Giving Back

Omnicom, together with our family of agencies, has a strong tradition of giving back to our communities.

Charitable Giving

As the world slowly began to emerge from a global recession, employees at Omnicom and its agencies around the globe continued to remember those in need. In 2009, cash contributions totaled more than $5 million USD ... and that doesn't include in-kind donations, service discounts or pro bono work.

In 2010, those donations rose to $6.8 million USD and benefited such causes as Ronald McDonald House Charities, Doctors Without Borders, the Cascade Land Conservancy, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the March of Dimes.

Pro Bono Work

In today's tough economy, the pro bono efforts of our agencies are more vital than ever to many nonprofit organizations. Applying the same passion and creativity they bring to all our clients, our agencies help nonprofits raise awareness, recruit volunteers and increase financial and public support for their efforts to address some of today's toughest challenges. Just a few of these pro bono clients include the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Theodora Foundation, Inspire Ireland, Project Kaisei and Volunteers of America.

The Omnicom Group and Plan International

Omnicom Group's single most extensive charitable effort has been our support of Plan International, a global development organization that works to alleviate child poverty worldwide. This support has ranged from helping secure water purification products in Zimbabwe to establishing youth training skills in India and Vietnam. We've provided considerable financial and creative support to such efforts, as well as strategic advice in planning, brand development and cause-related marketing programs. Omnicom employees have also supported Plan International's global campaign, "Because I am a Girl," to fight gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions out of poverty.

At the core of the effort is the Global Corporate Partnership Engagement Unit (CPEU), a group we brought together to support innovative, cross-border partnerships with multinational corporations.

Several Omnicom agencies have also engaged directly with Plan:

  • BBDO India is developing a social business model with Plan India to provide resources to Indian organizations looking for base-of-the-pyramid consumer engagement strategies.
  • Changing our World conducted an extended consulting contract for Plan USA.
  • Cone, Inc. is providing Plan USA with brand strategy advice and communications support.
  • BBDO UK has worked extensively with Plan UK on a rebranding campaign, in addition to providing support for "Because I am a Girl."

In February 2010, Omnicom appointed Archana Kumar (BBDO) as the main point of contact for the global relationship. She delivers strategic marketing and branding assistance and has led the coordination of a marketing workshop for more than 30 Plan International offices. Tim Love, the driving force behind the Omnicom-Plan partnership, has visited Plan programs in India, provided numerous corporate introductions and spoken at Plan's global leadership conference on the importance of an aligned and consolidated brand.