Analyze the impact of a social impact campaign from a major for-profit brand by investigating its related charitable efforts. For-profit promotional campaigns that try to advocate for social change/social good (e.g., cause-related marketing or corporate social responsibility) have become increasingly important in the relationship marketing era, as consumers are invested in being associated with companies that support what they believe in. But how authentic are these efforts, really? Are they just for show, to tap into the idea that companies, are trying to perform being a good person? Or are there really examples of big corporations leveraging their significant financial power and social influence to make a difference in the world? And is that a significant effort, or is it more a cynical attempt to gain brand currency and goodwill?
See what you can find out about any associated charitable giving, community outreach, or other real-world efforts the company made in relation to a social impact campaign. Based on this information, write a brief discussion (300-400 words plus quotes and citations) of what you think the impact of the campaign is–is it actually doing something for the world, or is the real purpose to make people feel good about buying the product? Cite at least two external sources other than from the brand itself.
