Corporate Relations & Engagement

Harvard Business School just released its first study of U.S. competitiveness, reporting that almost two-thirds of U.S. businesses will locate their new plants outside the U.S. None of this is surprising. But for me, one finding was truly shocking: only 22 percent of U.S. managers believe that doing good for their communities will help their businesses.

Has the economic pressure really had that extreme an impact? I remember just a few years ago that managers believed that doing good for their communities was critical to their business and their reputations.

Cars.com, the online resource for buying and selling new and used vehicles, announced the launch of its "Cars Cares" campaign during Super Bowl XLVI. During the game, when the Cars.com commercial airs, viewers who use the Shazam App to tag the ad will earn $1 for one of seven charities in contention for a maximum $100,000 donation from the site.

The maximum $100,000 donation will be given to the charity that receives the most votes on the Cars.com Facebook page between Jan. 26 and Feb. 13.

IHOP is on a mission to raise $2.7 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities with its National Pancake Day celebration, set for Feb. 28, and it is making it easier than ever for guests to participate with an online giving option and a month-long bounce-back balloon sales offer.

National Pancake Day invites guests to enjoy a free short stack of pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the hope that they consider making a voluntary contribution to support the Children's Miracle Network Hospital in their area.

Buyers and sellers on eBay donated $54.8 million to U.S. and U.K. nonprofit organizations in 2010. A donation was made every 24 seconds through eBay Giving Works in the U.S. and eBay for Charity in the U.K., raising more than $91 every minute for nonprofits.

Nonprofit brand strategy consultant Michele Levy provided 11 marketing communications best practices that fundraisers should utilize in their communications strategies in a recent webinar, Ten Marketing Communications Activities You Must Do.

2010 Nonprofit Consultant of the Year Lori Van Dusen passes along some of her advice to fundraisers.

Reach Out and Read CEO Earl Martin Phalen discusses his organization and its fundraising techniques.

Right above the tip line on credit card receipts, Irvine-based Yard House restaurants offers customers the option to round up their dining bill to the nearest dollar. It is, for thousands of Yard House customers, an easy way to give to charity.

It's also part of a new era in charity-related innovations.

In the year-plus since the launch of Round it Up America, customers at the Yard House's 27 restaurants have given more than $250,000 – at an average donation of 80 cents each.

Blackbaud has furthered its dedication to the local and nonprofit communities with its new focus on corporate citizenship. Blackbaud will continue to deliver on its corporate value "service to others makes the world a better place” with a team dedicated to the growth of its corporate citizenship commitment.

Overstock.com announced that it has teamed up celebrity designer Angelo Surmelis to celebrate Veterans Day. Overstock.com will be selling the "angelo:HOME Hero Chair" designed by Angelo Surmelis. In addition, through the end of the year, every time an Overstock.com customer purchases the "angelo:HOME Hero Chair", $50 dollars of that purchase will go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project. To learn more about the chair visit www.overstock.com/woundedwarriorproject