joe discuss:

• The business case for being on Instagram. Jeremy's own journey.
• What exactly is an "influencer" on Instagram, and why you should tap into them.
• The positive vibe on Instagram that aligns well with causes.
• Instagram best practices for brands.
• How to use Instagram hashtags effectively.
• How to collect email addresses with Instagram.
• Top causes to follow on Instagram.
• How underutilized Instagram is by causes.

Links & Notes

• @jeremymcgilvrey on Instagram
• @iamjoewaters on Instagram
• @meganstrand on Instagram
• Elevate Your Mindset
• Instagram Secrets

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan Joe talk to....each other! Don't worry. We're sure you'll enjoy it because we're belatedly celebrating the show's 200th episode with a look back at our favorite episodes of Cause Talk Radio.

Here are the must-listen shows that Megan and Joe picked.

• 104: Content Marketing and the Future of Nonprofit Fundraising
• 132: White Castle's In-Store Fundraising Spikes 48%. What's On The Menu?
• 134: How an Ex-Con's Bread Company Gave Rise to Second Chances for Others
• 136: How Columbia Sportswear is Using Cause Marketing to Blaze a New Trail
• 151: Organic Valley Boosts Sales with Spoof on Cause Marketing
• 155: How One Sub Sandwich Chain Raised $8M for 180 Charities