Cause marketing is a partnership between a business and a nonprofit for mutual benefit. According to IEG, cause marketing has grown into a nearly $2 billion industry! This infographic explains how it all started and grew from the late 1970's to the present.

1. A Short History of
Cause
Marketing*
Presented by
1770
Paul Revere Invents Cause
Marketing in Boston, Mass.
1976
1983
1996
2003
2004
2005
2006
2013 -
2014
Sources:
1770: Bill Belicheck, Head Coach, New England Patriots
1976: A Cause Marketing History Lesson with Bruce Burtch, SG.com
1983: CarolCone.Typepad.com
2005: IEG Sponsorship Report
2013: 2013 Cone Communications/Echo Global CSR Study
First cause marketing
partnership between
Marriott Corp & March
of Dimes
American Express coins
"Cause-Related Marketing"
in campaign to restore
Statue of Liberty
Carol Cone ("Mother of Cause
Marketing") creates first
cause program linking
Rockport Shoe Company to
walking
Launch of Box Tops for
Education. To date, schools
have earned $600 million
Cause Marketing Forum
honors tops campaigns
with "Halo Awards"
Joe Waters publishes
first post St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital
launches first nat'l
cause program
Cause marketing
surpasses $1 billion
mark
Cause marketing growth
surges in emerging
countries, including
China, India and Brazil
Bono, Bobby Shriver
launch pure-play
cause marketing
brand
CVS links mission
with margin and
ends tobacco sales
Blake Mycoskie
founds TOMS Shoes
Get My Quick Start Guide to Cause Marketing
Selfishgiving.com
* Cause marketing is a partnership between a nonprofit and for-profit
for mutual profit.
Please share this graphic with link attribution to Selfishgiving.com.