But where did it all start? Awareness ribbons initially sprang from a 1970s tune, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” which inspired the wife of a hostage in Iran to tie yellow ribbons around trees in an effort to heighten awareness and bring her husband home. In the 1990s, AIDS activists brought the red ribbon to life. Since the 1990s, ribbons have decorated the chests and homes of many cancer patients, families, and friends as an outward show of support and compassion.

Ribbons of all hues

In addition to pink for breast cancer, a rainbow of ribbons mark months of awareness and action for other types of cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are over 100 types and subtypes of cancer. Some subtypes of cancer even have their own awareness months and ribbons. Several common types of cancers and their awareness months and ribbon colors are listed below.*

• Appendix Cancer (August): Amber
• Bladder Cancer (May): Yellow, purple, and navy
• Blood Cancer (September): Red
  • Leukemia (September): Orange
  • Hodgkin Lymphoma (September): Violet
  • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (September): Lime green
  • Myeloma (March): Burgundy 
• Bone Cancer (July): Yellow
• Brain Cancer (May): Gray
• Breast Cancer (October): Pink
  • Breast Cancer (October): Pink
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer (October): Pink, teal, and green
  • Inflammatory Breast Cancer (October): Hot pink
  • Male Breast Cancer (October): Pink and blue
• Childhood Cancer (September): Gold
• Colorectal Cancer (March): Dark blue
• Gallbladder & Bile Duct Cancer (February): Kelly green
• Gastric Cancer (November): Periwinkle
• Gynecological Cancer (September): Purple
  • Cervical Cancer (January): Teal and white
  • Ovarian Cancer (September): Teal
  • Uterine Cancer (September): Peach
  • Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers (September): Purple
• Head & Neck Cancer (April): Burgundy and white
• Kidney Cancer (March): Orange
• Liver Cancer (October): Green
• Lung Cancer (November): Pearl or white
• Pancreatic Cancer (November): Purple
• Prostate Cancer (September): Light blue
• Skin Cancer (May): Black
• Testicular Cancer (April): Purple
• Thyroid Cancer (September): Purple, teal, and pink

*Not an exhaustive list of all cancer types and subtypes

Examples of different cancer ribbons

Ribbons can be combined to represent multiple cancers, and lavender is sometimes used to recognize cancer as a whole. They can be worn anytime to send love to someone in need, share your commitment with others, and inspire action for awareness and treatment.

In a world where cancer affects so many lives, the diverse colors of awareness ribbons unite us in a shared pursuit: to raise awareness, promote early detection, and support the patients and survivors in our lives. Together, we stand as a powerful force, offering hope and compassion to all those impacted by cancer of any kind.

Read more about the history and meaning of the breast cancer pink ribbon.

Interested in learning more?

Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-ribbons-color-meaning
https://www.verywellhealth.com/cancer-ribbons-colors-meanings-2249253
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323448

The post The Color and Meaning of Cancer Ribbons appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Crumbl was already famous for its iconic pink cookie box, designed to bring “friends and family together over a box of the best cookies in the world.” When it added an all-pink cookie line-up—think Pink Velvet, Ruby Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, and Pink Doughnut—in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, customers wanted more.

“This week, every flavor in our lineup is pink in honor of the occasion, but it’s a bit more personal to me since my dear grandmother, a cancer survivor of 25 years, passed away earlier this year,” shared Crumbl co-founder Sawyer Hemsley on social media.

“Grandma Gail was one of Crumbl’s biggest fans from day one. She shared her passion for baking with me and always believed in my ability to make the world a sweeter place. This week’s lineup is in honor of her as well as you and your loved ones who have battled this disease.”

He also invited customers to share their thoughts and experiences on social media—and they did. Fortunately, Sawyer listened and responded in turn.

“Not long after debuting the lineup, customers let us know quickly that they wanted us to do more—customer feedback is something we hold in the highest regard at Crumbl Cookies and we took these requests very seriously,” shared Kadee Jones, Public Relations Manager at Crumbl. “We knew that we wanted to pivot our current approach to raising awareness and allow our customers to be part of the process.”

Crumbl created an Instagram poll, encouraging customers to vote and determine which breast cancer awareness organizations would receive 10 percent of the company’s October profits.

“Overall, we took this experience as an opportunity to listen to the wants of our customers and revise the strategy we had originally picked for breast cancer awareness. We always strive to become better through the feedback we get and pivot when needed—we will never claim that our efforts are perfect, but at Crumbl, we never stop trying to do the right thing, and we will always do our best to uphold the interests of our customers.”

National Breast Cancer Foundation was honored to be one of the organizations selected in the poll. Crumbl also gives back to those impacted by breast cancer on an individual level, sending out personalized care packages that share their love and support.

“Our pink week lineup was a way for us to honor both Sawyer Hemsley’s grandmother and anyone affected by breast cancer. We were honored to have donated a portion of sales to National Breast Cancer Foundation as a way to further contribute to those affected and provide resources for continued research,” Jones added.

After opening in 2017, Crumbl has expanded to more than 600 bakeries in 47 states, making it the fastest-growing cookie company in the nation. It features more than 170 unique cookie flavors rotated weekly, including the wildly popular all-pink cookie line-up in October.

“There is nothing sweeter than a donation from a company like Crumbl, which clearly cares about its customers, its team, and anyone who has been impacted by breast cancer,” said Michelle Romanczukiewicz, Sr. Manager of Strategic Partnerships, National Breast Cancer Foundation. “We are grateful for this support and hope we have the opportunity to sample this year’s pink cookies!”

Interested in partnering with National Breast Cancer Foundation?

The post Partner Success Story: Crumbl appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Last May, a story about a factory worker in Chicago made headlines around the country. The factory worker was in the emergency room complaining of a swollen breast. She’d noticed a problem months before, but she was afraid to miss work during the pandemic.

She spoke little English and was unable to have her translator, her son, accompany her to the hospital. She texted him in Spanish and hoped for the best. She was later diagnosed with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer and faced life with an incurable illness that may have been survivable had it been found earlier.

Stories like these are sadly common, and, in all of them, certain themes emerge. One is the fear of losing a job or not having time off work to keep an appointment.

The theme of fear creates gaps in optimal health and access to quality care. Companies, organizations, and charitable partnerships can help bridge those gaps.

3 Steps to Reducing Health Disparities

1. Promote Health and Wellness

The first thing a business, company, or organization can do to reduce health disparities is to educate their employees about breast cancer and early detection, among promoting wellness within and outside of the workplace.

NBCF offers a program to do just that – Breast Cancer Awareness in the Workplace, a presentation that offers employees education on breast health, the importance of early detection, how to support a loved one or co-worker diagnosed with breast cancer, and how to accommodate the workplace for patients.

Company Spotlight: PayFlex

PayFlex dedicated the entire month of October to promote breast health and breast cancer awareness. Each day, employees received a story from a fellow staff member impacted by breast cancer or information on breast cancer in their inbox.

Donna, Sr. Manager of COBRA Operations at PayFlex, shared: “Our goal was to drive awareness. Stories touched on different aspects, including: How early detection saves lives, encouraging annual screenings, thanking researchers, and the impact of treatment on survivors. It started with the leader of the [campaign]. Then it was my day, and it was my 5-year anniversary of being cancer-free. It just continued with stories and information on breast cancer awareness. In total, 16 colleagues shared stories of how breast cancer touched their lives—survivors, loved ones, and those who lost loved ones.”

Because of Donna and the efforts of their team, multiple staff members made the step to schedule their mammograms or wellness exams. Three staff member shared their plans.

“Thank you. These personal stories were real eye-openers for me. I scheduled my screening for next Tuesday. I wanted you to know this campaign has touched at least one person.”

“Thank you! This has been a great month to hear these stories. Getting all of my well check/mammogram visits set up.”

“The stories that were shared were both touching and enlightening. I admire the strength of everyone that participated. It certainly left a lasting impact on me. I was inspired to make my appointment which is scheduled for next month for my mammogram.”

2. Prioritize Employees’ Health and Medical Appointments

Companies should also prioritize women’s health, including accommodating time off for well checks and screening mammograms. If employees feel like they can’t take off or keep a medical appointment because of the demands of the job, the message about the importance of health will be made clear.

Some employers even contract with health systems to lower the cost of screenings and utilize health promotion managers to ensure services are being utilized. Being proactive and promoting these services helps eliminate barriers—access to care, cost of screenings, and knowledge of benefits—that can lead to disparities.

Cancer prevention and early detection also significantly reduce the cost of insurance premiums, which improves the bottom line.

3. Scale Impact Beyond the Workplace

Businesses can further their impact on health disparities by supporting organizations, like NBCF, that provide help and reduce inequalities in healthcare. Whether you start big or small, it’s meaningful to both customers and employees to align with a worthy cause.

Here are three examples of what a cause-based partnership can look like:

• Donating a percentage of sales from key items/collections to a non-profit your customers and employees are passionate about. Or rotating causes every month/quarter/year.
• Involving the entire company in employer fundraising like a steps challenge or hosting a HOPE Kit Packing Party.
• Asking customers to round-up their purchases at the point-of-sale. Round-up campaigns are often easy to implement and generate tremendous results.

When companies offer the opportunity to get involved in reducing health disparities or creating health equity, customers and employees feel goodwill toward the company with the possibility of exponentially more money being raised.

Remember: All of us have a role to play in reducing health disparities in breast cancer. The goal is health equity.

The NBCF team is here to be a resource to you and your company. Together, we can bridge the health equity gap for millions in need.

NBCF is committed to ending health disparities. Read “Disparities in Breast Cancer Threaten Progress for All” and “What You Can Do to Support Health Equity” to learn more.

Ready to take the next steps towards health equity?

The post 3 Ways Every Company Can Reduce Health Disparities appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Retail presence makes a huge difference for big and small brands alike. We consistently hear from corporate partners who want advice and tips about how to navigate retailer relationships, especially with cause-marketing campaigns. To that end, we are fortunate to partner with some experts in this area at top brands in the country.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation team connected with Becca May, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Nature Nate’s Honey Co., about her first-hand experience pitching products and nurturing relationships with top retailers like Kroger, Target, and Walmart. The following Q&A highlights her personal experience and top tips for getting your product into dream retailers.

National Breast Cancer Foundation: What do brands need to understand when trying to get a product into a retailer?

Becca May: Every brand should recognize the same thing: Everything starts and ends with the consumer. The same goes for our retail partners. They are shopper obsessed, just like we are consumer obsessed.

It’s critical to find the crossover between who their shopper is and who our key consumer is. Start the process by understanding:

1. Who the person is that you’re pitching to (the retail buyer)
2. What’s important to their shopper
3. How your charitable partnership can fit and add value

For example, at Nature Nate’s, it goes beyond how our customer shops and then cooks for her family, packs lunch and snacks for her kids, starts her morning, or enjoys drinks at home. There are other facets to her—causes she cares about, things that are important to her related to her own health, her kids’ health, her family’s health, and community health.

Understanding what’s important to our customer beyond a product is critical.

That’s where partnerships like National Breast Cancer Foundation can be so interesting. Women’s health is hugely relatable and important. For my core consumer at Nature Nate’s, women’s health and breast health are critically important to her personally, but with 1 in 8 women facing breast cancer, it’s also critically important to her family and community. It’s something she has been touched by.

When you can find that overlap of serving your consumer and providing a great best-in-class product, that’s when you win.

Want to go a step further? Meet your customer with a partnership and a donation that she has been a part of with her purchase. Now you’re better serving your core consumer, which gets retailers excited because you’re better serving their shoppers, too.

Q. How do you get special products and cause-marketing-labeled products in retailers?

A. Every retailer is different. It has to do with how they offer promotions, structure additional displays, and when their review periods are. Most retailers need seasonal pitches at least 9 months to 1 year in advance.

Retailers vary in terms of who is easiest to get into. It’s always easier to get add-ons, like incremental display (additional shelf space in other areas of the store) when you’re already being sold there.

Selling something for incremental display, like getting Nature Nate’s specialty pink bottles displayed in produce, for example, is easier when our SKU is already in the system and sold in store.

When you’re trying to break into a new retailer, the depth of the marketing and relationships you have is key. You must know your customer inside and out and have additional things you can offer the retailer. You might be pitching honey, for example, to a shopper (person making the buying decisions for the retailer) who doesn’t care about the honey, but the pink label resonates. Sometimes it isn’t just about the product, but the entire offer.

Q. How do you find the appropriate person to speak to? Are there other strategies for getting into retailers if the buyer isn’t responsive?

A. It’s important to know that most retailers have separate buyers for different categories of products. The produce buyer is different from the home goods buyer and so on.

If you have the correct buyer but are having trouble, brokers are a potential solution. Brokers are agencies that are usually deeply ingrained within the retailer. Often you can lean on a broker if you’re not able to go in directly to a retailer. To find a broker, ask for referrals from other people in your industry or at the retailer.

A broker will know all the buyers and what’s important to them. A lot of times you’re not even paying a broker until they get your product into the store. This can be a low-risk option.

If you’re working with a charitable partner, you could also try reaching out to the retailer via social media to highlight the partnership and why it matters. Retailers are more accessible now than ever before. Get creative when reaching out!

Also, many retailers will have new brand and product offering times where you can pitch your product for 5-10 minutes to a board. Research when those times are and be prepared to pitch your product as the perfect fit for their demographic.

Always remember, it starts and ends with the customer. Retailers care immensely about their customers. If you can stay focused on your product offering and marketing support, that puts the customer first. It will make a difference when you enter those meetings.

Q. What was an experience with a retailer that surprised you?

A. The Nature Nate’s team pitched our pink honey bottles to a national grocer partner. We focused on the campaign and how we were going to drive awareness of honey and the honey’s opportunity to give back during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

We didn’t know that the buyer’s wife was a breast cancer survivor. It was a win because we were able to strike up a very personal, real, and meaningful relationship with him moving forward that we never would’ve had just talking sales numbers, velocities, and trade spend. The unanticipated surprise was that our giveback was something that personally impacted him, not to mention many, many shoppers in those stores.

Q. Any advice for brands?

A. Fatigue is palpable right now. Some customers are fatigued by the constant push of corporate social responsibility programs. My encouragement to brands is:

Think creatively.

It’s not just putting products on a shelf and being done — how are you supporting the product in a meaningful way on social? What interesting things can you do with other brands to make it a multi-dimensional offering or campaign? How can you make it personal and connected to the consumers you have in your own backyard?

Be consumer-obsessed.

First, you have to invest to understand who your core consumer is. Don’t be afraid to take risks, then test and learn against them. Digital marketing has provided us with brilliant ways to take risks and learn. Testing is ultimately low risk in terms of resources and dollars, so don’t be scared to put stuff out there and see if it works.

Stay authentic to your brand.

Just like knowing who your core consumer is, you have to know what your brand is all about. Then stay authentic and true to that in everything you do. This applies to partners and causes that your team is going to choose to invest in as well as your sales and marketing efforts.

Have more questions about retail partnerships? Leave a comment or fill out the form below.

Interested in learning more?

The post How to Get Your Product into Dream Retailers appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Qualified sponsorship payments vs. advertising

The key consideration is whether payments from corporate partners to nonprofits are qualified sponsorship payments in accordance with IRS guidance or merely advertising. We’ll take a look at what this means and how IRS guidelines impact charitable partnerships:

1. Promoting for-profit companies is generally considered a business activity not related to a nonprofit’s charitable purposes. Such payments will be considered taxable advertising payments if the sponsorship delivers a substantial return benefit to the sponsor.

• Substantial return benefits include goods or services that have a substantial value (e.g., those with a fair market value of more than 2% of the sponsorship payment).

There are a variety of factors the IRS looks at to determine whether there is a substantial return benefit. Here are some messaging guidelines to help corporate partners and nonprofits ensure their sponsorship payments are not taxable:

OKAY:

• Giving general acknowledgment of a sponsor by highlighting its name, logo, website, and contact information on a nonprofit’s website, social media platforms, or printed media.
• Displaying a sponsor’s products or services at a nonprofit event or activity or online spaces without specifically endorsing such products or services.
• Providing free samples of a sponsor’s products or services at a nonprofit event or activity without specifically endorsing them.
• Linking to a sponsor’s website homepage rather than to a page on the website where products or services are marketed or sold to the public.

NOT OKAY:

• An outright endorsement of a sponsor.
• Use of qualitative or comparative language to describe a sponsor’s products or services.
• Inducing a nonprofit’s followers or members to buy a sponsor’s products or services.
• Linking directly to a sponsor’s webpage where products or services are purchased by the general public.
  

2. Nonprofits are not allowed to accept payments from corporate partners that are contingent on reaching a specific size of audience (for example a certain number of attendees at an event or a specific number of likes on a social media post). They are also prohibited from providing advertising opportunities to sponsors at no charge that would typically be purchased by paid advertisers.

Sponsors may be acknowledged as the exclusive partner or sponsor of an event or activity if the nonprofit does not agree to limit the distribution of competing products or services in exchange for the sponsorship payment.

So why is this all so important?

In addition to being required to pay taxes (called unrelated business income tax, or UBIT) on payments that do not meet the qualified sponsorship payment criteria, nonprofits cannot count these funds as public support. Public charities must generally receive at least one-third of their revenue from public support. This public support can include revenue from program services, like qualified sponsorship payments, but it cannot include any revenue subject to UBIT. If the IRS finds a nonprofit has too much unrelated business income in proportion to its charitable activities, the nonprofit may lose its tax-exempt status.

How can we both achieve success?

Nonprofits and partners can work together to find ways to receive acknowledgement and recognition without explicitly promoting or advertising the charitable partner, which could have an end result of a nonprofit losing its tax-exempt status.

Questions to keep in mind as cause-marketing partnerships develop:

1. What are the mutual goals of each organization?
2. What type of partnership is this?
3. What kind of acknowledgement will the partnership receive?
4. What stories can be used to share why each organization chose to partner together and their hope for impact?

It is important for corporate partners to understand the limitations so they don’t have unrealistic expectations of what they may receive in return for their sponsorship dollars. Nonprofits will not be able to provide anything that the IRS may see as a substantial return benefit. Despite these limitations, corporate partnerships can still work to achieve the individual goals of both parties and positively impact communities.

Interested in learning more?

The post How Corporate Partnerships Can Help & Hurt Nonprofits appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Doing Your Research

To find the right nonprofit for your company, it is important to do your own research. Make sure you view charity rating sites to see the charity’s full picture. You can always reach out to organizations and ask questions, clarify information, and create a more personal connection.

How do I know if the organization is a real nonprofit? Nonprofits are registered and must file an IRS Form 990 to be considered a nonprofit organization. To learn more about researching nonprofits and charity ratings, click here.

How can I see other companies they work with? Most nonprofits feature top corporate partners on their websites. Review the brands they partner with to understand the industries and types of companies they work with. During your discussions, you can ask how your company can become featured on their website.  

Finding the Right Type of Partnership

Organizations offer different types of partnerships, and finding the right one for your company is important. Types of partnerships can include fundraising, cause-marketing campaigns, events, and gift-in-kind.

• Fundraising: Your company hosts a fundraiser with employees.
• Cause-Marketing Campaigns: Your product or service supports a cause through a percentage, dollar amount, or flat donation.
• Events: Your company hosts or sponsors an event.
• Gift-in-Kind: Your company donates products.

Some partnerships require a minimum donation – these can vary depending on the nonprofit partner and their partnership types and terms. This requirement confirms partners are committed to making a difference in their communities. Minimum donations also ensure the administrative effort to support a thriving partnership is available.

For example, the NBCF Pink Ribbon Partnership does not have a minimum donation, however, the Full Service Partnership requires a minimum annual donation starting at $3,000.

What if the type of partnership I want isn’t listed as an option? If you don’t see the ideal option for your organization, ask the nonprofit if they can customize your partnership.

The length of a partnership can vary – days, weeks, months, or year-round. This is usually determined when signing a partnership contract.  Companies always have the option to renew the partnership every year or change the parameters. Ideally, the connection and success will continue to grow with each year!

Restrictions on Partnerships

Nonprofit values, areas of focus, and logistics can determine partnership guidelines.

Examples:
Because of the sensitivity surrounding the health and wellbeing of cancer patients, NBCF does not partner with organizations in tobacco, illicit drugs, and hard alcohol. In addition, NBCF does not partner with organizations in adult entertainment, guns and firearms, controversial animal industries, and book and video recordings.

Are there other types of restrictions? In some cases, nonprofits may limit brands or businesses they partner with. For instance, a nonprofit may decide to only partner with one company in a sector to avoid conflicts between competitors.  Other nonprofits might work with companies to create unique campaigns so they don’t overlap with others in their industry.

Making Initial Contact

You don’t have to know every detail of what you want to do before you reach out to a nonprofit. Likely they will want to understand your main goals and what part of the mission resonates most with you. Think of the first outreach as getting the process started. Some companies have all of the details sorted out while others just have a general idea – either is perfectly fine.

Organizations may have preferred forms of contact: phone, email, form, or scheduling a meeting. You can review their website as you prepare to reach out.

What if I don’t hear back? Some charities have busy seasons based on key months or end of year and likely receive larger amounts of calls and emails as those times approach. If you don’t hear back, try reaching out through a phone call.

Pay attention to how timely the response is – this may indicate the overall service they will provide.

Wrapping Up

In a nutshell, most nonprofits will be thrilled to learn of your interest and grateful for your support. It can be as easy as a call or email to get the conversation started. This initial outreach may turn into a one-time campaign or a lasting connection that raises needed funds, supports community initiatives, and makes a genuine difference in the lives of others.

National Breast Cancer Foundation’s partnership information:

• NBCF on Charity Navigator
• NBCF on GuideStar
• NBCF on BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• NBCF on Great Nonprofits
• NBCF on CharityWatch
• Meet NBCF’s Corporate Partners
• NBCF’s Partnership Options

Interested in learning more?

The post Creating a Winning Partnership: Tips for Partnering with a Charity appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

A sense of personal safety encompasses the mission of both National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and Security Equipment Corporation (SABRE).

While the world’s largest pepper spray manufacturer provides police-strength protection to consumers across the globe, NBCF focuses on caring for women during their breast cancer journey so that no one navigates their journey alone. Both organizations put a premium on education and empowerment. And, not surprisingly, both organizations are proud of their long-time partnership.

“We are so proud and grateful to be close partners with NBCF for over 12 years now, donating proceeds from some of our best-selling personal safety products. We share a common mission to keep people safer and help those in need,” said SABRE CEO David Nance.

“Through NBCF, our valued customer support, and our proud retail partners, we’ve been able to donate over $2 million and have helped provide over 20,000 mammograms and early detection services to women across the country. We look forward to working together for years to come!”

SABRE has partnered with National Breast Cancer Foundation through proceeds of sales from its pink product line as well as ongoing employee engagement.

In 2020, SABRE expanded its cause marketing campaign by supplying products for one of NBCF’s first giveaways via social media. It was one of the NBCF’s most successful, engaging posts of the year and further demonstrated SABRE’s commitment to safety, health, and wellness.

In addition, the SABRE team rallied together to support National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Patient Navigation Program. They donated pink personal pepper sprays to be placed in navigator care packages, delivering support to about 40 dedicated heroes on the front lines across six hospitals in California, Missouri, New York, and Texas. SABRE also engaged their entire team by generously volunteering their time to handwrite supportive encouragement cards, delivered to women undergoing breast cancer treatment, for the HOPE Kit program. SABRE excels at encouraging everyone to get involved with the NBCF campaign.

“It is the shared mission of helping now and creating safety that has continued to link our two organizations for the past 12 years, and we are incredibly grateful for this wonderful partner,” said Candice Boeck, Manager of Strategic Partnerships, National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Interested in partnering with National Breast Cancer Foundation?

The post Partner Success Story: <br> Security Equipment Corporation (SABRE) appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Want to find an edge in a hyper-competitive market, build deeper relationships with your target audience, generate additional revenue, attract and retain elite talent—and make the world a better place while you’re at it?

Not only can it be done, but it can be done well through cause marketing. We’ll share tips, examples, and explain the 8 types of effective cause marketing campaigns in the free eBook, What You Need to Know About Cause Marketing.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore the concept of cause marketing or are working on a plan to leverage it for your own business, this guide will help you understand your options and get started with clarity and conviction.

In this free eBook, you’ll learn:

• How to define and understand cause marketing
• The immediate and long-term financial benefits of cause marketing
• How cause marketing helps attract and retain top talent
• 8 proven approaches to cause marketing that deliver real results
• Actionable tips for making any campaign a success
• How several hyper-successful companies use cause marketing as a foundational driver of brand affinity and revenue
• Why the time to start a cause marketing campaign is now

“Cause-marketing campaigns help both the company and the non-profit flourish. This eBook is an extremely beneficial resource to explore the many avenues on how to make a greater impact together.” – Brooke Adams, Director of Charitable Giving & Strategic Partnerships, NBCF

Tell us where we can send your free Cause Marketing eBook:

Interested in learning more?

The post Free eBook: Cause Marketing appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

What is the best breast cancer charity to donate to?

“Where should I donate?” is one of the most common questions Googled on the topic of breast cancer, but the answer is not simple. One big misconception is that all breast cancer charities are the same. Another misconception is that there is one large umbrella organization calling the shots.

In reality, there are several large national organizations that have built trust over many decades and impact the lives of millions. These are the organizations with the brands and names you may recognize—American Cancer Society, Breastcancer.org, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Young Survival Coalition.

There are also many grassroots organizations that specifically focus on impacting their local communities. These smaller breast cancer charities may provide excellent support locally, but their brand recognition or impact may not extend beyond their community.

Each breast cancer organization has its own mission, visions, goals, and ideas about how to impact the lives of people affected by breast cancer. This is why research is crucial when you’re making a donation.

When selecting a breast cancer charity to identify with or support, it’s important to choose one that’s right for you (or your company) and aligns with your goals, and maybe even your own personality.

Here are a few of the top breast cancer charities, what they do, and what makes them unique: (listed in alphabetical order)

American Cancer Society

Founded in 1913, American Cancer Society (ACS) is the oldest and largest cancer organization in the United States. Its mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Though ACS supports all cancer types, their decades-long work in breast cancer is noteworthy. ACS has funded billions in cancer research, and helped launch life-saving breakthroughs that have impacted millions of breast cancer patients. ACS supports breast cancer patients by providing:

• Rides to treatment
• Lodging during treatment
• Breast cancer support
• Hair loss and mastectomy products

American Cancer Society’s notable history sets them apart. Over the decades, ACS has funded dozens of Nobel Prize laureates, including James D. Watson, whose work led to the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA.

Breastcancer.org

Breastcancer.org is dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Breastcancer.org was founded in 2000 for breast cancer patients who needed more information and support than a doctor’s visit could provide. Breastcancer.org hosts the world’s largest breast cancer peer community and has reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Breastcancer.org’s website helps patients understand breast cancer:

• Symptoms and diagnosis
• Treatment and side effects
• Day-to-day matters
• Risk of diagnosis or recurrence

Breastcancer.org publishes peer-reviewed summary articles that help explain the latest in breast cancer research. 

Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder, Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s (BCRF) mission is to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. BCRF is the largest breast cancer charity in the country dedicated solely to supporting research. They currently fund 275 researchers focused on specific areas of breast cancer as a complex disease, including:

• Heredity and ethnicity
• Lifestyle and prevention
• Metastasis
• Survivorship
• Treatment
• Tumor biology

In 2018, BCRF-funded researchers completed the 10-year TAILORx trial, which helped thousands of early-stage breast cancer patients avoid the use of chemotherapy treatment.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit that connects people with trusted information and a community of support. Dr. Marisa C. Weiss, a radiation oncologist, founded Living Beyond Breast Cancer in 1991 in response to a lack of resources and support for her patients. Today, hundreds of thousands of people turn to Living Beyond Breast Cancer for trusted information, connection, and support. Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers multiple points of contact for patients, through: 

• Educational conferences
• “Ask-the-Expert” sessions
• Videos focusing on patient’s concerns and questions

Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Breast Cancer Helpline connects patients in need with trained volunteers for emotional support, guidance, and hope. Patients can be matched with trained volunteers with similar breast cancer experiences based on type, stage, age, or area of concern. 

National Breast Cancer Foundation

National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) mission is to help women now by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. Founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, NBCF envisions a world where no one will navigate breast cancer alone. NBCF has provided over a million free mammograms, early detection, and patient navigation services to uninsured patients and those in need of financial assistance. Their programs include:

• National Mammography Program
• Patient Navigator Program
• HOPE Kit
• Metastatic breast cancer resources, retreats and support groups
• Breast health education

After hearing the concerns of metastatic patients, NBCF recently launched a metastatic retreat program for Stage IV breast cancer patients and their caregivers. During the retreats, patients and caregivers receive oncology consultations, end-of-life preparations, and thorough examination of patient’s hopes and fears.

Susan G. Komen Foundation

In 1980, Nancy Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan Komen, that she would do everything she could to end breast cancer. Brinker started Susan G. Komen Foundation in 1982, and it is now the largest breast cancer organization in the United States. Komen’s mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment. Komen invests in programs that offer breast cancer patients a comprehensive approach to fighting the disease with a focus on:

• Patient advocacy
• Research
• Equal access to high-quality care
• Patient support
• Education

Komen recently launched the African-American Health Equity Initiative with the goal to reduce disparities in the breast cancer mortality rate.

Young Survival Coalition

In 1998, a group of young (under 40) breast cancer survivors founded Young Survival Coalition (YSC) to address the unique challenges they faced. YSC strengthens the community, addresses its unique needs, amplifies younger voices, and improves the quality of life of young adults affected by breast cancer. YSC’s programs address topics that young adults diagnosed with breast cancer face, such as:

• Aggressive forms of cancer in young adults
• Lack of research
• Financial challenges
• Body image
• Fertility

YSC’s National Summit is the largest annual gathering of young breast cancer survivors. Featuring inspirational speakers, the conference allows young patients to attend workshops that address their unique needs and connect with others in their community. 

Donating with confidence

No matter which of the above breast cancer charities you or your company select, you can be confident that you are making a good decision and one that can improve lives. If you choose to donate to a smaller, local organization, do some research ahead of time to ensure the organization aligns with your goals and values.

In summary, here is a review of several key breast cancer charities:

American Cancer Society – Provides research and help in the effort to end all cancers

Breastcancer.org – Helps readers understand the complexities of breast health and breast cancer 

Breast Cancer Research Foundation – Focuses entirely on breast cancer research to fuel their mission of preventing and curing all breast cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer – Connects those impacted by breast cancer to information and a community of support

National Breast Cancer Foundation – Delivers help and hope when those affected by breast cancer need it most—now 

Susan G. Komen Foundation – Addresses breast cancer on various fronts to fund their mission of eradicating breast cancer

Young Survivor Coalition – Offers the largest community and resources for survivors under the age of 40

Interested in learning more about National Breast Cancer Foundation?

The post Comparing Top 7 Breast Cancer Charities appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

ACE Cash Express, a part of Populus Financial Group, cares about value—both in its day-to-day operations and in its key partnerships. With 913 storefront locations across the United States, ACE Cash Express offers a variety of financial products and services. In 2020, they had more than 25 million customer visits.

The ACE Community Fund, a philanthropic initiative, has built a valuable 14-year partnership with National Breast Cancer Foundation, focusing on the twin goals of education and empowerment. According to Lauren Windsor, Senior Public Affairs Specialist for Populus, “When we spoke to NBCF, it became very clear that we could develop a strong relationship and that the charity would resonate with our customers and employees.”

During October, ACE Cash Express locations host “Pink Month,” an annual in-store fundraiser to collect donations at the point-of-sale. The company posts decals at each teller window highlighting the campaign. For every donation, customers receive a pink “Join us in the fight” wristband to spread awareness about the importance of early detection and getting treatment for breast cancer.

Impressively, ACE Cash Express stores raised $243,000 in 2020, a notable increase over the previous year, despite the global pandemic. Throughout the partnership, they have donated more than $7 million to National Breast Cancer Foundation.

In addition to the customer donations, ACE and Netspend donate to NBCF each time an ACE Flare® Account by MetaBank® Pink Visa Debit Card or Pink ACE Elite® Visa Prepaid Debit Card is used. In 2020, their contribution totaled the annual maximum donation of $350,000.

“All of our employees rallied to make this year a success. During COVID-19, companies and customers couldn’t give back to as many charities as they normally do, so the fact that we were able to go beyond our expectations was truly miraculous,” Windsor said.

At the conclusion of each annual campaign, ACE Cash Express shares a national press release as well as social media communications regarding the campaign’s success, the partnership and the importance of breast cancer awareness.

“The key benefit to partnering with NBCF is that we have developed a strong relationship with an amazing charity. NBCF’s mission correlates with ours and really resonates with our employees and customers,” Windsor concluded. “The best advice I would tell someone starting a charitable partnership is to find a charity whose mission correlates with yours. The relationship should come naturally.”

Interested in partnering with National Breast Cancer Foundation?

The post Partner Success Story: <br> ACE Cash Express appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Likewise, when researching charities, it is important to ask: Is this the right charity for my donation? How do I know where my money is going? How can I trust them to use my donation wisely? While this can be overwhelming initially, a little research can help you find the perfect non-profit partner.  

Where do I start my research on a charity?

Fortunately, there are many excellent rating sites that can help you determine how a charity is rated and provide more details on individual nonprofits. Reliable charity ratings site options include:

• Charity Navigator
• Candid/GuideStar
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• Great Nonprofits
• CharityWatch

If you spend a few minutes visiting these sites, you can quickly and easily research charities of all sizes and interests to better determine the ideal fit for your donation.

What do charity ratings mean?

Although charities are rated in different ways on each site, most are looking at the following factors:

• Financials – does the charity spend its funds honestly and prudently?
• Accountability – does the organization explain its actions clearly and in-depth?
• Transparency – does the charity disclose where donations go and share critical data with the public?
• Governance – is there an independent board?
• Impact and results – does the charity measure and report concrete results for their programs on people’s lives?

The charity rating sites can help you sift through the factors that are most meaningful to you or your organization, so you can pinpoint nonprofits that closely match your priorities and overall company mission and goals.

Are all charities rated?

Not every charity is necessarily rated on every site. Each site has specific criteria for how they rate a charity and what their rating is based on. Most sites use a charity’s IRS Form 990, which is filed by nonprofit organizations that are exempt from income tax. This public form shares financial information as well as supplemental schedules—which include compensation information, noncash contributions, and financial statements—and is used by rating sites as part of their basis for rating.

If a rating doesn’t exist for the charity you’re searching, you can check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization page to find their financial reports.

Finding your perfect match

When you donate to a charity that matches your interests and priorities, as well as one that is highly rated by trustworthy organizations, you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your donation is going to improve, change, or save lives.

To find the right fit for your donation, it is important to do your own research. First-hand knowledge is always worth the time it takes to gather it. In addition, make sure you look at more than one rating site in order to see the full picture of a charity. Feel free to reach out to organizations and ask questions, clarify information, and create a more personal connection.

Finally, it is important to seek charities that are transparent and that have a mission that aligns with what you are seeking. The good news is there are many amazing charities across the globe and chances are, you will find your perfect match!

Learn more about National Breast Cancer Foundation’s ratings:

• NBCF on Charity Navigator
• NBCF on GuideStar
• NBCF on BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• NBCF on Great Nonprofits
• NBCF on CharityWatch

Interested in learning more?

The post What Do Charity Ratings Mean? appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The good news is that most organizations are very upfront about how they handle donations; a little time and research can give you the confidence that your donation is doing exactly what you intended.

What happens to a donation after it is given to a charity?

The allocation of a dollar is different with every charity, but every nonprofit has to assign their expenses an additional ‘tag’ that hits one of three buckets: programs, management and administration, or fundraising. Some expenses can be allocated across more than one of those three areas depending on the purpose of the expense.

• Programs – dollars spent directly on a mission-related purpose, i.e., grants to hospitals, purchasing educational brochures, and salaries for people whose role is to fulfill the organization’s mission or facilitate the program work
• Management and Administration – expenses to support more of the internal operations and expenses that aren’t related to programs or fundraising. These are items like accounting team salaries, software, and office administrative expenses.
• Fundraising – costs involved when helping to raise funds, including salaried individuals or consultants who work on fundraising campaigns, fees associated with giving platforms, and certain advertising

The standard of best practice around programs expenditures is to be at least 65% of total expenses, set by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. You can look up most nonprofits on Charity Navigator and review their allocations for expenses.

For example, an organization with 75% of funds going to programs, 15% to marketing and 10% to fundraising means that that 75 cents of every dollar spent by the organization is going towards a direct program service, while the remaining 25 cents is supporting critical overhead that the organization needs to maintain its services, staff, and the operating functions that keep the organization in compliance with various rules and regulations (such as conducting an audit or paying for insurance).

Can I choose which program my donation supports?

Yes, in most cases you can request that your donation be restricted to the program you are most passionate about.

Nonprofits understand (and truly hope) that one or more program focus areas resonate with their donors enough to encourage financial support of the work. When a donation is restricted to a particular program area, nonprofits are diligent about ensuring the funds go specifically to that program.

However, unrestricted donations are ideal for nonprofits.

For years nonprofits have been expected to spend as much as they can on direct programs, and as little as possible on any back-office support, which has also come to be known as the “overhead myth.” This unsustainable framework leads many nonprofits to struggle to maintain the staff, infrastructure, and systems to properly steward donor dollars and keep the business afloat. One bad year can force a nonprofit to close its doors because they are often overextended in trying to increase their program percentage at the expense of the sustainability of those very programs and the support needed to make a long-term impact across the full organization.

Consider an unrestricted gift, donating to support the whole of the organization, to ensure that program services are efficient and maximized to their fullest potential.

How can I learn more about the programs my donation supports?

You can visit the website of desired nonprofits, view programs pages as well as information on support, impact, and donation options. Likewise, it is easy to follow a nonprofit’s social media pages to see real-time updates and the impact of donations in action. Finally, you can find ratings and reviews on Great Nonprofits, Google, Facebook, and more. Click here to learn more about charity ratings and what they mean.

You can also look for programmatic percentage statements that charities use. For example, “On average, over 80% of National Breast Cancer Foundation spending is directed back into our programs that support women facing breast cancer.”

Wrapping up: Your donation’s impact

Your gift of any size can help a nonprofit help others.

If you are able to donate, it is smart to research potential nonprofits first, look at how donations are spent, and determine what your contribution might impact. You should never feel rushed or pressured. Further, most nonprofits would be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have prior to making a donation.

Many organizations host giving campaigns or fundraising drives at certain times each year, but will be happy to receive your donation when you are ready to make it. Some people like to make smaller donations to multiple organizations while others prefer to concentrate their funds in one place.

With so many amazing nonprofits to donate to, you have the gift of knowing that your donation will definitely support positive change in the world.

Learn more about NBCF and see our impact statement regarding the programs your donation will support.

The post How is My Donation <br> Being Spent? appeared first on National Breast Cancer Foundation.