Don Akchin

We have often discussed the roles corporate philanthropy plays both in supporting environmental, social, educational (etc.) causes and in the arguments that corporations should not be preemptively philanthropic as corporations (though even those who criticize ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’/CSR tend to encourage share-holders to be philanthropic). A recent argument has flared up over Apple’s unwillingness to allow the selling of apps for its mobile devices designed to garner and/or collect donations. Jake Shapiro, the CEO of PRX, and Beth Kanter seem to be leading the charge, as they have complained since this past summer about Apple’s unwillingness to allow nonprofits to create apps meant to encourage donations. Ms. Kanter has even taken steps to end her iPhone/ATT contract to move to a new phone with the Google Android platform. Will Apple take heed of such switchers?

Wondering what to track to know whether the marketing is succeeding? A useful post on an agency blog suggests measurements to monitor on the website, online promotions, social media sites, emails, events, and press coverage.

In a fascinating essay in the Huffington Post, commentator Matt Dunn ponders the differences between the marketing of toothpaste and nonprofits (hint: toothpaste marketing is more successful) and why nonprofits cannot presume to win support just because they do good work.  Even in a season of hope, there’s nothing gained by relying on wishful thinking.

Network for Good has published an e-book, Big Impact in Small Spaces: 9 Ways To Write Better Email Subject Lines, Headlines, Tweets and Facebook Updates. It’s available as a free download that will take less time than it takes to type the book title.