CEO Ask Letter to Employees (Option 1) Dear <insert employee name>, <insert date> During the next few weeks, you will be hearing a great deal about our local United Way. <insert local United Way name> recruits people and organizations from across the community to bring passion, expertise and commitment to get things done. By focusing on the building blocks for a good quality of life education, income, and health United Way is strengthening communities and opportunities for all who live there. Please take time this year to learn more about how United Way is advancing the common good and join me and many other employees who Live United. There is a lot you can do. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer. An explanation of United Way s work and a pledge form is attached (or pledge online with instructions). Plus, over the next few weeks, you will have many opportunities to hear and learn more about the difference United Way makes in our community. Please join me in supporting United Way. Thank you. <insert name of CEO>
CEO Ask Letter to Employees (Option 2) Dear <insert employee name>, <insert date> At <insert company name>, we ve always been about helping others and strengthening the community. Now our commitment is even more important. Soon you ll have the opportunity to show how much you care by supporting the annual United Way campaign. United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Your donation, no matter what the amount, makes a difference and is vitally important. With one gift to United Way, you will touch the lives of many individuals and families. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. We all win when a child has a head start on quality education that leads to success in future jobs, when individuals have enough income to support a family through retirement, and when we all enjoy good health. These results and changes have benefits that ripple out to the community as a whole, helping others and strengthening the community. Now, more than ever, your gift goes further with United Way. We will be kicking off our United Way workplace campaign on <insert date>. Our campaign team has put together a series of great events for us to support. Let s make this the most successful campaign ever! Please join me in giving to United Way and complete the enclosed contribution form (or pledge online with instructions). Remember you can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer. That s what it means to LIVE UNITED. If you have any questions about the campaign, please contact <insert employee campaign coordinator name(s) and contact information>. Sincerely, <insert name of CEO>
CEO Ask Letter to Employees who previously donated (Option 3) Dear <insert employee name>, <insert date> <insert employee name>, Thank you for your generous donation last year as a <insert company name> employee. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. Last year, your gift was combined with others to help advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our company s 2011 United Way campaign will begin on <insert date>. During the campaign, you will hear more about the impact United Way is making in helping families move from barely surviving to succeeding. For 123 years, United Way has been the trusted leader mobilizing resources to address the community s most pressing issues, resulting in solutions that create measurable progress. Your donation allows United Way to continue to strategically focus on education, income and health the building blocks for a good life. Each of us can share something, so please join me in making a generous gift to United Way. I invite you to connect with <insert employee campaign coordinator name(s) and contact information> to take an agency tour, volunteer and get more involved with our company campaign. Your gift, your voice and your talent are unique and important. When you share these with others, you exemplify what it means to LIVE UNITED. Sincerely,
Sample Campaign Plan Getting Started Establish your committee right now! Every department should be represented including union representatives Pick up campaign materials at UWRC and utilize them immediately Hang UWRC flyers throughout each department Establish a date and time for presentations Inform UWRC of the date and time so a UWRC representative can attend Educate and motivate your campaign coordinators Set campaign goal Aim for 100% participation from your organization Refer to Keep the Fun in Fundraising insert for new ideas Refer to Key Phrases and the Fact Sheet inserts for additional talking points The Perfect Campaign Presentation 20 Minutes Distribute pledge form Welcome by campaign coordinator 2 minutes Introduce UWRC presenter Explain what it means to Live United 2 minutes (refer to How to Live United insert) Explain UWRC initiatives who we help 2 minutes (refer to Community Impact Information Sheet) If available, introduce speaker Stress that UWRC is local & every dollar counts Introduce UWRC video & play it 6 minutes Incentive Information 2 minutes Explain the various ways to donate: 3 minutes Cash, Payroll Deduction, Credit Card, Stock, Online Offer to answer any questions (refer to Frequently asked questions ) Encourage them to complete pledge form 3 minutes After your presentations Keep up the communication Within committee, with top management, with all co-workers Use e-mail, bulletin boards, mailboxes Use case stories/testimonials to make the case to give Keep your committee informed of their progress For more information visit our website www.uwrc.org Show your enthusiasm Thank everyone often ~ Over, please ~
Before you finish the campaign Each person should be approached again If you already have their card, thank them again Collect all pledge cards regardless of whether a donation is made If they are uncertain about donating ask again on the last day Completely answer questions Prior to reporting results to United Way Total results & communicate success Submit pledge cards to payroll Please remember to submit them to UWRC after payroll is completed Thank you/wrap up meeting (include food!) Start planning other UWRC events to increase visibility Food, back-to-school, children s books, toys, toiletry drives E-mail updates throughout the year to donors
KEY CAMPAIGN PHRASES LIVE UNITED LIVING UNITED MEANS THINKING OF WE BEFORE ME WHEN WE REACH OUT A HAND TO ONE, WE INFLUENCE THE CONDITION OF ALL IT TAKES EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING TOGETHER, TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE THE MOST POWERFUL WAY TO INVEST YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS TO GIVE TO THE UWRC COMMUNITY ACTION FUND ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD MEANS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL THERE ARE BASIC THINGS WE ALL NEED FOR A GOOD LIFE INCOME, EDUCATION AND HEALTH A quality education that leads to a stable job Income that can support a family and good health UNITED WAY S GOAL IS TO CREATE LONG-LASTING CHANGES BY ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF PROBLEMS OBTAIN MEASURABLE RESULTS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED THE UNITED WAY 1 OUT OF 3 PEOPLE WILL USE UNITED WAY SERVICES TOGETHER WE CAN GET RESULTS THAT NO ONE CAN ACCOMPLISH ALONE GIVE ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER
Fact Sheet What is United Way of Rockland County? The United Way of Rockland County is you, your friends and neighbors. It is a local, independent organization that is run by volunteers and staff who focus on addressing long-term solutions for health and human Services problems in Rockland County. Volunteers do everything from raising money from businesses, their employees and our entire community to evaluating what local programs should be funded. Three full-time and two part-time staff members assist over 550 volunteers who work every day to improve the lives of the people who work and live in Rockland County, New York. Where does my donated dollar go? If you give to the United Way of Rockland County s Community Care Fund, your dollar is combined with hundreds of thousands more to fund programs that serve everyone from the smallest child to the most senior adult in Rockland. Whatever is raised here, stays to help here (unless you establish on our pledge form that it is to go elsewhere). How much of the money raised goes to the programs you fund? Because the United Way of Rockland relies on volunteers, operating costs stay low so more money can be spent on needed services. In 20010, United Way of Rockland withheld approximately 14.96% of the total campaign to help fund its operations. The Better Business Bureau has given us their seal of approval for many years and stated that in their opinion a charity is not spending too much on fundraising as long as the fundraising overhead is less than 33% of what is raised. These fundraising and administrative costs are much lower than if each organization, supported by United Way, were to raise the money completely on its own. What is the history of the United Way movement? United Way traces its history to 1887 in Denver, when a priest, two ministers and a rabbi planned the first united campaign for ten health and welfare agencies raising $21,000. But the organizations as we know them today were developed in the twenties, thirties and forties, when business and labor leaders together sought to reduce the number of charitable appeals being made to them by conducting a single, efficient, fundraising drive. United Way of Rockland County was established in 1964. Today, there are approximately 1220 independent and autonomous United Ways in the United States and many more across the rest of the world, working with volunteers to improve their community. Approximately 32 million people, one out of three people employed in the United States, contribute to United Ways each year, making United Way the largest charity in the country. Confidentiality United Way of Rockland County believes that giving is a personal matter. Whether individuals wish to give and how much they choose is a personal choice and we keep this information confidential. All United Ways are totally opposed to any type of coercion. Fundraising success is dependant on how much potential donors know and understand the organization. How is the United Way governed? The United Way of Rockland County is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. These volunteers come from all segments of the community. They serve on committees that plan and implement the campaign, market our service to the community, study Rockland s needs and determine where the money that is raised is to go. This process of citizen review allows volunteers to be part of the entire process, to help solve community problems, meet community needs and to plan for future community requirements by making focused, result-based funding decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions There are so many good charities why give to UWRC? A donation to United Way of Rockland County is the most powerful investment you can make in your community because it is combined with other gifts multiplying their power to reach more people and to impact critical needs in our community far more than you could do with a single gift to another organization. A typical United Way donor supports at least one other charity along with their church, temple or mosque as there are many needs in Rockland to be addressed. However thousands of people who work and/or live here recognize that UWRC is a charity that supports initiatives geared to improving lives in our community regardless of income, background, race, ethnicity or background. I don t use these services so why should I support them? You never know when you will need United Way don t you want them to be there for you when you do? Your contribution is an investment in your future as well as your family s future. Whatever we raise this year for Rockland will be given out next year for programs that help you, your co-workers, neighbors and friends. The world would be a much better place if we could all take care of ourselves and no one needed our help. However, none of us really goes through life alone, and none of us is really beyond the problem of sickness or the tragedy an accident can bring. The great thing about United Way is that it provides one very practical way for self-sufficient and fortunate people to give direct help to people who cannot help themselves, such as a neglected child, a person in crisis or an elderly retiree. I live outside of Rockland County why should I give here? Many people who work here use the services of our non-profit community throughout the work day (such as child care, United Way s 211 helpline etc.). Local businesses such as ours are running a United Way of Rockland County campaign because they believe in supporting United Way s work. If you also want to support the local United Way in which you live, make that clear on your pledge form. Why don t you fund my favorite agency OR I don t like that you support xyz agency. This year UWRC opened up its grant process to ALL non-profits in Rockland and is concentrating on initiatives to focus on issues that Rockland residents prioritized for us. The community Initiatives that we are funding are focused on literacy, financial stability and family supports.
Have you been touched by the United Way? Have you (or any member of your family) friend, neighbor or co-worker: 1. had a house fire? 2. taken a CPR course? 3. cared for an elderly parent, grandparent or family member? 4. been treated for mental or emotional problems? 5. had a problem with alcohol or drugs? 6. did not know where or how you were going to pay for food or utility bills? 7. been a victim of domestic violence? 8. just needed someone to talk to on the phone? 9. been a companion to a younger child? 10. needed clothing for school age children? 11. been in a flood or tornado? 12. been sexually assaulted? 13. participated in a community center program? 14. mentored anyone? 15. know anyone with Down s syndrome? 16. needed to visit a food pantry? 17. had meals delivered to your home? 18. worked with a deaf or blind person? 19. needed emergency shelter? 20. had a legal problem? 21. needed day care for a child? 22. utilized an afterschool program? 23. needed help learning to read? If you have said YES to any of the above, you may have been touched by a program funded by the United Way of Rockland County s Community Care Fund. The message: If you want to help the most members of our community, please give to the United Way of Rockland County Community Care Fund.
Incentive Information 1. FOR COMPANIES THAT MATCH: Remind your employees that their company really believes in the results that come from donating to United Way. They will match each donation, so your dollar goes even further. 2. Additional Incentives: Be Creative! Examples: a. Have a raffle to encourage employees to donate with prizes such as: The parking spot nearest the door Leaving an hour early Dress down day b. 100% participation = a bagel breakfast THANK EVERYONE AGAIN AND AGAIN! Remind them that you never know when you will need the United Way and the only way that we will be there to help is if we receive support in whatever amount you can afford today.
KEEP THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING 1. Bring small prizes such as: candy, pens or keychains 2. Begin with a few ice breaker questions & give a prize Examples: Who has worked here the longest? Whose birthday is nearest to today? Who has the most children? Who is wearing blue socks? Who is wearing contact lenses? 3. Add an element of surprise: Before the presentation attendees arrive, place a sticky under a seat and who ever is sitting in that chair gets a small prize 4. Who s been listening? While people are filling out their pledge forms ask Q&A s about the UWRC Examples: What is the UW Motto? (Live United) What is the UW of Rockland Website? (www.uwrc.org) What is the UW largest day of community service called? (Day of Caring) What are the UW Worldwide 3 Impact Areas? (Education, Income & Health) Name a service specific to the UWRC (2-1-1, CA$H) What percent of Rocklanders are touched by the United Way? (1 in 3) What is the UWRC phone number? 845-358-8929 5. Give an I donated to the UWRC sticker to anyone who contributes