Due diligence is a crucial step of any company’s business plan, especially when working with third parties like donors, board members or vendors. And within this often-overlooked sector is an even more undermined component: beneficial ownership. Here, we outline everything companies should know about beneficial ownership, including upcoming changes in the laws around it and how to incorporate the idea into a larger...
In those weeks leading up to Thanksgiving 2012, no one could have predicted how the first #GivingTuesday would fundamentally change the fundraising landscape, offering an opportunity for people all over the world to come together for the greater good. Focused on collaboration and community, the day was an instant success, and continues to provide valuable lessons on how to engage donors and prospective donors year-round...
According to our research, 88% of publicly traded companies had Environmental Social Governance (ESG) programs in 2022. Initiatives related to sustainability are becoming undeniably important—but what happens when key stakeholders aren’t on board? Some executives are wary of implementing ESG programs or setting lofty goals, for reasons such as fearing negative backlash or being seen as “political”...
Bolder questions and answers. Better cross-functional collaboration. Broader audiences. These demands on the Competitive Intelligence (CI) professional’s time have created pressure to evolve—and in some cases fundamentally change—the processes, content sets, tools and technology they use to deliver insights to their team. However, if you don't know where to start or what data to look at,...
Regulators increasingly require corporate and financial services firms to incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks into their due diligence and reputational risk management processes. The year of 2023 alone has seen massive increases in corporate responsibility in this area; for example, the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) requires companies with 250...
As organizations gear up for 2023’s Giving Season, we’re calling attention to areas of fundraising that you might be undermining. Peer-to-peer fundraising, as a newer method, is certainly underestimated by organizations that prefer traditional routes. However, research shows that this area is well worth the time and investment. Here’s everything you should know about peer-to-peer fundraising, and how...
One of the major themes in compliance in recent years has been the rise of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) legislation in Europe and the US. Now, this trend appears to be expanding into the Asia-Pacific region after a recent initiative by the Japanese government. In this blog, we look at the latest developments in HRDD and ESG assessments and explain how companies can expand their due diligence program to capture these...
Trust may not appear in a company’s financial accounts, but trust has been called “the most powerful currency in business.” Customers, investors, employees and suppliers all want to work with companies that they consider to be trustworthy. As a result, the future is bleak for those companies who fail to take steps to build trust and transparency. Trends suggest that trust has become more important...
While global supply chain risk is certainly not new, our need and ability to identify and assess it quickly affects every facet of our businesses. From the ESG expectations of consumers and the increasing global regulations to company board and c-suite expectations, supply chain transparency and risk management is of the utmost importance for success. During the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions plagued at...
The 2022 rules from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed student athletes to benefit financially from their name, image, and likeness—known as “NIL” —for the first time. US collegiate sport was already a “$14 billion industry”, according to a recent Financial Times headline. This change made it so students who excel at football, baseball, basketball, tennis...
Nonprofits face an uphill battle at the end of every year when “Giving Season” hits hard. The needs to balance incoming donations, pursue new and old donors, and meet specific year-end goals seem to pile up in the fourth quarter, and there are likely to be plenty of external factors that are missed in the overwhelm. One such factor is organizational reputation, or how your nonprofit is perceived by the public...
Many companies have deficiencies in their sanctions risk management and customer due diligence processes, according to a survey by the UK’s financial regulator. The EU has also published new expectations about companies’ third party due diligence for risks related to sanctions, particularly for companies operating in Russia and Belarus. In this blog, we look at these latest developments in global sanctions...
The EU’s proposed new Directive would mandate large companies in the EU or doing business there to implement strict new due diligence obligations. The regulation is now close to being finalized, which would start the clock ticking for individual countries to change their laws. We analyze what companies should expect from the Directive, as well as the wider trend towards global human rights due diligence regulations...
Many people get started in nonprofits because they are very passionate about the cause. This means that the work is incredibly meaningful and can be very fulfilling. However, with funding and staffing limitations, the nonstop list of tasks, and passion for the cause, the sector sees a high rate of employee burn out. And of course, that issue becomes even larger during stressful periods like “Giving Season.”...
While environmental social governance (ESG) initiatives are increasingly becoming standard corporate practice, some organizations are still hesitant to invest the time and capital required to pursue a comprehensive program. In fact, sometimes securing internal buy-in can be the most challenging part of the process. Convincing key decision makers of the value of ESG can seem daunting. To help you overcome these internal...
Numbers are a great asset to any piece of communication because they lend validity to your claims. By their nature, numbers and data are straightforward. One is always one; two is always two. One plus two is always three. Right? Well… that depends. As with the written or spoken word, data can be interpreted differently by different people. Without context, insight, proper analysis and/or deconstruction into what...
Competitive Intelligence (CI) is pivotal to business strategy. Knowing what other companies are up to—whether that means investigating their wins or avoiding their losses—is the best way to remain at the top of any industry. With a constantly evolving world, it’s more important than ever to use CI. While businesses have implemented CI data into their strategies for ages, the old ways simply aren’t...
Recent years have been characterized by supply chain disruption–from Covid-19 to the Suez blockage to the invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, companies who fail to identify and manage illegal or unethical activity in their supply chain face increasing regulatory, reputational, financial, and strategic risks. In this blog, we look at some of these risks, and show how smart use of data and technology can give companies...
Social media statistics are one of the most underrated areas of insight when it comes to marketing and public relations. Because this medium is one of the easiest ways to interact with fan bases, it holds countless pieces of information that can be used across a business to help understand audiences. When it comes to public relations for sports teams, social media is extra helpful. Tracking fan sentiment, user-generated...
Media monitoring is the key to seeing the clearest picture of how your company is functioning. Yet, it can feel like a monumental task to manage all the available information, while also making sure your data is current, comprehensive, and correct. The more you can discover about which data is most integral for your company to thrive, the more you can refine your needs, filter out unimportant data, and create a long-term...
All modern-day businesses interface with metadata, whether they know it or not. Any time a company engages with digital information, they have engaged with metadata. But, what exactly is metadata? And, wouldn’t it be more useful if you could readily identify it, understand its specific strengths and then use it to its greatest extent in your media monitoring? From internal documents to public social media content...
In the quest to achieve unrivaled business growth, organizations show increasing interest in Decision Intelligence (DI) . Whether you use DI to augment, recommend, or automate decisions, the effectiveness of your DI endeavors heavily depends on the quality of data that powers it. As financial services and global businesses alike expand the use of DI, weeding out poor quality—within both internal and alternative...
In today’s fast-paced world. the ability to make highly informed decisions in a timely manner can be the difference between the success or failure of your business. Particularly during times of uncertainty or market volatility, doubt can hold organizations back. And data overload can contribute to this doubt. So how do businesses ensure they do not fall behind the competition or consumer values? Increasingly,...
With today’s 24/7, digital connectedness, keeping up with your company’s media exposure is an ever-evolving challenge. It can be impossible to track every traditional news mention as sources proliferate—not to mention keeping up with public sentiment on social media. Then, when you need show results from your efforts, it’s difficult to know where to start. Zeroing in on the right data, not just...
It’s a fact of doing business that your organization will face communications crises--no matter the size, type, or mission of your organization. From natural disasters to public opinion on social media, there are factors that you simply cannot control or even fully anticipate. And, while we’d all like to think we react appropriately and quickly when fielding these moments, the only way to ensure it is to...