It started as almost a joke. It was 2005 and I was wracking my brain trying to choose a name for my new website. I can't even remember the other names I was considering. Even then it felt like all the good web domains were taken! But, truthfully, you could still get many great domains with a vowel!

Back then, people were still trying to come up with clever names for their websites. If I had started my site a few years later I probably would have just gone with my name, JoeWaters.com.

I remember talking to my friend and colleague, Joanna MacDonald (who co-wrote Cause Marketing with Dummies with me five years later), about what to call it...

Friday was World Aids Day. I heard about it because I saw on Twitter that 25 cents of every holiday drink sold at Starbucks was going to Red. This was great news for me as I didn't feel guilty about splurging on a second drink.

I've been a big admirer of Red since it's founding in 2006. And while it's a unique brand in many ways there are few things that causes of all sizes can learn from Red.

I just got back from talking to a bunch of nonprofits. Of course, a top question was how to squeeze more money from the company checkbook.

"Don't bother," I told them. "That's peanuts compared to how much you can raise from employees and customers."

Microsoft employees have proven at least half my answer true. They raised $142 million in just 2016 alone.

A few key takeaways...

Like all the great celebrities (e.g. Cher, Adele, Beyonce), the newest social media star only goes by a first name: Fiona. However, she's a bit different as she's a baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Weighing in at 500 pounds - and growing - she's a BIG star. And it's reflected in her following.

“We have tried to say we are going to stop posting about her every day, but we get 100,000 commenters telling us they must have updates," reported Michelle Curley the communications director of the zoo to the New York Times. "Everyone is so invested now.”

There's so much we can learn from this young superstar and the team of people at the zoo that are covering her.

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Mike Richardson, Vice President of Marketing, Casey’s General Stores, a 2000-store convenience store chain in 15 states, about their recent charity pinup fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The $1.35 million raised will be used to help send kids with muscular dystrophy to MDA Summer Camp.

On the show, we discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Melanie Zachar Kaloski, Nesquik Marketing Manager at Nestle, about QuikStache, a fun campaign with the Movember Foundation to raise awareness of men's health. The campaign included a pledge from Nesquik to match every $10 donation made to the foundation on Movember's 10th birthday.

On the show, Megan, Melanie and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Racquel Russell, Senior Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs of Zillow Group, about a $5 million pledge in cash and in-kind contributions over the next five years to address housing insecurity as part of the company's first social impact program, The Home Project.

On the show, Megan, Racquel and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talking to Karen Davis, Senior Vice President of Global Philanthropy and Social Impact at Hasbro, about Be Fearless Be Kind, a philanthropic initiative, which is designed to empower kids to have the compassion and courage to stand up for others and make a difference. To help nurture empathy and compassion, parents and adults can access proven tools and resources through the Be Fearless Be Kind online hub.

On the show, Megan, Karen and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to George Khalaf, Executive Director, Empatico. Empatico is a $20 million initiative from The KIND Foundation, started by KIND Snacks, to broaden kids' world views through meaningful interactions with peers across the globe. The free online learning tool will enable students to practice communication and leadership skills needed to succeed in a divided country and interdependent world.

On the show, Megan, George and I discuss...

Most people are busy. They get caught up in life, and bombarded by hundreds of sales, marketing, and fundraising messages every day. The average person cares about worthy causes and enjoys giving to organizations that are making a different. But it can be hard to cut through the clutter and reach people with your fundraising message.

If you are raising money for a good cause, you’ll need to cast a vision that excites donors and makes them want to give. Here are five ways to better communicate with donors and raise more money than ever before.

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Michal Alter, Co-Founder and CEO, Visit.org, about how this B-Corp is curating different local travel experiences — ranging from free to several thousand dollars per person — all in the name of social good! The traveler gets an authentic travel experience and 100% of host revenue is invested back into the local community.

On the show, Megan, Michal and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Laura Swapp, Director of Public Affairs & Next Gen Marketing at REI, about an ambitious new campaign called Force of Nature.

The goal of Force of Nature is a total disruption of the dominance of male imagery, heroes and stories as "masters of the outdoors." and and seeks reclaims the outdoors for women of all ages, races, sizes, and gender expressions.

On the show, Megan, Laura and I discus...

For nearly two decades Operation Warm has had a simple mission: to provide children in need with the gift of brand new winter coats. The nonprofit works directly with manufacturers to create their own line of warm, colorful winter coats made just for kids.

Since 1998, Operation Warm has provided coats to over 2 million children across the United States.

Traditional grants from companies have played a major role in helping Operation Warm achieve its mission. However, after an uptick in company requests for sponsorship and cause marketing in 2016, Operation Warm created a dedicated team to focus on corporate partnerships.

With a growing national brand, and solid organizational footprints in Philadelphia and Chicago, Operation Warm turned to Catalist to expand their regional and national corporate relationships.

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Annie Ford Danielson, Global Beauty Authority at Benefit Cosmetics about the Bold is Beautiful Project, which has raised $11 million waxing women's (and men's) brows in 17 countries.

The Bold is Beautiful Project is the company's annual global philanthropy program dedicated to providing resources and opportunities to help empower women and girls around the world. 

On the show, Megan, Annie and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Ed Riegert, retail marketing manager for Brooks, and Kristin Finton footwear merchandising manager for REI, about the National Parks Collection, an exclusive line of shoes and tees being sold at REI that celebrate five iconic national parks and benefit the National Park Foundation.

On the show, Megan, Ed, Kristin and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Anne Candido, Fabric Care Communications, Procter & Gamble about bringing relief to residents affected by Hurricane Harvey and Irma with P&G product kits and Tide Loads of Hope laundry services.

On the show, Megan, Anne and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Matt Smith, Director of PepsiCo’s Food for Good program a purpose-driven business initiative within PepsiCo that tackles child hunger by making healthy food more physically and financially accessible for low-income families.

On the show, Megan, Matt and I discuss...

Today on CauseTalk Radio Megan and I talk to Ann Krcik, Senior Director of Outdoor Exploration for The North Face, and Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President for The Trust For Public Land (TPL), about Walls Are Meant For Climbing, a campaign that aims to spark conversation about building trust and community around - and beyond - climbing walls. The partnership also includes a one million dollar donation to TPL!

On the show, Megan, Ann and I discuss...