1. Top 10 best practices 2019 Guide to a Successful Campaign
Kristie - Ok, here we go! For all the Employee Campaign Coordinators here today…this is for you! We are hopeful that the tips that we are about to share will equip you with all the tools you need to have an AWESOME employee campaign!
*We have included a hard copy of these steps at your table if you would like to make notes
Also, if you have questions as we are going through this, please don’t hesitate to ask!
2019 Guide to a Successful Campaign

2. #1 Define roles Recruit a team!
Do not run your campaign alone. Recruit a team of enthusiastic, resourceful and committed employees to help you plan the best possible campaign. (Yes, 2 is a team!)
Involve representatives from various departments
Define roles of each member
Communicate regularly
#1 - We encourage you to recruit a “United Way” team! Not only does it allow you to “share the load”, we believe allowing your co-workers to be involved boosts morale and creates energy and excitement around your campaign! Once you have a few folks to help you, develop a time to meet so you can begin planning for your campaign.
Whatever you do, DON’T do it alone! United Way time should be fun, not stressful

3. #2 Set dates Determine your timeline Set start date and end date
Inform your co-workers of the dates
Two week maximum
#2 - We believe the best campaigns have clear start and end dates! Make sure your employees are clear on when your campaign starts and when it will end. Every campaign is different. There is no set length of time to run your campaign. The main thing is not to go too long and please make sure employees are informed about when it starts and when it ends. Once you have created your timeline, be sure to hang special posters that indicate your companies campaign dates. If you are planning to hold an employee campaign meeting with a speaker or an agency fair, be sure to advertise that around your business as well.

4. #3 Set goals Specific – what are you trying to accomplish
Measurable – dollars raised or participation
Attainable – based on last year’s results
Realistic – consider internal factors
Timely – establish a clear timeline
Ex. Company A will increase the number of employees that participate in the UW Campaign by 3%.
#3 - We encourage you to set a GOAL! This goal doesn’t have to be around the dollars you raise, it could be about participation. Campaigns that set goals and communicate that to the employees are more successful! Ex. Our department/school would like to have 100% participation. Use your United Way Firm Fact Sheet(this sheet is in the UW bag at your table) to determine an attainable goal based on last year’s campaign results.
If you’ve never held a UW Campaign…Skies the limit! Have fun and do your best!

5. #4 Have a meeting
Kickoff your United Way Campaign with a meeting to educate employees about United Way
Ask CEO to send endorsement , speak at meetings, and appear at events
Encourage top management to be a member of the United Way’s Benefactors Club ($500+ annually)
#4 – It sounds simple, but having a meeting is SO important! Consider having UW or a Partner Agency come out to talk to your employees. Encourage your CEO, Supervisor, President, Director, Plant Manager to be INVOLVED! Their support is essential to a successful campaign!
A great example of this is ……
Rusty Bunker, a supervisor at Baptist Children’s Home spray painted his beard when they meet their goal.

6. #5 Themes, incentives, and special events
Generate enthusiasm and have fun!
Incentives
Special Events
LIVE UNITED DAY/Campaign Kickoff – August 1st
Spirit Night for UW – August 5th
ROUND UP For United Way! – August 1st – August 31st
Halyard Health Golf Tournament – Sept. 6th
Thanksgiving Day Early Bird 5K – Nov. 28th
#5 - Establish a “theme” and run with it! Everyone loves an excuse to have fun! Create teams and play United Way Jeopardy. We created this game for our Board at our Annual Board Retreat. They had so much fun and learned a lot about United Way! Create drawings/basket raffles, bake sales, jean day and special give a ways throughout the year!
Ask your company to provide some incentives for those who give! Examples(Time off, drawings for a gift cards, good parking spot, allow them to wear jeans, come in late or leave early passes, etc.)
One incentive that we are super excited about this year is our 1st Annual cash giveaway thanks to Jerry Hunt Supercenter! We will talk about the details in a later slide.
Encourage employees to participate in UW Special Events. We have 5 awesome upcoming events!
LIVE UNITED DAY/Campaign Kickoff – August 1st – Wear your LIVE UNITED t-shirts. This is the first day of our official campaign. Join us and show your support!
Our Kickoff will take place from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Bull City Ciderworks ROUND UP for United Way – August 1st – August 31st – We have several local merchants participating in this fundraiser(Brittany will explain this in a later slide)
Spirit Night for UW at Chick-Fil-A – August 5th
Halyard Health Golf Tournament – September 6th at the Lexington Golf Club Thanksgiving Day Early Bird 5K – November 28th at the Davidson County Governmental Building
We have included flyers for all the events in your campaign bags. Please, please, please lay these out in breakrooms, front offices or hang on internal communications boards! 
You can register for our fundraisers through our website: Visit and click on events.

7. #6 Engage employees
Organizing a volunteer event for employees is a great way to engage your employees
United Way’s Week of Caring will kick-off on September 1st
Encourage employees to join the United Way’s Emerging Leaders Society
Minimum contribution of $250 per year.
Between the ages of (but we aren’t checking IDs!)
Opportunity to build professional network, develop leadership skills, and engage in the community.
#6 - Encourage your co-workers/employees to get involved! Plan to volunteer this year during our Week of Caring! We have done the work for you. We solicit all non-profits in Davidson County for projects. We have “hands-on” projects such as painting and landscaping and “collection” projects, such as canned food drives, and school supply drives. Don’t have time to do a “hands on” project? That’s OK, sign up for a collection project. This will be a great way to engage the employees and educate them about the United Way, while also giving back to your community!
Encourage employees to join the United Way’s Emerging Leaders Society This group was formed last year.
It requires a minimum contribution of $250 per year. Under the age of 40 (or young at heart)
A wonderful opportunity to network, develop leadership skills and engage with like-minded peers in our community.

8. #7 Get the word out
Use Campaign Materials (posters, brochures, stickers)
Send s educating employees on the value of United
Way (UW Buying Power Statistics)
Use intranet sites to announce United Way Campaign is underway
Share messaging year round, not just during the Campaign!
#7 – This is an easy one! I know you are all fabulous at communication. Be sure to get the message out to the employees. A few weeks before your kick-off, go ahead and hang your United Way Posters! This will get folks thinking and also create some “buzz” around your workplace. Recruit your co-workers or if you work for one of the school systems ask some of your students to help you hang them around the building! We are proud of these materials and really want you to show them off! ***I GAVE stickers! We would love for you to use our new I GAVE stickers to give to employees when they turn in their UW Pledge form. We hope you will utilize them at your campaigns. Please let your Loaned Executive or myself know how many stickers you would like.
When you are sending out s, refer to our list of Buying Power Statistics. Ex($14 will provide five hot meals for a homebound adult through Meals on Wheels) These are real, local, statistics provided by our agencies. They are a great tool to use to help educate your employees!
This document and other important campaign materials can be found on our website ( click on campaign tab and then click on campaign tool-kit)
This is also a great time to reach out to your Loaned Executive if you need any additional materials(posters, brochures, pledge forms, etc.)
United Way’s Campaign is August – November, however the work is year-round. Be sure to include United Way in your quarterly newsletters, in your communications, keep them informed throughout the year.

9. #8 Say thank you Thank employees in a timely manner
Offer incentives for participation
Prize drawings
Lunch
Personal letters
#8 – My favorite….saying THANK YOU! This is the MOST important part of a campaign and sometimes the most forgotten. Please, please, please, say thank you in some way when your campaign is complete. Send an , set up a display in the front office or reception area thanking them.
You can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, just please don’t forget to say thank you in some way.

10. #9 Wrap up and report out Finalize your campaign
Contact your Loaned Executive
Report your results to your employees
#9 – Be sure to complete your Campaign Envelope(included in your campaign bag that you will receive before you leave today). If you can please fill out the front of the envelope and place all pledge forms, cash, checks, etc. in the envelope. You are welcome to drop off your envelope at the United Way office (11 Court Square, Suite 100 in Lexington) – I recommend calling before you come(we have a staff of 3 so sometimes we may be out of the office OR contact your Loaned Executive and let them know your packet is ready to be picked up.
* I have a little favor to ask. For those who have cash/checks. Please don’t remove them from the pledge forms. We write the check numbers/or the word cash on the forms and it saves us a lot of time if those are still connected. 
*** BE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PAYROLL TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE LIST OF THOSE WHO DONATED AND CAN BEGIN TAKING THE DEDUCTIONS OUT BEGINNING JANUARY 2020

11. #10 Share online Share your stories on social media
Like us on Facebook – United Way of Davidson County – NOW!
Follow us on Twitter – NOW!
Follow us on Instagram – unitedwayofdavidsoncounty – NOW!
#10 – Now here’s the fun part….first if everyone could pull out their smartphones and open up your social media apps….LIKE/FOLLOW us now!
TAKE SHOT OF CROWD!
I know y’all are all about some social media  As you are in the midst of your United Way Campaign, please be sure to tag us in any campaign activities that are going on at your company! We are active on Facebook, twitter, and instagram. Are you “old-school” like me and don’t have a FB account? That’s ok! Shoot Brittany or myself an and attach your pictures and we will share them for you!
You can find this along with other great incentives and ideas on our website: uwdavidson.org Click on the campaign tab at the top and then on campaign tool-kit.