Biography

Joe Waters is a respected writer, speaker, consultant and expert on cause marketing and business giving.

He’s known for his popular blog, Selfishgiving.com, his expertise in creating and executing win-win partnerships between nonprofits and companies, and his wicked Boston accent!

Joe has been working with nonprofits and businesses for over two decades and has raised millions of dollars from local, regional and national corporate partners. He’s worked with many local and national companies, including Pepsi, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Borders Books, Staples, Zipcar, Fuddruckers, Virgin America and The Boston Bruins.

A sought after speaker, Joe has presented to hundreds of organizations. He’s the author of three books, including Cause Marketing for Dummies, and has written for many publications, including Fast Company, QSR MagazineHuffington Post, Forbes, Mediapost, Nonprofit Quarterly, Chronicle of Philanthropy and Healthcare Philanthropy Journal.

Joe’s been quoted in many publications, including The New York Times, Reuters, INC.com, and The Nonprofit Times. He’s also appeared on HuffPost Live.

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Videos

Joe Waters in Charleston - Highlights Revised.mp4

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Testimonials

Joe brought his unique knowledge on fundraising and marketing to a group of 70 domestic violence advocates who included nonprofit organizations, small business owners, corporate employees and partners. Attendees used Joe’s valuable information to develop plans for their own communities that they will implement over the coming year. Bravo!
– Laura Glaza, Allstate
Joe is the go-to guy for all thing cause marketing. He's an excellent trainer with deep knowledge of the subject matter, great real-life examples of successful campaigns, and a conversational presentation style that puts participants at ease. He cares about helping organizations be successful, and is available for follow-up questions and advice. And his curation of online resources is an absolute treasure trove!
– Suzanne Graney, Four Diamonds
A brilliant talk this morning. Joe was inspiring, funny and shared a wealth of knowledge. Such a refreshing, knock your socks off presentation and perfect for our UK audience.
– Jonathan Andrews, Conference Chair
Joe was an energetic and memorable presenter who engaged the audience from the moment he set foot in the room. He encouraged questions and really made attendees think about cause marketing on a much deeper level by bringing them into the conversation. Joe definitely brought us to the heart of cause marketing!
– Mark Shamley, President & CEO, ACCP
Our group was enthused by the insights and ideas you shared. They were engaged from the moment they met you. Thanks!
– Lori Tsuruda, President, Directors of Volunteer Administration (DOVA)
Joe Waters’ down-to-earth communication style really drove home the value of cause marketing for today’s nonprofit organizations. Our corporate partners were completely engaged throughout his presentation and eager to hear how their businesses could engage more effectively with us. Joe also delivered a presentation for our affiliate organizations who learned tangible ideas to execute cause marketing campaigns in their local communities. Feedback from our affiliates was that of resounding enthusiasm for how cause marketing could benefit them.
– Charley Shimanski, President & CEO, Rebuilding Together
Joe has been speaking at Cause Marketing Forum for many years and is consistently highly rated by attendees. He’s engaging, informative, practical and funny! He’s a leader in the industry, and it shows in his speaking.
– David Hessekiel, Cause Marketing Forum

Booksby Joe Waters

Fundraising with Businesses: 40 New (and Improved!) Strategies for Nonprofits

Cause Marketing For Dummies

QR Codes For Dummies

Blog Posts

Why Top Event Planners Use Story to Double Audience Engagement, with Bruce Turkel

Learn from Hall of Fame speaker Bruce Turkel how story transforms events from forgettable content into experiences attendees quote months later.

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New Year Planning Moves That Turn Events Into Strategic Levers (Not Just Calendar Fillers)

Design your New Year with intention using proven strategies from top thought leaders & transform your 2026 events from calendar fillers into meaningful moments.

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How Top Speakers Shift Attention to Their Audience and Increase Event Engagement

Learn from emcee Scott Bloom how shifting your attention from yourself to your audience creates transformative speaking experiences that drive real engagement.

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Creating Impactful Leadership with Gratitude: Lessons from Chris Schembra

Learn from keynote speaker Chris Schembra how gratitude transforms leaders and help them build a workplace culture that people want to be part of.

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7 Ways Gratitude Transforms Your Events (From Burnout to Breakthrough)

Gratitude isn't about being nice; it's a performance tool. Learn how to design events that help attendees feel seen, process hard years, and leave inspired.

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Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences (2026)

Discover the Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Retail & eCommerce Conferences and design AI agendas that grow revenue, CX, and loyalty.

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