Causenation
A blog by Cause Consulting
6 Tips to Evaluate + Strengthen Your Signature Social Impact Program
How to align with business strategy, engage employees, and identify a unique social impact opportunity.
3 Ways Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) Can Amplify Your Social Impact
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have become vital to corporate DEI efforts. Discover how ERGs can drive social impact, enhance engagement in volunteer giving and service, and connect with local communities to create meaningful change. Explore these three strategies to harness your ERG community’s potential and align DEI with corporate responsibility goals.
Newsletter: Discover New Initiatives Driving Social + Business Impact
Greetings! We've had a busy spring and are thrilled to share some recent work and perspectives with you. Alnylam Releases 2022 Corporate Responsibility ReportCongratulations to Alnylam Pharmaceuticals on the release of their third Corporate Responsibility Report. We...
Navigating Pressing Social Issues: Expert Tips for Purposeful Action
Business leaders must constantly grapple with addressing the wide range of pressing social issues, crises, and controversies that continuously come across their desks. From the horrors of natural disasters, mass shootings, and war, to debates around abortion, LGBTQiA+...
Prioritizing Mental Health for Employees and Communities
Mental health has become a topic that companies can no longer shy away from, especially in a post-pandemic future; it's something that affects consumers, employees, and the rest of their stakeholders. In 2009 while working on the front lines as a member of Bellevue...
Recognizing the Role of Volunteerism in Social Sustainability
Every company wants to achieve sustainability in their operations, performance, and the value they deliver to stakeholders. When most people hear the term sustainability in relation to environmental, social, and governance (ESG), they think of environmental...
Harness the Power of Social Impact Modeling
Embracing an impact model will set you up for success, and allow you to test and continuously learn as you refine your social impact program.
Newsletter: ESG Initiatives Driving Social + Business Impact
Hello friends, over the past six months we've been busy growing our team, teaching best practices and advancing powerful ESG and social impact programs. We're thrilled to share news about some of the fun we've been having. NetApp and World's Largest Lesson Release...
6 Tips for Writing Your First ESG Report
Companies of all sizes and stages of development are feeling new pressures to write Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate Responsibility (CR) reports for the first time. Check out these six report writing strategies to set you up for success.
5 Keys to Prioritizing the “Social” in ESG
“How should we address the ‘S’ in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice?” With increasing frequency, corporate executives are asking me this question as they try to better understand renewed public reporting and business practice expectations from...
Alnylam Challengers Program Addresses Global Health Inequities – Case
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ mission-driven impact program invests in diverse social enterprises and leaders who are tackling health inequities and removing barriers to health care access for underserved populations.
NetApp Data Explorers Engages Youth in Data Science Education – Case
NetApp’s global social impact program, Data Explorers, addresses the critical need for youth to understand and work with data, leverages NetApp’s unique assets, and drives employee engagement.
Alnylam Corporate Responsibility Framework and ESG Reports – Case
Guided by a new Corporate Responsibility (CR) theme, framework and governance structure, Alnylam Pharmaceutical’s CR Reports share ESG strategies, practices, data, commitments, and ongoing progress.
ESG Reporting, Impact Storytelling, and Point of View Narratives — Newsletter #18
Hello friends, We’ve focused this newsletter on ESG reporting, impact storytelling, and point of view narratives as these practices have moved to the forefront of our work. Dive in to find tips and inspiration.
Corporate Social Impact Advice: Setting Strategy
View Cause Consulting’s Mark Feldman feature in Forbes, where he provides advice around the importance of crafting a robust social impact point of view and narrative.
Workshops, Speaking + Conference Engagements
Invite Cause Consulting to design a training workshop, conference session or keynote on Design Thinking, Signature Programs, Partnerships, CSR and other social impact topics
Four New Signature Programs & Social Impact Modeling—Newsletter #17
Hello friends – The last six months have been extremely inspiring as we finalized and launched four new corporate social impact programs and expanded our team. Through this work, every day we find ourselves at the intersection of corporate responsibility, ESG,...
Empower by GoDaddy Program Drives Inclusive Entrepreneurship – Case
GoDaddy’s signature community impact program reinforces the company’s mission, increases brand love, and drives employee engagement by directly providing entrepreneurs in underserved communities with digital tools and training.
Aramark Feed Your Potential 365 Rallies People to Eat Healthier – Case
Aramark’s global philanthropic, volunteerism, and consumer engagement programs apply its unique professional culinary, nutrition and facilities management skills to create opportunities for people to lead healthier lives and succeed in the workplace.
Aramark Corporate Responsibility Theme & Framework – Case
Aramark’s Corporate Responsibility brand and framework steers the company’s global investment strategies and communications for employee engagement and sustainability, wellness, and community impact practices.
Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Advances Small Businesses – Case
Boston Beer Company’s comprehensive social impact and issue leadership program champions the ideas and dreams of small business owners while reinforcing the Samuel Adams brand story and engaging employees, drinkers, and partners.
Insights on Corporate Social Impact in Action – Newsletter #16
We entered 2021 at full-speed powered by amazing clients and a growing team. In this newsletter, we are thrilled to share some recent highlights.
Aramark Building Community Global Employee Volunteer Program—Case
Aramark’s global philanthropic and employee volunteer program, and global service day engage thousands of employees to help neighbors lead healthier lives and succeed in the workplace.
A New Mindset for Social Impact: The Community Without Walls
Learn how companies can create social impact programs and apply social impact strategies that embrace the mindset of a community without walls.
Perspectives on Diversity, Equity + Inclusion, COVID and More – Newsletter #15
We are inspired by our work addressing urgent diversity, equity + inclusion (DEI), COVID-19, and societal challenges. In this newsletter, we share recent insights, counsel, and resources to help advance your work.
How to Align Social Impact and Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Strategies
The infusion of fresh and significant resources by companies to create new community-focused diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives is one of the silver linings during this unsettling time. However, architecting initiatives that help advance DEI goals and...
Tips to Activate Employee Volunteer Programs During COVID-19
Learn how you can pivot your employee program to be more virtual. Tips on addressing your employees and nonprofit partners with empathy and how your program can help address real, substantive concerns.
Corporate Response to Mental Health During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a spike in mental health disorders including depression, anxiety and addictive behaviors. To address new barriers to an existing problem, brands like Kate Spade New York and men’s grooming supplier, Harry’s, have stepped up to...
We Are Actively Working Remotely During COVID-19
The Cause Consulting team is working remotely, actively engaging with our clients around social impact, diversity, equity + inclusion (DEI), and COVID-19 response strategy. We are continuously talking with industry leaders and tracking the many issues arising during...
Leadership Tips for Social Impact Professionals During COVID-19
Covid-19 has many of us in the corporate responsibility arena pondering “what’s next” for corporate social impact. The tips in this piece respond to an array of questions I’ve been discussing every day. “How can I guide my company in re-imagining its social impact and...
How Companies Can Re-imagine Social Impact in a COVID-19 World
During this time of COVID-19 and increased racial unrest, corporate leaders are recognizing the need and opportunity to carefully re-consider their community investment and corporate social impact strategies. Seeing their company’s future success as even more closely...
Gen Z’s Attitude During COVID-19
For the last 25 years, DoSomething has supported, encouraged, and promoted social change among young people through their digital platform powering real world impact. As part of their ongoing COVID-19 response, CEO Aria Finger and her team established a weekly survey,...
What’s Now and Next: Putting The Power of Corporate Voice Into Play
It’s time for leaders to be “real and raw,” giving voice to a collective message that we are in this COVID-19 fight together. Clarity, facts, global storytelling, themes of humanity, togetherness, and hope are what inspire me, and what I look for in evaluating...
Social Impact What’s Now What’s Next – Newsletter #14
What's Now, What's Next As this global crisis unfolds, we are continuously examining "what's now" and thinking about "what's next" in the corporate social impact arena. We are thrilled to share a collection of these reflections below and on our website. What's Next:...
How Community Foundations Are Adapting to Address COVID-19
The Council on Foundations and CEONet gathered CEOs and executives for a virtual roundtable discussion about the growing challenges Community Foundation face resulting from COVID-19. A range of perspectives and experiences were shared about how foundations...
What’s Next: Corporate Social Impact Strategy in a COVID-19 World
So, what does a company’s social impact portfolio of strategic efforts look like in the future? Many have had programs for decades which respond to social and environmental concerns and natural disasters, but what about a world after a global public health pandemic? ...
Serving More Than Food
My love for the restaurant business runs deep. Having spent most of my career working cross-functionally in the industry, I can’t get enough of the different concepts, innovation, partnerships but especially the people. It’s because of the people that the toll of...
Companies Activate What They Do Best to Address COVID-19
I believe the strongest social impact strategies leverage a company’s core expertise and reach. I like to think about this as a company activating its “special sauce” – the unique skill sets, research & development processes, creative approaches, communications...
Making Small Business Our Business During COVID-19
From the local coffee shop that knows my preferred beverage to the barber shop that has been cutting my family’s hair for four generations to the childcare center that we trust, these businesses create neighborhood culture, foster community vibrancy and make me feel...
Stories of Courageous and Creative Volunteerism During COVID-19
We are inspired by people around the globe stepping up to support one another during this unprecedented crisis. Here are some powerful examples of people taking action: Yale student leads 2,700 making prescription and grocery runs amid COVID-19 crisis Thousands of...
How To Volunteer Locally and Virtually to Support COVID-19 Crisis
Many of us are pondering the trade-offs of needing to shelter at home and also wanting to personally help others. We’re keeping a close eye on safe volunteer options you can do from home and in your local community. Here are some ideas and resources to consider: Ways...
Steps to Remain Positive, Connected and Focused During Social Distancing
Working in the social impact and CSR arenas has become more challenging, inspiring and rewarding during the new COVID—19 normal. As we immerse ourselves in ever changing realities and determine how to best respond with smart strategies and continuous planning, I...
COVID-19 Reaching Our Most Vulnerable
We are learning each day from national and local nonprofit and government leaders about the wide-range of upcoming needs and how companies and individuals can focus their energy or support. As you know, our most vulnerable populations are already in need of...
Social Causes are Big Winner in Super Bowl Ads
Social impact dominated this year's Super Bowl commercials with companies inspiring action and support around gender equality, STEM, organic farming, veterinary medicine, community volunteerism and plenty more. The below are some of our favorite ads that touched-down...
Two Social Impact Pros Join Our Team + More – Newsletter #13
Meet Cause Consulting's Newest Team Members We are thrilled to welcome two seasoned social impact pros, Brandon Keough and Jennifer Askjaer, to the Cause Consulting team. Brandon combines years of agency road time at Hill + Knowlton with deep in-house corporate...
Addressing Canada’s Housing Challenges During First REALTORS Care® Week
Identifying housing and homelessness-related issues as urgent concerns that are relevant to every REALTOR® and community, we joined the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) to develop and activate the first annual REALTORS Care® Week. Themed around bringing the...
Entrepreneurs Defy the Odds in New GoDaddy Docu-series – Newsletter #12
“Made in America,” a new docu-series produced by GoDaddy, shines a spotlight on the importance of making entrepreneurship inclusive for all. For too many aspiring entrepreneurs, limited access to training, networks and funding ends with lost opportunities. Watch their journey with GoDaddy and how the Empower program equips entrepreneurs in under-served communities with the resources they need to make their dreams a reality.
Mark Feldman Gets Personal with Chicago Business Leaders
“I am driven by the power of purpose; thus it is not surprising that purpose has become a core part of Cause Consulting’s work building corporate cultures,” shared Mark Feldman as the guest speaker for Chicago’s business leaders at the Executives Breakfast Club. “It...
Play is NOT Just for Kids – Newsletter #11
Unleashing the Power of Play as We Live and Age Together Many believe play is just for kids - not us! We are proud to be a part of the Ageless Innovation team in creating a movement to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults. At TEDx Providence,...
SDGs, Design Thinking and Team Expansion – Newsletter #10
We entered 2019 at full-speed with growing our team, provide leadership tips to Chicago Business Execs and led Interactive Design Learning Labs.