Workplace Campaign Success Starts Here!
There are many elements to running an effective, energetic, and successful employee giving campaign in the workplace. Follow these six important steps and you'll have a greater chance of achieving your campaign goals.
STEP 1 - GETTING STARTED
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Set up a meeting with your United Way representative
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Review and evaluate past campaigns
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Identify growth areas
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Set a goal
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Develop a timeline
STEP 2 - GET YOUR CEO/MANAGEMENT TEAM INVOLVED
Department leader and senior management campaign support is very important. Their support and enthusiasm can be contagious and leadership involvement sets an example for other contributors, while emphasizing the importance of the campaign to both your organization and the community.
Tips for getting senior management involved:
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Ask them to send a personal letter to every employee asking for their support of United Way.
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Obtain permission for group employee meetings. Include your department head as part of the program.
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Encourage department head support of special events, kickoff event and incentives.
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Ask them to thank donors at the end of the campaign through letters and/or an event.
STEP 3 - ENLIST HELP FROM YOUR CO-WORKERS
Don’t try to do it all alone. Recruit energetic and enthusiastic representatives from each department and include people with special talents such as marketing, communications and accounting. Together, determine the best ways to engage employees:
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Set a challenging fundraising goal and develop a strategy to achieve it.
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Increase participation.
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Increase average gift.
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Add more Leadership Givers.
STEP 4 - CONDUCT THE CAMPAIGN
The most successful way to ask employees to contribute is through group solicitation. Bring small employee groups together to view the United Way video, hear a speaker and receive United Way literature. Ask employees to make their pledges at the close of the meeting.
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Consider electronic pledging option; contact your United Way representative for more information.
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Publicize your campaign events in advance through employee newsletters, bulletin boards and e-mail.
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Incorporate fun events and incentives such as gift certificates, special events, fundraisers, prizes, etc.
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Encourage payroll deduction as the easiest way to give.
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Conduct the campaign through group meetings, one-on-one solicitation, follow up and Leadership Giving efforts.
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If your workplace operates different shifts, it is important to develop a campaign plan that involves every employee on every shift.
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Follow up on absentees and part-time employees.
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Consider inviting retirees to your campaign events and asking them to contribute.
STEP 5 - CAMPAIGN WRAP-UP
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Follow up and collect pledge forms, cash, and checks.
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Complete campaign report envelope and include United Way copy of pledge forms.
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Provide pledge forms/online pledge report to the appropriate person in your payroll department to have payroll deductions set up.
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Evaluate your results and prepare written recommendations for next year’s campaign.
STEP 6 - SAY THANK YOU
The most important step is thanking those who contributed. Your employees made it happen! By making donors aware of the importance of their contributions, you show appreciation while encouraging future giving as well.
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Report final results to employees.
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Post “thank you” messages in highly visible areas. Blanket bulletin boards, newsletters, cafeteria, and intranet with “thank you” messages.
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Have department head send a “thank you” letter to the campaign team and employee donors.
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Host campaign wrap-up event with refreshments, entertainment and any awards for employee donors.
