Newsletter: Macy’s ‘Believe’ Campaign is a Masterclass in Cause Marketing📮; Legal Considerations When Working with Influencers ⚖️ ; Robert Reich Thinks CSR is Bullshit 🐂 💩

Since I started Selfish Giving way back in 2004/5, I've had a very simple business model:

I publish valuable content on win-win partnerships and readers contact me with business opportunities.

It really is that simple. Crazy way to run a business, right? But I love it this way! ❤️❤️❤️

I can't remember the last time I made a cold call. I don't have to! You contact me before I can ever pick up the phone or hit send on an email.

It's a wonderful business because it's built on me serving you first. I give and eventually I get enough to earn a good living that's fun and rewarding.

However, one thing I haven't been clear enough on is all the different ways we can work together.

1. Coaching. I didn't do much coaching before the pandemic, but it's been a great offering since March 2020. I've learned something too. Most partnership people don't need a class. They don't need more training. They don't need conferences. What they need is a COACH. Someone who is leaning over their shoulder saying, "Don't do that, do this!" Most coaching clients speak to me for an hour every month and then they get reasonable email access to me between calls to discuss pressing issues.

2. Consulting. A few times each week partnership directors contact me with a challenge they are having. These challenges vary from growing their partnership team to audience-building to creating a keystone content asset. If I can't help them with coaching I usually suggest consulting. Generally, I'll bring in another person or agency to help me address this challenge. One thing I think I've gotten good at is referring people to the right person or agency that can help them. If you're wondering who can solve your problem, I'm pretty sure I have an answer for you.

3. Case Studies. I began offering a case study service because I think they are vastly underused in the nonprofit world. They are extremely common and effective in the business world, but they are fairly new to partnership teams. They shouldn't be. Case studies are effective at EVERY STAGE OF THE FUNNEL from awareness to consideration to closing. And they're just not effective with partnerships. They are effective with every type of fundraising. I just wrote a case study on a planned giving donor!

4. Speaking. This used to be my bread and butter service before the pandemic. Boy, was I worried about how I would continue speaking in March 2020. But Zoom saved the day. It's not perfect, but more often than not after presenting via Zoom I say:

Wow, 18 months ago I would have had to travel for a whole day and worn pants to give that presentation!

Another great thing about Zoom: Price. I used to tell people that they didn't pay me to speak, they paid me to travel. Without travel, my speaking fees are lower and people are happy with what they get! Still, I'm hoping to deliver more live speeches in 2022.

Here are the questions I have for you...

Have you been reading my newsletter for a long time?

Do you find what I offer to be valuable?

Do me a favor and take a moment to think about how we could work together in 2022.

A few hours of coaching? A couple case studies? Maybe you need a funny, interesting - albeit speech impaired - speaker for your next virtual (or live) gathering?

In short, how can we help each other? That's the very essence of selfish giving, right? Hit reply and let's talk!

As always, thank you for reading my newsletter and for all your support! 🥰 😘

✍️ Partnership Notes

1. The Cause Docs had a great conversation last week with Phil McCarty and Charisse Brown Marcus of Good Scout on how to effectively grow your partnership team. You can watch the replay here.

2. Macy's 2020 Believe campaign for Make-A-Wish is like a masterclass in cause marketing. It includes point-of-sale, an action-triggered donation, online giving and a purchase-triggered donation. Multiple offerings is one reason why Macy's has raised $137 million for MAW since 2003.

3. 👆Speaking of great partnerships, did you see this one between Youtuber MrBeast and Ocean Conservancy? Check out how much they've raised since October 29th.😳

4. 👆And speaking of influencers, sign up for this FREE webinar from Perlman and Perlman on the key legal considerations in working with influencers. Karen Wu and Jeremy Coffey will show you how to plan for a successful partnership with the cool kids! 😎 [Sponsored]

5. A fun Halloween 🎃 partnership between a local bakery and theater to build buzz for an upcoming holiday show. My son actually goes to college just a mile away from the bakery, but by the time he got there they were all sold out!

🤑 Marketing Your Cause

1. A lesson in gerrymandering that people won't forget. Gerry’s Partisan Pizza only serves people within its district’s electoral boundaries, no matter how close they live to the shop.

2. Get vaccinated or get 'Schlong Covid'. 😷🍆 We need to hit unvaccinated men where it really hurts.

3. Do people under 45 think your nonprofit is for their parents, not them? Learn how one organization is trying to change that. One idea I really liked: Create a separate homepage that appeals to younger visitors.

😎 Cool Jobs in Cause

1. Director of Corporate Relations, Melanoma Research Foundation, Washington, DC ($70k - $95k)

2. Director of Partnership Development, The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, IN

3. Director of Corporate Partnerships, Smile Train, NYC ($81k - $118k)

4. Strategic Partnerships Officer, Team Rubicon (View all jobs), Remote

5. Director, Corporate Partnerships, SeriousFun Children's Network, Norwalk, CT

Do you have a partnership position you are trying to fill? Hit reply and share the job posting with me! I'm happy to post it here for FREE.

🧠🍌 Brain Food

1. Opinion: CSR is bullshit.🐂💩

2. Example phone scripts to use when asking for year-end gifts for your nonprofit.

3. Do you want to continue working from home? Tell your boss you're a proud "Luddite".