Leveraging corporate philanthropy and community partnerships to maximize earned media

Abstract

Relationships between corporations and community-based not-for-profit organizations have evolved over the years from just donations and sponsorships, to integrated partnerships and collaborations known as strategic philanthropy. When details of these philanthropic relationships and activities are covered by traditional media or shared organically on social media, the coverage is known as earned media. Earned media has the potential to influence stakeholders’ awareness, perceptions, and actions toward an organization because an organization’s publics regard this coverage as highly credible and reliable. Effectively leveraging earned media provides an important benefit to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. This article explores the literature, case studies, and interviews to understand earned media in terms of the philanthropic relationships and partnerships behind it, the methods and approaches that generate it, and its impact on corporations and not-for-profits.

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