d e t i n U ver
E n a h t e r o M UWAY.ORG @UWMidlands
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WELCOME
CAMPAIGN DIRECTORS Thank you for representing your company as a United Way Campaign Director. We value your time and commitment to the community and want to make this role simple, stressfree and, most importantly, fun! This handy action guide will walk you through the process of implementing a United Way Workplace Campaign and provide you with all the resources that you need to be successful. Thank you for making the Midlands a better place to live for everyone. Thank you for
LIVING UNITED!
GUIDE CONTENTS About United Way Page 3 A Campaign Director’s Role Page 4 Action Guide Pages 5-8 Recognition Levels and Affinity Groups Page 9 Campaign Toolkit Page 10
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United Way of the Midlands envisions a community where all people in the Midlands – children, youth, adults and seniors – achieve their potential.
ABOUT US We are passionate about connecting and inspiring all sectors of society — individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and governments — to create long-term social change that produces healthy, well-educated and financially-stable individuals and families. We are proud to serve our neighbors, friends and family in our sixcounty home here in the Midlands: Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland. We envision a community where all members – children, youth, adults and seniors – achieve their potential. We invite you — our donors, volunteers, partners and community members — to celebrate our accomplishments and to also keep fighting with us to give everyone a chance to succeed for generations to come. United Way of the Midlands serves six counties with a total population of more than 850,000. Almost 140,000 people in our communities live in poverty. Poverty affects people across the lifespan and is among the greatest roadblocks to success. In 20182019, your contributions helped more than 40,000 of your neighbors avoid or emerge from economic crises, improve their health, increase their income, or secure or remain in housing. You also improved opportunities for children and youth to succeed in school with home libraries, tutoring or youth development programs. United Way uses three strategies to improve our community: investments in programs managed by community partners, initiatives or programs managed by United Way and advocating for changes in policies or systems. These strategies are guided by our Community Impact Plan released in December 2018, which can be found at uway.org.
How do we do it? By finding new solutions to old problems. By forging lasting partnerships. By mobilizing the right resources. And by inspiring individuals to join the fight against our community’s most daunting social crises.
44,000+
PEOPLE WERE HELPED LAST YEAR
1,000+
VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE GIVEN LAST YEAR
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PARTNERS WORKED WITH US TO MAKE THE GREATEST IMPACT FOR PEOPLE IN NEED LAST YEAR
Join the fight, and continue to help us make a difference in the Midlands community for generations to come.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE A campaign director is an individual chosen by management to conduct a United Way Workplace Campaign. Campaign directors are the link between United Way of the Midlands and the supporters who make our community greater. Three primary functions of a campaign director:
Communicate
Effective communication is key at every step of the campaign – from the planning process with team members to the implementation and messaging to the workplace in general. Promote the mission of United Way and the lives being impacted, and you will inspire others to be a part of greater community impact.
Support
Encourage members of the team and guide them through the process.
Lead Special Event Ideas
Set the tone of your workplace campaign.
Common characteristics of a CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR: • • • • •
Enthusiastic and fun Enjoys trying and learning new skills Community-minded Enjoys giving-back Looks really good in a LIVE UNITED tee!
Do not fear! A United Way Representative will be there to help you every step of the way.
My United Way Rep is: Name: Phone: 4
Email:
MY ACTION GUIDE 1 RECRUIT A TEAM Why work alone when you can LIVE UNITED? Building a team from all levels of your company or organization provides opportunity for greater creativity, minimizes the workload on one individual and adds even more fun into the mix. Teams allow campaign directors to divide responsibilities into defined roles including: marketing and events, communication, finance, human resources, department liaisons, etc. Seek the wisdom of experienced campaign volunteers and mix in new staff for a fresh perspective. Quick Tip: Recruiting the support of the CEO is also critical to a campaign’s success. Their leadership sets the example for other supporters. Encourage your CEO to publicly support the campaign and involve them at all campaign events.
My potential or confirmed team members are:
2 SET A GOAL Goals should be both challenging and realistic. Before you set a goal for your United Way Campaign, research the past trends of your workplace—including donation levels, number of staff and overall employee participation. United Way staff can provide all these details for you! Keep things fun by setting both monetary and participation objectives. Create goals that are motivating and attainable, and you’re sure to hit them. Sample measures of success: Increase percent of unrestricted giving Total dollars raised Increase in total number of donors (including Leadership Givers) 100% contact or return rate of donation forms Percent growth in total participation Increase average gift Increase per capita gift
What goals will inspire my team this year? 5
3 DETERMINE YOUR TIMELINE One day, one week, two weeks…or a month! United Way Campaigns come in all shapes and sizes.
CAMPAIGN START DATE: CAMPAIGN END DATE:
4 PLAN CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES Once you determine what timeline works best for your organization, consider the following events to engage your workplace.
Campaign Kickoff –
Launching a campaign with an engaging event is a great opportunity to provide employees with information about United Way and how their investments will be used in the community.
Special Events –
Get creative! From bake sales to silent auctions and management competitions, this is a great way to engage the workplace while having fun.
Volunteer Activities –
Research shows that people who volunteer are almost twice as likely to invest in community programs. United Way can connect your workplace with a variety of volunteer opportunities, from home improvement projects to serving meals.
Campaign Finale – Celebrate and wrap up your workplace campaign with an event to thank employees for their generosity.
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List ideas for fun campaign activities:
OTHER CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES TO CONSIDER: Incorporate Storytellers - Let our trained
LIVE UNITED Storytellers touch the hearts of your employees with messages that align with your corporate social responsibility goals and set the stage for increased participation and giving.
Run a leadership campaign - A Leadership Gift is a donation to United Way of $1,000 or more. Increase
Leadership Giving support by appointing a Leadership Giving Coordinator to assist in requesting donations from prospective Leadership Givers. Try hosting cultivation events highlighting Affinity Groups and Recognition Levels to encourage Leadership Gifts. *See Recognition Levels and Affinity Groups on page 9.
Engage retirees -
Always United is an initiative of United Way that provides opportunities for individuals who are retired or considering retirement to continue their relationship with United Way and the important work that is making the Midlands a better place to live. This initiative offers a wide range of volunteer, educational and social opportunities to continue supporting United Way’s work in education, financial stability and health.
5 INFORM & ASK The #1 reason cited for why individuals do not give is simply because they were never asked. It’s important to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to give. There are two strategies to consider when asking employees to contribute:
Group Ask – Bring employees together to
learn about United Way. This is a great time to show the 2020 United Way Campaign Film, feature a LIVE UNITED Storyteller and distribute pledge forms and other materials.
Individual Ask –
A more personal approach often results in greater participation rates. Recruit peers who are givers and are passionate about United Way. We recommend a ratio of one employee for every 10 personal asks made. Educating employees about how their investment in United Way is making a difference in the Midlands is critical to a successful campaign. No matter what strategy you choose, the resources available in the campaign toolkit found online at uway.org/toolkit provide great information about the impact of LIVING UNITED on our community. Share this information with employees and leave them feeling great about their choice to give.
List ideas for implementing these strategies:
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6 THANK EVERYONE One of the most important parts of a campaign is saying “thank you.” Communicate final results as they become available and be sure that everyone who made your efforts successful receives proper recognition.
List your ideas for thanking individuals:
7 REPORT RESULTS Final campaign results should be submitted within two weeks of campaign end date so that we can process donations and thank our donors in a timely manner. This includes summarizing employee gifts on the Campaign Report Envelope. Interested in publicizing your results? United Way is happy to help promote your company’s dedication to improving the Midlands! Whether it’s announced through traditional media avenues or a shout out on social media channels, we love sharing how organizations are LIVING UNITED and making an impact.
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follow us
United Way is here year-round! Stay up-to-date on how your donations are impacting our community by subscribing to our electronic newsletter, following us on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn – or by volunteering! Leadership Givers also receive periodic updates about the impact of their gifts and invitations to United Way events! Also, don’t forget to keep your employees and colleagues 8 informed by sharing information throughout the year!
@U W M I D L A N D S
RECOGNITION LEVELS Always United
Always United is an action-oriented group of diverse, experienced United Way supporters who are committed to bringing together the people, resources and expertise needed to solve problems in the Midlands. There is no age restriction, but most members of Always United are late-career professionals or have retired. Many members have been contributing to United Way for years, even decades, and continue to donate, but donations are not required for membership. Always United provides year-round opportunities for members, including interactive events, personal development, volunteering and socializing. Learn more at AlwaysUnited.org.
Legacy Society
Legacy
Legacy Society members have included United Way in their wills or other estate plans. These donors have made deferred gifts to United Way totaling more than $3 million since 2014.
United Way of the Midlands
SOCIETY
Palmetto Society
The Palmetto Society recognizes donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually to United Way initiatives. This group of close to 2,000 philanthropists represents more than a third of total campaign giving. Last year, Palmetto Society donors collectively invested $2.2 million in United Way programs.
Tocqueville Society
Tocqueville Society members demonstrate exceptional generosity and leadership by investing $10,000 or more annually in United Way initiatives. This group of donors is comprised of the Midlands’ leading philanthropists. Last year, Tocqueville Society members collectively invested $1.77 million in United Way programs. Tocqueville Society
Young Leaders Society (YLS)
This compassionate group of like-minded young professionals, ages 21-40, creates a positive impact in the Midlands by supporting the mission of United Way. YLS donors annually invest nearly a half-million dollars into United Way initiatives focused on education, financial stability and health. YLS donors are also actively engaged with monthly volunteer activities as well as frequent networking and professional development opportunities. Learn more at YLSMidlands.com.
Giving Levels AGE
MONTHLY
ANNUALLY
21-29
$42
$500
30-40
$83
$1,000
Women in Philanthropy (WIP)
This unique and diverse group of investors creates positive, measurable change in Giving Levels our community through leadership, mentoring, networking and advocacy. Since 2002, AGE MONTHLY Women in Philanthropy has invested more than $1.5 million into initiatives focused on helping women and children in the Midlands. 21+ $42 Learn more at WomeninPhilanthropy.com.
ANNUALLY
$500
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CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT We know you’re busy, and we value your time! To make your role as a campaign director as simple as possible, we’ve compiled the following resources, available for download at uway.org/toolkit.
Campaign Checklist
Stay on top of your to-do list with this handy checklist itemized to match this Action Guide.
Training Videos
Need a refresh on a particular topic covered during this training? We have a list of short videos to help support your success.
Campaign Film
Covers current initiatives of United Way and showcases how your donations are making the Midlands a better place to live for everyone. This is a great resource to introduce your workplace to United Way in group settings.
Campaign Brochure*
Provides an overview of United Way, the issues facing our community and how United Way is working to create long-term solutions. Distribute a brochure to everyone in the workplace to make sure they know the impact of their donation!
Campaign and Goal Posters*
Create awareness about the United Way Campaign throughout your workplace! Goal posters are also available to keep your workplace up to date on the campaign’s progress. These can be customized to feature members of your workplace or accommodate monetary or participation goals. Ask your United Way representative for more details.
Videos and Infographics
Need more visuals? We’ve got you covered! Our online library is filled with personal stories and images illustrating the impact of United Way in our community. These materials work great in newsletters or email communication!
Pledge Forms and Campaign Reporting Envelope*
These printed materials are provided at the onset of your campaign and are an essential tool in collecting required information. Also available online is a step-by-step video on how to complete the documents. Electronic pledging is available by request.
Special Event Ideas*
Save time brainstorming creative ideas and get the ball rolling with this list of unique and fun special events that we’ve known to be successful for others.
Sample Letters and Thank You Cards
Save time by using these easy-to-use templates to customize for your needs!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? Chances are we’ve got the answer for you in this handy document of common topics. *Can also be provided in print form
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Notes
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SOCIAL DISTANCING FORCES US APART.
BUT COMPASSION DEFIES DISTANCE. LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW UNITED WAY IS HELPING THE MIDLANDS DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME AT
UWAY.ORG
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