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March 31st, 2011Comments (0)

Philanthropy in India: Being the Change You Want to See in the World by Jennifer George

As I discussed in an earlier post, India is a country struggling with its paradoxical image: It is a place that not only celebrates its rich, ancient history but has a strong eye toward the future. It is simultaneously home to 69 billionaires and 400 million people living below the poverty line. While 40 percent of the nation’s wealth is concentrated in the top five percent of the country, 35 percent of its citizens are illiterate. As more companies look to do business in India and engage its citizens, the Cause & CSR team at MSLGROUP believes it’s vital to understand the complexities and cultural nuances that are steering India’s philanthropic journey.

To be sure, India is a fast-growing market for giving. In 2010, India became the first BRIC country to be ranked a major donor by Save the Children. But there is still a huge opportunity for increased giving, both on the individual and corporate levels. Today, India’s rate of giving is just 0.6 percent of its GDP, while the U.S. boasts two percent and the U.K. 1.3 percent.

In fact, only 10 percent of India’s donations are given by individuals and/or corporations. In the U.S., the share of individuals and corporations that contribute is 75 percent.

Imagine the impact India could have if its citizens and companies collectively changed the way they approach and think about philanthropy?

Here’s a quick overview of the current situation:
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March 31st, 2011Comments (0)

Welcome to Beyond Purpose! by MSLGROUP Team

Today, the Cause & CSR team at MSLGROUP launches Beyond Purpose, a new blog that will present the unique points-of-view of cause marketing, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility experts from across our global network, client roster, and industry. We’ll offer up issue spotlights, trends, research, and best practices in helping organizations go beyond purpose-driven marketing to create lasting social change and drive long-term business results.

As a global communications firm with a deep expertise in navigating social and environmental issues for our clients, we understand that profit and purpose are no longer mutually exclusive. Companies must redefine how they conduct business in today’s always-on global economy and are expected to define and deliver on their greater purpose in the world.

Welcome to what we hope is a thought-provoking, spirited and unique look at going beyond purpose-driven table-stakes to deliver real-time stakeholder engagement, powerful societal impacts and business-driving results.

March 11th, 2011Comments (0)

The Power of V-Day by admin

This Valentine’s Day, as we think about gift ideas for our loved ones, millions of people across the globe will be celebrating the holiday not by purchasing a dozen red roses or a box of heart-shaped chocolates, but by supporting V-Day, a non-profit organization with a mission to stop violence against women and girls around the world.

At MSLGROUP, we work with a number of nonprofit organizations to strengthen their brands, resulting in an increase in support of their overall missions. V-Day has done exactly that; the organization has transformed what was once a grassroots movement into a brand as sophisticated as some of the most successful corporate brands in the marketplace today.

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