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Cone Launches First-of-its-Kind Social/Business Return Indicator (sm)
Cone Launches First-of-its-Kind Social/Business Return Indicator (sm)
Published 11-13-07
Submitted by Cone Communications
BOSTON, MA - November 13, 2007 - As corporate philanthropy and cause-related investments accelerate beyond the $12.72 billion mark (Giving USA 2007), executives face increasing pressure to validate their social and business returns. Building upon its 27-year history of providing cutting edge cause-related innovations, Cone LLC, in partnership with True Impact LLC, is launching the Social/Business Return Indicator(sm), a first-of-its-kind service that measures the business and social outcomes of cause initiatives.
"The days of giving because it is a ‘nice to do’ are over," says Alison DaSilva, vice president of knowledge leadership & insights, Cone. "Aligning with a cause has become a powerful business strategy for strengthening brands and building relationships with key stakeholders, while creating meaningful social benefit. In today’s bottom-line environment, expectations for delivering results are high, yet executives are unsure of how or what to measure. The Cone Social/Business Return Indicator arms executives with sought-after business and social outcomes data and strategies to achieve a stronger return on investment."
The Social/Business Return Indicator, available now to current and new clients, simplifies what many people consider a complex task. Using a new Web-based ROI modeling software program and consulting expertise, Cone leads clients through the process and deliverables, which include:
"Participating in the Cone Social/Business Return Indicator pilot added to PNC's development of a framework for measuring the outcomes of PNC Grow Up Great, the most comprehensive corporate based school readiness program in the country," says Eva Blum, senior vice president and director of community affairs, PNC Bank. "Going through the process helped us collect siloed data throughout the company and identify alternative ways to find important data. Cone’s Social/Business Return Indicator helped us confirm our assessment of the value of Grow Up Great."
The tool is valuable to executives seeking counsel in the following areas:
As Farron Levy, CEO of True Impact, explains, "In beta-testing the Cone Social/Business Return Indicator in the financial service and insurance industries, we proved that measurement data are far more available"“and far easier to access"“than our clients expected. It’s all a matter of tracking down the right people within the company and the nonprofit partners." Cone and True Impact then fill in any gaps by tapping their existing data and third-party resources, he notes. "Both pilot companies, PNC and Allstate, were satisfied to see the results of their investments and a clear roadmap for enhancing their initiatives to better meet their objectives."
The product, available to both clients with programs created by Cone and to those whose programs were developed internally or by a third party, is customizable for companies’ needs and budgets. Users may choose from a variety of options:
"The Cone Social/Business Return Indicator is critical to helping companies enhance their programs to better meet business and social objectives," says DaSilva. "By measuring the impacts of each component of a cause program, companies will be able point to the bottom-line as they make the case to reallocate existing and/or secure new resources."
For more information regarding the Cone Social/Business Return Indicator please contact Caryn B. Lazaroff at clazaroff@coneinc.com.
About Cone:
Cone LLC (www.coneinc.com) is a strategy and communications agency engaged in building brand trust. Cone creates stakeholder loyalty and long-term relationships through the development and execution of Cause Branding, Brand Marketing, Corporate Responsibility and Crisis Prevention and Management initiatives. Cone is a part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com). Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.
About True Impact:
True Impact LLC (www.true-impact.com) provides web-based software and consulting support to help organizations measure the social, financial and environmental return on investment (ROI) of their community investment, environmental, human resource or other corporate citizenship activities. Originally prototyped at The Home Depot, True Impact’s "triple bottom line" evaluations have since been adopted by clients at Allstate, Cox Communications, Deloitte, PNC Bank and Verizon, among others.
Cone Communications
Cone Communications
Cone Communications is a public relations and marketing agency known for igniting brands with high-impact strategies and programs based in deep insights, unique subject matter expertise and innovation. Focusing on key areas such as consumer product media relations, social media, cause marketing, corporate social responsibility, nonprofit marketing, corporate communications and crisis prevention/management - the agency is positioned to help clients achieve both business and societal outcomes.
Cone Communications is a part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.
For potential client interest, please contact:
Marc Berliner
mberliner@conecomm.com
(617) 939-8467
Vice President Business Development
Bill Fleishman
bfleishman@conecomm.com
617-227-2111
CEO
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