Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Case Study

SUMMARY

Founded in 2005, the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse aims to create

long-term safety and security for survivors of domestic violence through
financial empowerment.1 Nearly one in four women will be affected by
domestic violence in her lifetime making this a prevalent issue in society.2
The Allstate foundation commissioned a national survey titled “Silent
Weapon: Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse,” which found that
nearly eight in 10 people said they did not know much about financial
abuse as it relates to domestic violence.

In only one month the Purple Purse challenge raised nearly $2.5 million to
benefit financial empowerment services for survivors, a 614 percent
increase from the revenues raised in 2013. The campaign resulted in
more than 23,000 media placements and a reach of one billion
impressions through earned media and social platforms. Earned
broadcast placements included “Good Morning America,” CNN, E!,
Associated Press, WSJ.com and many more. Online, The Allstate
Foundation Purple Purse became a trending topic with more than 13,500
#PurplePurse social media posts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

ISSUES AT STAKE

Nearly one in four women will be affected by domestic violence in her

lifetime. In a survey commissioned by The Allstate Foundation it
discovered that two-thirds of Americans believe domestic violence is a
serious problem, while revealing that just over one in three has ever
talked about the issue.3 The Purple Purse campaign aimed to start a
discussion about financial abuse as a form of domestic violence while
raising money support survivors seeking help.

1 Why Purple Purse. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2017, from

http://purplepurse.com/get-the-facts/about-taf-purple-purse/why-purple-purse
2 About The Invisible Weapon: Financial Abuse And The Weaponry Abusers Use. (n.d.).

Retrieved November 17, 2017, from http://purplepurse.com/get-the-facts/about-domestic-

violence/about-the-invisible-weapon
3 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2017, from

http://apps.prsa.org/SearchResults/view/6BW-
1506C2031/0/Allstate_Foundation_Purple_Purse#.Wg9N4GT83-Y



PROS & CONS

Pros: This campaign did a really good job of engaging its Hispanic
audience. The survey conducted by the Allstate Foundation found a
strong correlation between age and ethnicity and prevailing views of
financial abuse. Hispanics are twice as likely to recognize domestic
violence as a serious problem among people they know than their white,
non-Hispanic counterparts. To reach this demographic The Allstate
Foundation placed an exclusive on the Hispanic survey statistics with the
international news agency Agencia EFE. A Spanish language Satellite
Media Tour, Audio News Release and BolsoMorado.com
(PurplePurse.com) completed this outreach initiative and provided key
domestic violence information to an essential program audience.

Cons: It is hard to find cons in the work done by The Allstate Foundation
and the Zeno Group. The campaign received national media attention
and nearly one billion media impressions, a 447 percent increase in
program media results from 2013. Fundraising efforts increased revenues
614 percent from the previous year meaning nearly $2.5 million was
donated to financial empowerment services for survivors. This campaign
was hugely successful and set a high standard for years to come.

RECCOMENDATIONS

The 2014 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse campaign raised nearly $2.5
million for survivors of financial abuse. Given the success of this campaign
I would recommend continuing this campaign in future years while
increasing influencer outreach. The 2014 campaign engaged 200
bloggers leaving room to engage more influencers in future years. At a
local level, The Allstate Foundation issued the Purple Purse Challenge to
140 nonprofits across the country with the goal of raising money for
domestic violence survivors and the organizations that serve them. I
would recommend continuing local outreach and working with companies
to establish a Purple Purse workplace giving campaign to increase
awareness of the issue and raise money in support of survivors.