Newsletter: NFL Player's Nonprofit Tries Sneak Play with Checkout Donations 🏈 ; How Two Partners Celebrated a 20-Year Pact 🥳 ; The Dangerous Rise of Charity Porn Content ❌😇❌
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation is in hot water after a story published in USA Today reported that only 25 cents of every dollar the foundation raised went to charitable activities.
The rest of the money went to employee salaries and high-profile fundraisers like a golf tournament that cost $860,000 but never raised any money.
Because of the paywall on USA Today, I suggest you read about this story in The Seattle Times.
👉🏻 I'm writing about the story today because of its connection to corporate partnerships and checkout charity.
Wilson's foundation had a high-profile partnership with grocery giant Albertsons and Safeway, raising millions of dollars at checkout for Seattle Children's Hospital.
🚨🚨🚨 I was alarmed because I thought Albertsons/Safeway had raised millions and handed that money over to Wilson's foundation, which then only gave one-fourth of the money to the children's hospital.
That would have been very, very bad.
I'm happy to report that this appears not to be the case.
According to additional reporting, Albertsons/Safeway sent the funds raised directly to Seattle Children's Hospital, and the Why Not You Foundation was not credited on its 990 form.
Phew, that was a big relief! 😮💨
However, the Why Not You Foundation is now trying to use its partner's money to elevate its donation percentage from an abysmal 25 percent to a borderline acceptable 70 percent.
"Like many charitable organizations, a significant amount of our philanthropic impact is not reflected on our 990 form, including more than $10 million raised in collaboration with our partners, who granted these funds directly to nonprofit organizations serving immediate needs,"
It's 🐂 💩 to say that Albertsons/Safeway needed Russell Wilson's do-nothing foundation to raise millions from consumers who are always more than happy to donate to sick kids without a celebrity endorsement.
Let's hope that the Why Not You Foundation isn't allowed to hide behind its corporate partners and is held accountable for overpaying staff, hosting money-losing fundraisers, and giving very little to charity.
There are two unfortunate outcomes from this story, friends.
First, Albertsons/Safeway will probably continue doing the checkout fundraiser for Seattle Children's, but don't expect Why Not You to be involved. But how many Safeway shoppers will now pass on giving because of the association with Russell Wilson? How many shoppers in general will now conclude that all checkout fundraisers are scams?
Second - and this is truly awful to consider - how many more sports and celebrity foundations are run just like Wilson's foundation and are nothing but boondoggles?
I suspect too many to count. I don't know whether to condemn these foundations or apply for a job at one! 🙃
Anyway, Russell Wilson joins Tom Brady's foundation in my sports philanthropy hall of shame. It's a horrible club to be in, but at least Tom Brady was a good quarterback!
As corporate partnership professionals, it's not our job to change these sports foundations. But we can think twice about partnering with them when they come knocking with their pretend 'star power', self-serving agenda, and empty checkbooks.
✍️ Partnership Notes
1. Check out this wrap-up on all the cause-related ads from Sunday's Superbowl. It rates the ads from ⭐️⭐️⭐️ to meh. My fave: Run With It .
2. Two weeks ago, I wrote about four ways to raise money at the gas pump. Newsletter reader Ashley Byars from For Momentum shared this program between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Murphy USA.
This cause campaign had two phases. Phase one ran from April to July, and phase two ran from August through November. During the campaign, customers could donate $1, $5, or $10 or round up their purchases to the nearest dollar amount at checkout.
3. Now, this is a great way to celebrate a 20-year partnership! Read more about the partnership between Innocent Drinks and Age UK.
The latter link goes to a good example of a partnership case study. However, if I had written it, I would have been more specific on how the campaign helped "drive sales for Innocent."
Need help with your case studies? Hit reply and I'll share my entire process with you so I can do them for you - or you can do them yourself!
🤑 Marketing Your Cause
1. There's a good reason why nonprofits should be investing more in their partnership teams, especially on the marketing side. B2B buyers need and want more help throughout the buying and service process.
2. Smahht newsjacking by the AHA! Damar Hamlin, arguably America’s most famous cardiac arrest victim, is the new spokesperson for the American Heart Association's #3forHeart CPR Challenge.
😎 Cool Jobs in Cause
1. National Vice President, Corporate Relations, Arthritis Foundation, Remote ($140k - $182k)
2. Manager, Corporate Partnerships, United Way, Kansas City
3. Manager, Corporate Partnerships, Share Our Strength, Washington, DC
🧠🍌 Brain Food
1. Wow! Millennials had the biggest increase in giving among the generations, new survey finds.
2. "YouTubers such as MrBeast are giving away millions in exploitative videos that spread the hollow gospel of “effective altruism.” Do you agree with the author that this is a tasteless, dangerous trend?
3. Wouldn't it be great to be SATISFIED with your life? This article may help. I like the idea of shifting from comparison to compassion. 🤗
