Susan G. Komen Foundation

How Would You Like Me to Apologize?
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The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure continues to look for ways to steady its reputation.  They recently began polling individuals on the best course of action the organization could take to make an apology.  One thing we know about authenticity is that is must match what one believes.  If one’s actions are inconsistent from their stated purpose then they lack trust, loyalty, and authenticity.  If we are saying, ‘I am sorry,’ because somebody else believes we should then the outcome will most likely worsen the problem instead of mend the damage.  In many ways the original decision to defund Planned Parenthood exposed confusion at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  There was an immediate opportunity to reconfirm the cause’s purpose with everyone who was closely connected and then work outwards with core advocates to apologize.  Instead, the foundation seems to be trying a couple different plays from random pages in the crisis management playbook.


What would you recommend as the next step?


Being Dropped
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I am confused by the recent uproar over Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to discontinue funding to Planned Parenthood who in turn provided cancer screen services.  What appeared to be a fabulous partnership seems to have unfolded in unlikely circumstances.  There may be very good reasons for this parting-of-the-ways but the message had been poorly articulated.  If the decision was politically motivated as has been suggest by some reports the execution has been handled to create division.  The Susan G. Komen Foundation has seemingly tossed aside a long-time partner with little appreciation and respect which is now causing serious ramifications to its reputation and distracting the foundation from its core purpose.


Update: The Susan G. Komen Foundation has reversed it decision today after initially defending its policy of not funding organization that were under investigation.  The ramifications of this episode will be interesting to monitor.  Short-term hiccup or long-term impact?