As CSR professionals, it’s good practice to seriously challenge a corp/non-profit partnership that is trendy, only consumer-focused or without long term, measurable impact. 

One could call the All-Birds/Audubon partnership one of those. That is, until David Yarnold, CEO of Audubon, turns it into a new no apologies partnership precedent.   

“At the end of the day, the proceeds here go to an organization that comes to work every day to fight climate change and to help save the world. 

If you want to argue with that, feel free.”

Congrats to David who is challenging anyone who dares come between what could raise real money, attract young people to birds and set a new CSR precedent – #feelfreetoargue. Love that. 

In fact, we should quote the our non-profit scientists and CEOs more on the issues of which they are experts – in climate, science, conservation or any other issue. Let the experts  be the poster children (or adults), along with their species (in this example, 5 adorable birds), who capture the attention of  consumers better than sneakers. 

Take the Allbirds partnership, for example. You can imagine an ad in thee store that reads:

 Buy these shoes. 

Some of your $$  (never enough) goes to support the Audubon staff who come to work everyday to fight climate change and save birds. Then, go to audubon.org and give more, volunteer or learn. 

My kind of campaign. kudos, David, #noapologies.