Persuasive Memo: Starting a Company Citizenship Project

Congratulations! You've recently been hired as a Public Relations Assistant! After having worked at your new job for several weeks, you've discovered a lack of corporate giving, community involvement and environmental awareness. Seeing a wonderful opportunity to promote the company - and maybe even yourself - you think the company needs to be more aware of what you consider to be core corporate values. After some thought and research, you've selected one great idea. Now you have to convince your supervisor. You are going to present your idea in a persuasive memo.

This project can be internal or external. Sponsoring a children's sports team would be external, and the uniforms with the company name would serve as evidence of company's involvement in the community. Developing a program to improve recycling or energy efficiency in the workplace would be internal, but corporate communications might communicate to those inside and outside the company what is being done to be a good citizen.

Process:
1. Complete the research using phone calls and/or email to several businesses.

2. Identify what types of things companies do that might fall under the general area of good business citizenship.

3. Prepare an introduction describing your needs regarding this memo. Develop several questions to complete the content. Develop a closing statement for the person that provides information. Be prepared for rejection!

4. Write the memo as to the supervisor. That actual research was performed needs to be made clear with specifics and details. Multiple paragraphs will be needed.

5. Evaluate an effective subject line.