Corporate social responsibility involves companies participating in initiatives that benefit society simply because it aligns with their values, while cause-related marketing is a partnership where companies and non-profits both benefit but companies still aim to profit from associating with prominent causes. Cause-related marketing companies are more concerned with profits made from donations than actually making a difference, so consumers should support companies committed to corporate social responsibility through their practices.

1. Cause-Related Marketing
vs. CSR
What’s
the
BIG
difference?

2. Let’s start with
Corporate Social Responsibility.
Definition:
Business practices that involve
participating in initiatives
that benefit society.

3. Athletic wear company Nikelikes to make shoes that are both
innovative and sustainable.

4. Newton Running,
a certified B-Corp company,
recycles more than 7,500
lbs of waste a year!

5. It’s clear that
socially minded corporations
try to give back to our communities
simply because it is in-line
with their values.
But are all companies like that?

6. Cause-Related
Marketing
Definition:
A partnership between a
for-profit and non-profit
where both entities
realize a benefit.

7. Reebok would donate
proceeds to charity from
the sale of these
breast cancer
awareness
shoes.
But would still keep a portion of the profit for themselves.

8. Under Armour uses breast cancer
awareness, as well,
to try and make a profit off of a prominent
cause.

9. Can you
see the difference?
The companies that practice cause-related
marketing are more concerned about the profit they
will make in doing so over actually making a
difference.

10. The Takeaway:
Don’t let companies fool you into thinking
that they want to contribute to the greater
good of society by simply “donating a
portion of profits to charity”.
Buy from the companies that practice
corporate social responsibility.
They are the ones that truly want to make a
change in the world.