For Momentum is launching a new blog feature designed to take the pulse of the cause community in an interview-style format. President and Founder Mollye Rhea shares an informal conversation with Chad Royal-Pascoe, asking five questions that will help you learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the philanthropy community and Chad.
Chad Royal-Pascoe has served as National Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for almost four years. Before that he was Vice President, National Strategic Alliances at March of Dimes; Associate Executive Director/Director of Development, The Hetrick-Martin Institute; and Consultant, American Heart Association. Let’s Take 5 now with Chad.
1. Look into your crystal ball. What’s the next big thing in cause and/or CSR?
The next big thing is here, and companies and people are screaming for it. Impact! Gone are nebulous feel good promotions that don’t solve issues, provide data and prove that dollars are doing good. Many of the organizations that are struggling right now are those that can’t speak this language clearly, authentically and plausibly.
2. What’s the most amazing thing people should know about you or your job?
I think that I have the best job in the world. Not just for an amazing organization, which BGCA truly is, but I think that corporate and cause partnerships are fantastic. You have a treasure chest of “tools” at your disposal, and if you can have the right kind of conversation with a company and match missions and goals, you create magic.
3. What do you wish people knew about your nonprofit?
I wish people knew the impact that we make now and the impact that we’ve had on America. Leaders from science, technology, arts and entertainment, music, government all point to Boys & Girls Clubs as seminal in their development and learned lessons that have gone through their entire life. Recently, when I was interviewing someone at a company event, I asked what the person did. He replied that he was a nurse and became interested in that career because he had gone on a hospital tour through Boys & Girls Clubs. He said that he “started to care about other people through the Club.”
4. What person has had the most influence on your cause career?
Collectively, my managers and my organizations have shaped my cause career. I’ve loved each and every one—American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Hetrick-Martin Institute and BGCA. But, I think that my prior retail career helped me to understand that cause is just as tangible as something sold in a store, like a pair of jeans. Understanding the art and science of corporate and cause partnerships is truly the most critical thing that has led to my and my team’s success.
5. What are your corporate partnership priorities for 2017 and beyond?
From a cause perspective, BGCA is focusing on the back-to-school time period. However, more than just raising money, it’s raising critical awareness and addressing actions needed from parents to politicians to make each child have a great school year. We are lucky to have partners that understand the opportunity equation: school + out-of-school = great futures. When you think of going back to school, it’s just as important to think about what those kids are doing during out-of-school time. Through fundraising partnerships, supply drives, tours of Clubs and awareness, we will ensure that 2017-2018 is the best year ever.
Five Fun Facts About Chad:
- Favorite App: CNN and USA Today
- Last Book Read: Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
- Hobby: Marathon and triathlon
- Favorite Place to Unwind: Inside a movie theatre, getting lost in a big screen and an incredible story
- Guilty Pleasure: Spending time with my bulldog, Q (named for the James Bond character, not the Star Trek character)
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