This week, Megan and Joe talk with Stuart Elliott, advertising columnist at The New York Times about his recent article on "Seeking Success by Helping to Feed the Hungry." In it, Stuart profiles a new campaign called Run 10 Feed 10. Each person who registers to run in 10-kilometer races to be held in 11 cities this fall will trigger 10 meals to people in need in the runner’s community.

The partners in the initiative are Unilever, on behalf of four brands, Degree Women, Ragú, Simple and Vaseline; Women’s Health magazine, published by Rodale; the Feed Foundation; and Crowdrise, a Web site that uses social networking and crowdsourcing to help raise money for charities.

We discuss how this new campaign may represent a new area of opportunity for media companies that have previously let brands take center stage with cause marketing initiatives. Stuart also reflects on the growth of cause marketing the past few years and where the industry may be headed.

This week Joe and Megan discuss 5 cause marketing trends as highlighted in Network for Good's latest white paper. From crowdsourced philanthropy to social enterprise spin-offs, examples of relevant, effective cause marketing that helps business do well by doing good abound in today's episode. We explore how (and why) companies transform "one off" cause-related products into signature cause platforms, how "invisible" sustainability initiatives comes to life through consumer-facing cause efforts and why local activation is still a powerful weapon in a cause marketer's arsenal. 

Assorted Notes & Links

• Networkforgood.org

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan Strand and Joe Waters chat with cause-preneur Jonah Lupton about his new business Cauzly.com. A serial entrepreneur, Jonah shares his insights on starting a cause businesses and the unexpected—yet rewarding—challenges. He also talks about his prolific tweeting, how it benefits his business and how you can grow your own following to rival his—over 200,000 strong!

Today on Cause Talk Radio, we chat with legal experts Kristalyn Loson and Jonathan Pompan, both lawyers in the advertising and nonprofit practice at Venable LLP.

From the basics of commercial co-ventures and unrelated business income tax (UBIT) to common legal mistakes made by cause marketers, Kristalyn and Jonathan bring an important perspective to today’s episode.

Think your cause marketing’s not going to attract the attention of attorneys general? Think again and get up to speed by listening to today’s episode of Cause Talk Radio.

In today’s episode, Joe and Megan chat with Alexander Chernev, Professor of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, about a new study on whether social goodwill sways consumer beliefs. Does cause marketing really allow companies to do well AND good? Find out the answer on today’s show!

Today Joe and Megan chat with Craig Bida to clarify, once and for all, what the difference is between CSR, cause marketing and cause branding.  Don't know the difference yourself? Today's show's a must-listen. Craig's background in consumer products at P&G frames the conversation and we take a deep dive into the evolution of this field of doing well by doing good.

Assorted Notes & Links

• Cone Communications, Inc.

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe chat with MoZeus COO Charles Jones about effectively engaging consumers at events. Gone are the days where setting up a booth with kitchy prizes would attract attention. Charles explains how MoZeus is working in a cause marketing capacity with AARP to deepen consumer engagement at NASCAR events in support of their Drive to End Hunger initiative via a tablet-based application. The engagement has been successful in increasing consumer engagement as well as donations in support of their cause partnership.

In this episode of CauseTalk Radio, Megan and Joe talk with Phil “The Godfather of Cause Marketing” McCarty about the signature cause marketing program he helped create, St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving. Phil also offers some great advice and insights for nonprofits that want to realize their own Thanks and Giving aspirations.

In this episode of CauseTalk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Tonia Zampieri, Mobile Strategist, Atlantic BT about how mobile technology is changing nonprofit communications and cause marketing partnerships. They discuss having separate mobile strategies for smartphones and tablets, and some new research on the connection between emotion and mobile ads.

Tonia also walks us through a new contest being sponsored by Atlantic BT that will give one lucky nonprofit a mobile makeover worth $25,000!