cause marketing

American  

[kawz mahr-ki-ting] / ˈkɔz ˌmɑr kɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the display of corporate social responsibility as an advertising strategy, such as by making a charitable donation with every sale or employing activist messaging in promotional materials.

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Etymology

Origin of cause marketing

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Decades into the rise of cause marketing, in which companies team up with charities for mutual benefit, the incident suggests consumers are getting more likely to call out promises they consider vague or unsatisfying.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

Although cause marketing had existed since the 1970s, the combination of wanting to do something—anything—and the exponential growth of the internet and social media enabled this strategy to take hold.

From Slate • Jun. 14, 2023

Ackerman said "cause marketing" was a priority for the league from its inception.

From Fox News • Feb. 28, 2022

And as more entrepreneurs seek to capitalize on this form of cause marketing, companies are devising all manner of promises to entice new customers.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2016

This remarkable increase in their fundraising potential is largely due to the snowball effect of cause marketing coupled with a social medial fad.

From Forbes • Aug. 20, 2014