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.

Read More

Videos

Joe Waters in Charleston - Highlights Revised.mp4

Request Availability

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

Best Leadership Speakers for Financial Services Conferences (2026 Guide)

Planning a bank, fintech, insurance, or wealth management event? This definitive guide to the Best Leadership Speakers for Financial Services Conferences shows you what works now: selection criteria, vetted speaker ideas, comparison snapshots, sample agendas, buying tips, FAQs, and direct links to relevant resources on The Keynote Curators (TKC).

Read More

Mindfulness Practices That Cut Event Planning Stress in Half (Science-Backed)

Mindfulness isn't mellow—it's a performance system. Discover practices, top apps, and keynote speakers that turn well-being into results.

Read More

Best Leadership Speakers for Healthcare Conferences (2025 Guide): Shortlist, Fees, Topics & How to Book

Looking for the Best Leadership Speakers for Healthcare Conferences? You’re in the right place. This 2025 guide is written for hospital and health-system leaders, payer/provider teams, life sciences and medtech planners who need keynote speakers...

Read More

How Creativity Is Most Valuable Business Asset In the AI Age

AI creativity is reshaping business success—discover why creative thinking matters more than technical skills in today's automated workplace.

Read More

Turning Adversity Into Team Growth with John O’Leary

Learn how adversity keynote speaker John O'Leary transforms pain into purpose through resilience, choice, and community-driven growth mindset.

Read More

Why Pink October Events Fail (And the System That Can Help Saves Lives)

Transform Breast Cancer Awareness into action at your events with survivor stories, risk assessments, and keynote speakers who inspire change in Pink October.

Read More

Related Branding & Marketing Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form