Cause Marketing

EVENT MARKETERS have heard all the myths. Events can’t generate the revenue needed to cover their costs. Events are just for brand building maybe product launches—output investments that don’t contribute much to the bottom line. But what if one of the toughest money making models—nonprofits—could find significant fundraising success in the form of an event program? Nonprofits base their reputation on keeping overhead percentages as low as possible so if they can find success through events who can’t?

Brand marketers build brand awareness—and goodwill—by sponsoring the actual event volunteers

Imagine walking down the street and hearing that your hair looks good or that your jacket is cool. No we’re not talking about those irritating wolf whistles that guys have foisted on the fairer sex since the dawn of time. We’re talking about expressions of cheer and goodwill spread by two Purdue University students Cameron Brown and Brett Westcott who on Wednesdays since 2008 have been standing outside the chemistry building on the West Lafayette IN campus with a “Free Compliments” sign and singing the praises of passersby.

Colgate-Palmolive has been marketing successfully to elementary schools via its Bright Smiles Bright Futures program for 18 years. The ongoing program has become more and more interactive with an increasing presence at schools nationwide. It currently produces annual plays at schools brings in high-profile celebrities and stations mobile dental vans at schools and other locations to provide children with oral health education free screenings and dental supplies.

Doubletree Hotels and the United Nations World Food Program have teamed up to motivate students to help fight hunger this holiday season by collecting food for local food banks in the United States and raising funds for hunger relief operations abroad.