This story in the New York Times, Checking Out, and Donating Too, got me thinking on who should and does pay cause marketing expenses for register programs–like those at Safeway supermarkets described in the article.
Lucy Bernholz from Philanthropy 2173 asserted “that embedded giving [Lucy's name for cause marketing] was largely unregulated, and that some retailers kept a percentage of donations as a ‘finder’s fee.’”
I was surprised by this and tweeted Lucy for details. She replied publicly:
quote was misattributed. However, co’s that use $ raised to cover costs of running these campaigns are basically doing this
Companies shouldn’t be keeping a portion of the monies raised to pay expenses. But the fact that expenses are paid out of the revenues raised and not from some treasure chest unearthed for just this purpose shouldn’t be surprising to anyone.
None of the retailers I work with pay for the printing of their pinups (and maybe register signs and few other minor supplies).… Keep reading
