Charity Charms was a sponsor at the Cause Marketing Forum in Chicago this month. Above all, it was an invaluable experience. Our goal was to meet national charities and corporations and introduce them to our Shared Giving Program. In essence, this shared giving program can help them with their cause related marketing efforts.

Ultimately, the Shared Giving program combines GivingBands™ as the vehicle and charities as the platform. Coupled with a key corporation collaborating in a program. Of course, all three band together to support America’s charities. After all it’s a win/win for everyone. We certainly achieved our goal, but the ultimate benefit of attending the conference was interfacing with over 400 dynamic charities, consultants, and corporations. In addition to hearing about cause marketing programs that have made history. For example like Nike’s Livestrong.

Cause Related Marketing is Taking Over the World

Businesses are increasing the focus on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in particular. As a result, this means sustaining relationships with charities whose causes align with their goals or products. New ways of connecting and supporting each other have to happen. To sum up there was a lot of BUZZ about changing the world.

Wendy MacGregor, the Senior Vice President, CMO of Feeding America gave a moving presentation with the theme “Selling Doesn’t Mean Selling Out.” Wendy shared with the attendees the importance of marketing of their brand and mission in order to see a Hunger-Free America in our lifetime. Feeding America won the 2010 Golden Halo Award for a non-profit, and in her acceptance speech she thanked:

Our wonderful, smart and generous partners for making this recognition possible. For it is these very partnerships that are critical to our mission of feeding American’s hungry. And engaging the public in the fight to end hunger. through increased financial resources and increased brand and issue visibility.