The Engage For Good Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Petco's New App That Rewards Cute Pet Selfies with Donations Will Melt Your Heart Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Brock Weatherup, Executive Vice President Strategic Innovation & Digital Experience at Petco, about the launch of Heads & Tails, the first iOS app where pet parents can both receive a gift card and donate to help animals in need by simply having fun taking cute pet selfies.

Links & Notes

Heads & Tails

00:00 - Sponsor: Engage For Good Halo Awards Submission Now Open!
00:28 - Welcome to Cause Talk Radio!
01:06 - Welcome Petco's Brock Weatherup
03:18 - What is Petco's Heads & Tails app?
05:46 - How do you get people to use your app?
08:14 - How's it performing so far?
09:44 - Why build an app?
12:24 - How does Heads & Tails integrate with other Petco apps?
13:56 - Let's talk about retention.
16:54 - How do you monetize your app experience?
18:46 - The New Content Marketing?
22:24 - PetCoach by Petco
23:49 - What digital trends are you watching with cause tie-ins?
25:28 - Learn more about Heads & Tails

How This Chain of C-Stores Activated Customers, Employees to Raise $1.35M for MDA Nov 28, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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.

Links & Notes

Casey's General Store

Nestle Nesquik Raises Funds for Movember with #QuikStache Nov 21, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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 Joe discuss:

How was Nesquick introduced to Movember? What was the genesis of this partnership?
Tell us about the “QuickStache” campaign this year: who are you targeting with your fun chocolate milk ‘staches?
You pledged to donate $10 for every donation made on Movember's birthday, how did that go?
Are cause-related marketing campaigns new to Nequick?
What have you learned from your involvement with Movember this year?
Movember traditionally has done a good job activating corporate teams. Was this an element of your campaign this year? Or was it more consumer-facing?
What kind of response did you get from consumers?
Do you anticipate continuing this partnership with Movember? If so, how will next year be different?

Links & Notes

Nesquik Quikstache
Follow the hashtag #Quikstache on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Zillow Aims to Evict Housing Worries with 'The Home Project' Nov 14, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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 Joe discuss:

Can you give us a brief overview of The Home Project and what the program is all about?
Zillow is partnering with non-profits whose mission aligns with The Home Project. What do these partnerships hope to accomplish?
How do you plan to reach people who are having challenges with housing?
How can employees get engaged with this program?
Another pillar of The Home Project is product development to help people find secure housing. What types of product developments do you anticipate rolling out in 2018?
Can you explain what "Hack Weeks” and "Innovation Weeks” are and how they fold into this initiative
What business objectives are attached to this program? How will you measure success?
Will you involve Zillow customers who are NOT housing insecure in this effort in any way?

Links & Notes

The Home Project

Hasbro Expands Online Hub That Teaches Kids How to Stand Up for Others Nov 07, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Karen Davis, Senior Vice President of Global Philanthropy and Social Impact at Hasbro, about “Be Fearless Be Kind,” a philanthropic initiative 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 Joe discuss:

How did you land on ‘standing up for others’ as your signature cause focus?
Was this a new cause area for Hasbro or familiar territory?
Who are your nonprofit partners in this endeavor and what role do they play in activating it?
Explain to us how you expanded the program in 2017?
How are you engaging employees? Consumers?
What are your hopes and expectations for the program in the coming year?
How does this effort help Hasbro generate business so it can sustain this valuable effort?
What would you say to others who are considering launching a signature cause program?

Links & Notes

Be Fearless Be Kind

KIND Invests $20M in Empatico to #SparkEmpathy Oct 31, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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 Joe discuss:

The backstory on how Empatico got started.
Why are you focusing on 3rd and 4th grade students?
Is Empatico a nonprofit organization?
Why did KIND choose to start an entirely new organization to connect kids across the globe? Is that a risky venture in your eyes?
How did you come to be involved in Empatico?
How involved is KIND with your day-to-day activities? Where does the KIND brand start and leave off when it comes to your mission?
Are you already matching kids in classrooms around the globe?
Will there be a time where non-english-speakers will be able to connect?
How long do you have funding from KIND? What happens after that runs out? Is there a business model here?
What have you learned so far that you can share with our listeners?
What challenges have you encountered as you’re trying to roll out this new platform?
What is your vision for the future of Empatico?

Links & Notes

Empatico

How Visit.org is Partnering with Nonprofits to Offer Unique Travel Experiences Oct 24, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe talk to Michal Alter, Co-Founder and CEO of 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 Joe discuss:

Michal explains the Visit.org model and what prompted her to start the business.
How Visit.org selects their nonprofit partners.
Michal's favorite local travel experience.
Which tours are most popular on the site.
Why Visit.org is a B-corp and not a nonprofit.
The long-term vision of the company.
The challenging of explaining Visit.org to new website visitors.
The challenges of building a business that is both good for the world and profitable.

Links & Notes

Visit.org

REI Aims to Reclaim Outdoors for Women with 'Force of Nature' Oct 17, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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." Force of Nature seeks to reclaim the outdoors for women of all ages, races, sizes, and gender expressions.

On the show, Megan, Laura, and Joe discuss:

The background of the Force of Nature. How it got started.
The four components of Force of Nature.
Why REI decided not only to focus on gender but age, race, and size as well.
The key role that storytelling and content are playing in Force of Nature.
How 1,000+ events are engaging consumers in Force of Nature.
How REI plans to close the "gear gap" between men and women's gear.
REI has committed a million dollars to support community organizations that help women and girls, what's the end goal of REI's investments?
What kind of challenges and bumps has REI faced in developing and executing Force of Nature.

Links & Notes

Force of Nature
Follow the #ForceofNature hashtag on Twitter and Instragram

This Beauty Brand is Empowering Girls with Every Brow Wax Oct 10, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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 Joe discuss:

How the Bold is Beautiful Project got started in 2015 in four countries.
How the program works in Benefit's boutiques and in retail partner stores like Sephora.
This is a worldwide effort! How do you choose the benefiting charities?
How nonprofit partners support the fundraiser.
The business benefits of the Bold is Beautiful Project.
How the fundraiser is promoted in stores.
Lessons learned over the past two years.
New ideas and plans for 2018!

Links & Notes

Brooks, REI Team Up to Support National Parks with Limited Edition Shoes Oct 03, 2017

Show notes

Today on Cause Talk Radio, Megan and Joe 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 celebrates five iconic national parks and benefits the National Park Foundation.

On the show, Megan, Ed, Kristin, and Joe discuss:

How the National Park Collection got started by Brooks.
Other cause programs REI and Brooks have worked on.
How the program works. How many shoes are involved? How many parks? How much money is being raised?
Why Brooks decided to create a custom line of shoes for the National Park Foundation.
Is branded footwear the future of footwear marketing.
Why REI got involved as the exclusive sales partner in the program.
The response so far from consumers and employees.
How the collection highlights Brooks' commitment to trail shoes.
The business benefits of the campaign.
Is there a special place for the collection in REI stores?

Links & Notes