Newsletter: A Cause for Shell-ebration 🐢 ; Kansas Humane Society Launches ‘OnlyPaws’ Campaign 🫣 ; How to Do Cause Marketing with Chambers, Associations 😇

Monday is the day I usually set aside for writing the "Note from Joe" section of my newsletter. That's the section you are reading right now.

This last Monday was different in two ways. First, Monday was Memorial Day, so it felt more like a Sunday than a Monday. Still, I was committed to finishing my "Note from Joe." Second, just as I started writing it, my wife came home and told me something that would upend my day.

"There's a turtle in the middle of the road. Can you help me move it?"

"Of course," I said. "Where is she?"

My eyes widened because I knew the turtle was crossing a very busy street.

When we arrived, the turtle had already crossed the street and was trying to get over the sidewalk curb.

"I'll get her on the sidewalk so she can get into the tall grass," I told my wife. "That must be where she's headed."

When I picked her up, I saw the cracked shell.💔 I hadn't arrived soon enough. A car had run over the bottom right side of her shell. Ouch! I knew that turtles could survive a cracked shell, so I did what I came to do. I put her in the grass, and she kept going.

But when I got home, I had a nagging feeling the turtle needed medical attention. I researched online and discovered that shell cracks are painful and dangerous and may require a vet visit.

Fortunately, I found the Turtle Rescue League (TRL) in Massachusetts. Among other things, they help injured turtles. Even though it was Memorial Day, they got back to me quickly.

First, they told me I needed to find the turtle, which I did! Second, they told me what to do with her. I put her in a box with a towel and covered the box. The towel would give the turtle something to burrow into, and the lid would make the box nice and dark, calming the turtle. Finally, they connected me with a volunteer to transport the turtle to a wildlife rehabilitator.

After a short car drive from my house, I met an outstanding volunteer who gave up part of his holiday to transport the turtle to its final destination. He assured me that the turtle would live and be fine. Phew!

The whole experience got me thinking about two things.

❤️ Aren't nonprofits wicked awesome? There's a nonprofit out there for everything, and we are so lucky they exist! It made me feel so good that I work with nonprofits!

🐢 Have I ever written about turtles? I've been writing my blog for nearly two decades. Surely I've written SOMETHING about turtles? I did! Once. I wrote about a Maryland zoo that was getting some great publicity because it created a Lego wheelchair for a turtle with a cracked shell.

A turtle wheelchair made from Legos? Brilliant!

Heck, maybe my turtle was rolling around in a Lego wheelchair right now!

Of course, I donated to the TRL. I was sad they didn't have a newsletter I could subscribe to. Still, they are doing great work! Be sure to support turtle rescues in your area.

And if you ever encounter a turtle in the middle of the road, here's what you should do to help! 

✍️ Partnership Notes

1. How to do cause marketing with chambers and associations.

2. If you think you're the only nonprofit a business is considering for a partnership, you're probably mistaken.

3. Hyundai Motor America's recognition of Memorial Day goes beyond the typical dealer sales event. They sponsor The National Salute to America’s Heroes event and make a cash donation to Folds of Honor.

🤑 Marketing Your Cause

1. I shared an article last week on owned media and mentioned that there will be "No 🍪🍪 after 2024!" A few of you wrote asking what I meant. It's real thing, people. Here's a good article to read: Fundraising in the post-🍪-world.

2. Selling feet pics online is a thing right now.🦶🧐 The Kansas Humane Society is jumping in with both feet with a fundraising campaign called OnlyPaws. And, yep, it's getting a lot of foot traffic!

3. How partnership teams can build authenticity into their marketing. Focus on these six traits. And consistency is #1 for good reason!

😎 Cool Jobs in Cause

1. Director of Business Development & Partnerships, Hello Heart, Remote

2. Corporate Partnerships Officer, Action Against Hunger, NYC

🧠🍌 Brain Food

1. After a disaster, victims are being helped by three groups: Government agencies (e.g., FEMA), nonprofits (e.g., Team Rubicon ❤️), and extremist groups that are arriving well in advance of the other two and spreading their anti-government hate.