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Ten Easy Steps
TO A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN
CAMPAIGN PREPARATION
Step 1
Access your campaign... Where are you coming from?
- Review the 3-year history of average donor gift, % employee participation, payroll vs. cash donors. Where appropriate, assess department/location breakdown. Know who your donors are and review new/lost donor turnover.
- Understand how your campaign operated (e.g. canvassing, communications, volunteer resources, training).
- Identify campaign strengths and opportunities for improvement.
- Call United Way for help.
Step 2
Develop a plan and gain support... Where are you going and how are you going to get there?
- Set measurable objectives (e.g. $, # donors)
- Develop a timetable of key tasks and responsibleness.
- Set a date for the campaign.
- Gain approval for plan from management and seek necessary support.
Step 3
Recruit help... Spread the work and involve people!
- Involve a group of people that is appropriate for the size of your work place and the task to be completed.
- Know what you want from your volunteers and match their skills to the tasks.
- Canvassers work best at a ratio of one for every 15 - 20 employees.
- People give to people - not just to causes.
Step 4
Train and motivate your volunteers.
- United Way staff are able to assist and provide resources such as videos and agency speakers.
CAMPAIGN PERIOD
Step 5
Have fun.
- Plan a kick-off and touch-down event e.g. donuts and coffee, BBQ... involve everyone!
- Offer incentives/prizes to donors e.g. pledge cards returned by a specific date. Seek support from management and suppliers.
- Avoid fund-raising events before and during the employee canvass - focus on fun and friend-raising!
Step 6
Promote United Way and the Campaign.
- Communicate United Way awareness all year round in newsletters, via e-mail etc. e.g. highlight agency programs, profile volunteers.
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Prepare personalized pledge cards, brochures, posters, displays etc.
- Utilize free promotional materials available from United Way such as posters, videos, thermometers.
- Arrange for a United Way presentation during your campaign... ensure all employees hear and see the message. Employee presentations take less than 15 mins.
Step 7
Monitor activity.
- Assess progress of your plan and timetable regularly.
- During the campaign asses canvassing progress, financial returns vs. objective, and previous donors who have not made a donation. Follow up results on a weekly basis.
- Your best donor is a previous donor!
CAMPAIGN WRAP-UP
Step 8
Follow-up and report results.
- Ensure all previous donors have been personally canvassed... the usual reason cited by people for not giving to United Way is that they were not asked!
- Tabulate and audit results... report to United Way using the Campaign Summary Report.
- Communicate results to employees.
Step 9
Say thanks.
- Thank all donors and volunteers. Invite your volunteers to the campaign wrap-up dinner in late January.
- Call United Way to arrange an Award Presentation.
Step 10
Evaluate Success.
- Assess campaign strengths and opportunities for improvement... make notes for next year!
Thank you for volunteering and Good Luck campaigning!
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