Monthly views on the future of responsible business
FEBRUARY 2023
“One week after the devastating earthquakes, millions of people across the region are struggling for survival, homeless and in freezing temperatures. We are doing all we can to change this.
We wish we could welcome you to this issue of Vantage on a more upbeat note. But right now, as the death toll in Turkey and Syria exceeds 40,000, and the United Nations issues an urgent plea for $397 million of “life-saving relief,” we know you’ll appreciate why our focus is on supporting the victims and their families.
Deed has launched a public campaign highlighting 33 nonprofits responding directly to the crisis (and counting). You can visit the campaign here:
There are many ways to meaningfully support Turkey and Syria right now. Whether you want to deepen your understanding of how the public and private sectors are responding, or rally your friends and colleagues to donate and volunteer, we hope this issue of Vantage will give you the inspiration and tools you need to help now.
And we want to hear from you: How is your organization responding Kenneth? You can reply directly to this email with your thoughts.
Remember: If you haven't already, take a moment and subscribe to Vantage to receive all the latest social impact news, insights, and opportunities. Thank you for all you do.
Some relief money heading to Syria following last week’s devastating earthquakes has been held up by preexisting international sanctions. Critics report that millions in aid dollars did not reach the country in time to save more lives. (Consider: In Turkey, where there are no comparable sanctions, it has still been a massive undertaking to secure the necessary funds.) Since the United States and others have cut some red tape around financial transactions related to the recovery, maybe now we can finally heed the call from Center for Middle East Politics director Joshua Landis in Al Jazeera: “It’s time to put politics aside.”
The first companies were called “trusts” for a reason
Trying to guide your team through economic anxiety? Remember our origins: “If the mill had to be running full steam at all hours, you needed to know who could handle the assembly line, who could fix a faulty gasket, and above all who would reliably show up day after day.” That is, to weather this market and continue to thrive, employees and leaders must trust themselves, trust one another, and keep their organization’s purpose top-of-mind. Read on in The Atlantic.
Rise of the social impact consultant
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is more than a mindset—it’s a robust industry in and of itself. In 2023, social impact consultants are expecting major shifts in social impact tech, disaster relief, and the alignment between nonprofits and companies. Read: “5 Trends in Social Impact Consulting for 2023”
➕ Follow 👤 Connect 💜 Do good deeds
The all-new Linkedin For Nonprofits Resource Hub gives nonprofits a step-by-step guide for how to maximize their presence on the professional social media platform. From building community to running fundraisers, the Resource Hub is a great resource for nonprofit leaders and their corporate social impact partners alike. Check it out.
On YouTube, Gen Z philanthropists are covering cataract surgery
Jimmy Donaldson—known to his 133 million YouTube followers as MrBeast— started out making Minecraft videos. But in a new video uploaded on Jan. 28 titled “1,000 Blind People See for the First Time,” Donaldson documents the nine months he spent paying for sight-giving operations. No doubt, Donaldson's efforts are incredible. But many worry that social media influencers probably shouldn't need to plug the holes of the U.S. healthcare system. For more on the immense popularity of YouTube philanthropy, and the questions it raises about healthcare access, head over to Motherboard/Vice.
Product spotlight
How to grow a social impact platform
Even under calm market conditions, building a tech platform from scratch is hard work.
But Stav Kashi has that rare blend of optimism and realism that a leader needs to think about uncertainty as, well, exactly that: a time when nothing is set in stone, when new questions can be asked, and when new possibilities can be explored. As Deed's VP of Product, Stav always puts people first, asking herself and her team how our platform can make it easier to make a meaningful social impact.
In herlatest for our blog, Stav takes a step back to review her team’s accomplishments from 2022, as well as some major milestones for the company.
Sneak peak: In 2022, Deed is proud to have:
✅ Relaunched our native app
✅ Increased the capacity and efficiency of our donation processing infrastructure
✅ Introduced the world to Communities (the new home for employee resource groups aka ERGs)
In "MaximizingSocial Impact Part One: Understanding and Implementing Impact Measurement," Deed and True Impact are teaming up for the first installment of our three-part webinar series on how to make the most of social impact data.
WHEN
March 8th, 2023
@2 PM ET
TELL ME MORE
Join us for a comprehensive overview of social impact measurement, with a focus on employee giving, volunteerism, and beyond. In this first installment of our joint series on impact data, our expert speakers Gabe Cohen and Christine Tringale will cover what impact measurement is, why it matters, and what to measure to drive positive change. You'll learn how to use the data you gather to inform decision-making and drive impact.
This February, we are celebrating Black History Month by highlighting nonprofits that advocate for Black communities in the United States and around the world.
From economic disparity to police brutality, now is the time to redouble our efforts in the centuries-long struggle for racial equality. In our toolkit, you will find:
Volunteer and giving opportunities in the U.S. and around the world.
In-depth look at specific cause areas, including: social justice, economic opportunity, health, and more.
A calendar of awareness days in February.
Employee and employee resource group (ERG) engagement ideas, as well as a walkthrough of how to craft a social impact campaign around Black History Month.
Recommendations of worthwhile books, podcasts, and films on Black history.
Click on the image below to preview the toolkit and learn how to get full access. 👇
Turkey and Syria
The breadth and depth of the devastation across Turkey and Syria, where over 40,000 people have lost their lives and millions more are directly affected, deserves our full attention right now.
As we've mentioned, Deed has launched a campaign highlighting 33 nonprofits (and counting) who are responding directly to the crisis.
We encourage you to visit, share, and consider supporting the campaign, whether that means in an individual capacity or by starting a conversation within your organization about how to make a more concerted impact.
Thank you for reading Vantage. We want this monthly newsletter to be of real value to everyone working to make a real social impact. If there’s a topic you’d like to learn more about, or if there’s someone pushing the conversation forward whose work deserves more attention, we’d love to hear about it. Drop us a note: vantage [@] joindeed [dot] com.
Forwarded this newsletter by a friend or colleague? Subscribe to Vantageso you never miss our monthly roundup and commentary on industry news, product updates, and giving & volunteer opportunities. See you in March.
