---
name: cause-marketing-campaign
description: "Plans cause marketing campaigns with brand-nonprofit partnerships, messaging, and impact measurement."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Cause Marketing Campaign

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Plan a cause marketing campaign that partners a brand with a nonprofit or cause
- Create campaign messaging that authentically connects commerce to social impact
- Design impact measurement frameworks for cause-based promotions
- Build brand-nonprofit partnership proposals with mutual benefit structures

**DO NOT** use this skill for corporate philanthropy (pure giving), CSR reports, or nonprofit fundraising without a commercial partner. This is for campaigns where a business promotes a cause while driving sales.

---

## Core Principle

CAUSE MARKETING ONLY WORKS WHEN THE CAUSE CONNECTION IS AUTHENTIC TO THE BRAND — CONSUMERS INSTANTLY DETECT PERFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE BACKLASH COSTS MORE THAN THE CAMPAIGN EARNED.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Brand** | "What is the business or brand running this campaign?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Cause/partner** | "What cause or nonprofit are you supporting?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Campaign mechanism** | "How does the giving work? (% of sales, buy-one-give-one, round-up, flat donation)" | Percentage of sales |
| **Duration** | "How long will the campaign run?" | 30 days |
| **Budget** | "What is the marketing budget for the campaign?" | $2,000 |
| **Sales goal** | "What revenue or sales target would make this campaign a success?" | 20% lift in sales during campaign period |

**GATE: Confirm the brief before proceeding.**

---

## Phase 2: Plan

### Authenticity Check

Before building the campaign, verify:

```
## Authenticity Scorecard
- [ ] The cause relates naturally to the brand's product or audience
- [ ] The brand has a history of supporting this cause (not just this campaign)
- [ ] The giving mechanism is transparent and verifiable
- [ ] The nonprofit partner has vetted and approved all messaging
- [ ] The brand benefits do not overshadow the cause benefit
```

If fewer than 3 boxes are checked, reassess the partnership before proceeding.

### Campaign Structure

```
## Campaign: [Name]
**Mechanism:** [How giving works — e.g., "10% of every purchase donated to X"]
**Duration:** [Start and end dates]
**Goal:** [Cause goal: $X raised or Y impact] + [Business goal: Z% sales lift]
**Channels:** [Where the campaign will be promoted]
**Nonprofit role:** [What the partner contributes — story, logo, audience, endorsement]
**Brand role:** [What the brand contributes — promotion, funding, product]
```

**GATE: Present the campaign plan for approval.**

---

## Phase 3: Build

### Messaging Framework

**Campaign tagline:** [Short, memorable — connects the purchase to the impact]

**Customer-facing copy:**
```
Every [product] you buy this [month] helps [impact statement].

[X%] of your purchase goes directly to [nonprofit] to [specific action].
So far, we have raised $[X] together. Help us reach $[goal].
```

**Transparency statement:**
```
Here is exactly how it works: For every $[X] you spend, $[Y] goes to [nonprofit].
Our minimum guaranteed donation is $[amount] regardless of sales.
We will share the total raised on [date].
```

### Content Calendar

```
| Date | Channel | Content | CTA |
|------|---------|---------|-----|
| Day 1 | Email + Social | Campaign launch announcement | Shop now |
| Day 3 | Social | Beneficiary story from nonprofit | Share |
| Day 7 | Email | Progress update — "$X raised so far" | Shop now |
| Day 14 | Social | Behind-the-scenes of the partnership | Learn more |
| Day 21 | Email | Final push — "X days left" | Shop now |
| Day 30 | All channels | Results announcement — total raised | Thank you |
```

### Nonprofit Collaboration Points

- Joint press release or announcement
- Nonprofit shares campaign with their audience
- Co-branded content (photos, videos, stories)
- Beneficiary testimonials or stories for campaign use
- Post-campaign impact report shared by both parties

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Legal and Compliance

```
## Cause Marketing Compliance
- [ ] Partnership agreement signed with the nonprofit
- [ ] Donation mechanism is clearly stated in all materials
- [ ] State registration requirements checked (some states require registration for cause marketing)
- [ ] "Up to" caps are disclosed if donations are capped
- [ ] Nonprofit has approved all uses of their name and logo
```

### 2. Impact Report

After the campaign, publish:
```
## Campaign Results
**Total raised:** $[X]
**Impact delivered:** [Specific outcomes funded]
**Products sold:** [X units]
**Campaign reach:** [Impressions, engagement]
**Next steps:** [How the brand will continue supporting the cause]
```

### 3. Campaign Checklist

```
- [ ] Cause connection is authentic to the brand
- [ ] Giving mechanism is simple and transparent
- [ ] Nonprofit partner has approved all messaging
- [ ] Content calendar covers the full campaign duration
- [ ] Progress updates are scheduled mid-campaign
- [ ] Post-campaign results will be publicly shared
- [ ] Legal compliance for cause marketing is confirmed
```

---

## Example 1: E-Commerce + Education Nonprofit

```
Brand: Online stationery shop
Cause: Literacy nonprofit
Mechanism: 10% of every notebook sale donated, September back-to-school campaign
Goal: Raise $5,000 to fund 100 classroom libraries
Tagline: "Every notebook you buy puts books in a classroom"
```

## Example 2: Service Business + Local Cause

```
Brand: Marketing consultant
Cause: Local small business incubator
Mechanism: $50 donated for every new client signed in Q4
Goal: Fund 10 micro-grants for aspiring entrepreneurs
Tagline: "Your growth fuels theirs"
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Performative partnerships** — partnering with a cause for PR without genuine commitment gets exposed. Be real or do not do it.
- **Vague giving language** — "A portion of proceeds" means nothing. State the exact percentage or dollar amount.
- **Overshadowing the cause** — if the brand gets more attention than the impact, the campaign feels exploitative.
- **No transparency** — if you do not share how much was raised and where it went, donors and customers lose trust.
- **One-and-done campaigns** — a single campaign does not build credibility. Commit to ongoing support.
- **Choosing a trendy cause** — pick a cause aligned with your brand values, not whatever is trending on social media.

---

## Recovery

- **No nonprofit partner identified:** Look for local organizations aligned with the brand's audience and values. Start with a small campaign to test the partnership.
- **Campaign underperforms on sales:** The cause marketing was an addition to the sales strategy, not a replacement. Ensure the product offer is strong independently.
- **Backlash about authenticity:** Respond transparently. Show the receipts — actual donation amount, impact delivered, ongoing commitment.
- **Nonprofit is unresponsive:** Set expectations in the partnership agreement. Define minimum collaboration commitments before launching.
