Thank you for organizing your workplace campaign. The resources listed here can help you run the best campaign ever. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, contact Tiffany Arnold for assistance.
8 Steps to a Successful Campaign
Step 1: Get CEO support and involvement
Participation of top management is essential to a successful campaign. Ask them to:
Pledge a company gift (consider a match) using the Corporate Pledge card.
Visibly and actively support the campaign and pledge a personal Summit League gift.
Approve incentives to be used in campaign.
Approve using e-pledge. It’s faster for employees to make their pledge, reduces staff time for pledge entry and improves accuracy. Contact Tiffany Arnold for more information on e-pledging.
Encourage Leadership Group level giving. More information on Leadership Groups can be found in Step 5.
Commit to holding company meetings. Employee meetings are a proven best practice to increase your campaign and don’t need to take a lot of time. We recommend:
- CEO or other management team member to open the meeting and share why the company supports United Way. (5 min)
- United Way speaker or representative to share information and stories about the impact United Way has on individuals in the community. (10 min)
- Campaign Committee member to explain how to pledge, special events and other company-specific information and share your reasons for giving. (5 min)
Work with campaign team to monitor campaign progress and adjust strategies if needed.
Step 2: Recruit a Campaign Manager and Team
You will have more success and more fun if you involve other people in planning and conducting your campaign.
Recruit team members who are excited about United Way. Involve committee members from multiple departments, including a labor representative, if applicable.
Plan to attend United Way training events as a team.
Step 3: Learn more about United Way
Your job as a Company Campaign Manager or team member will be easier if you know some basic facts about United Way.
Review materials and website.
Campaign Brochure – Print and fold
Campaign Brochure – One page
Annual Report to the Community
Funded Programs
United Way 101 Power Point
Fast Facts about United Way
United Way Success Story Library
Keep up to date by following us on Facebook
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter
Review the website beginning with Education, Financial Stability and Health
Campaign Videos 2020:
Short Version: Neighbor helping Neighbor
Long Version: Who is United Way?
Step 4: Set a Campaign Goal & Develop a Plan
Analyze past performance and set clear, specific goals and objectives from your Campaign analysis. Email Tiffany Arnold if you need past results.
Create Campaign timeline of events and anticipated needs and share your plan with United Way staff.
Review Steps 6 & 7 for ideas on special events, games, and fun ways to educate other employees.
Order United Way materials (Coming Soon) and schedule a virtual speaker for your employee meetings.
Schedule your Campaign kick-off or rally.
Send out regular communications informing employees of the upcoming Campaign. Use a combination of emails, posters, and flyers to get people’s attention.
Monitor campaign and keep CEO informed of progress. Adjust strategies as needed.
Step 5: Grow Leadership Group Membership
Set specific Leadership Group membership goals and identify potential members. Look at current donors who:
Give $100 or more and aren’t a member of Emerging Leaders
Give $250 or more and aren’t a Women United member
Are approaching retirement and might benefit from Retire United
Could reach the levels above with a 5-10% increase.
Are new to the area. Leadership groups are a great way to make friends and get involved.
Are part of the Leadership/Management team and might consider a Summit League gift.
Hold targeted meetings and ask people to join Emerging Leaders, Women United, Retire United or Summit League.
Ask current members to provide a statement or two about why they are members and give at that level.
Share those statements when asking your staff to join. Knowing why your peers support United Way at this level can influence prospective members to increase their giving and involvement with United Way.
Provide special recognition for Emerging Leaders, Women United, Retire United and Summit League members.
Discuss Leadership Groups during regular employee meetings.
Follow-up with an e-mail from the CEO encouraging their support.
Offer company matching gift or recognition gift to those who join.
Step 6: Educate Employees & Promote Your Campaign
Hold employee meetings or rallies with a United Way representative. A sample agenda is part of Step 1.
Include an employee testimonial at your meetings or through other communication outlets.
Educate your co-workers about United Way’s work in the community. Use “United Way Fast Facts” for information to send e-mails, create posters, etc.
Ensure every employee is asked to give – either with a pledge form or e-mail for on-line pledging. Include part-time and seasonal employees.
Send due date reminders.
Collect all pledge forms to ensure all employees were asked. Follow-up with employees who may have been on vacation, ill or were unable to attend the meeting.
Offer incentives for attending meetings and submitting pledge forms.
Look at last year’s donor list and follow-up with anyone who may have been missed or forgotten to give again before the end of your Campaign.
Step 7: Make Your Campaign Fun & Engaging
Conduct a special event.
Great Ideas for Special Events
Challenge Your CEO
Update employees on the Campaign progress.
Participate in a volunteer project.
Group Volunteer Projects
Contact United Way Volunteer Connection for help setting up a group project.
Step 8: Report Your Results
Submit materials by December 4, 2020, to ensure recognition at the Campaign Celebration. If you need to have them picked up, please call our office.
Calculate all pledge forms, special event money, and corporate gift. Include these totals on the Campaign Envelope.
Collect all pledge forms and ensure the corporate pledge card has been returned to United Way.
Thank your co-workers for coming to meetings and share your Campaign results by sending a letter or email from your CEO or your committee.
Thank your CEO for his or her involvement.
Thank your committee.
Share United Way e-newsletters and encourage donors to connect with us on social media to see how their investment is changing lives.
Encourage your Human Resources staff to use new hire/retiree packets. Email Tiffany Arnold for more information.
Plan a monthly or quarterly Special Events that includes some fun and some United Way information.
Participate in United Way events throughout the year.
Use United Way’s 211 publications and online database as a resource for your employees needing assistance.
