Ambassador Training 2016 – Table Discussion
Title of Table Discussion: Campaign Best Practices for Agency Partners
Overview of Table Discussion
We are here for all who are ready to invest in the possibility of a brighter future. By running
a United Way giving campaign, your agency empowers your employees to remain an active
part of not just your agency, but the community as a whole. In this session, we will share
the best tips & practices on leading a successful internal giving campaign.
Case Study: Living Well Disability Services is a non-profit organization that serves
individuals impacted by disabilities through residential and community based programming.
The organization was founded by parents of kids with disabilities and has since grown to
employ over 600 staff that operate out of 33 metro locations, and an additional 2 group
homes located out of metro. Living well sets both a donor and volunteer goal when planning
it's United Way campaign. Our main focus is to engage employees so we reach both of
these goals.
How do we engage employees?
First, do your employees know what the United Way truly is, the mission, and it's impact?
Employee education and engagement right from the start is very beneficial. We don't want
to assume everyone knows what we know. We need to inform our teams on the basics to
stimulate growth and vested interest. Some people are completely unaware of the services
and supports provided by the United Way.
At Living Well our workforce is spread throughout the Twin Cities and individuals are hired
and trained in 35 different locations. Staff continuously change so we want to make sure our
relationship and partnership with the United Way is highlighted with each new employee.
We do this by discussing our United Way partnership with each new employee during their
90 day training. We provide pamphlets, reading material, and face to face discussion about
our annual United Way campaign. Next, during our two month campaign our United Way
committee members and ambassadors schedule United Way speakers and provide videos
to our workforce teams. This gives employees an opportunity to hear personal success
stories from those who have accessed United Way services.
Secondly, get people excited! Years ago we would receive a piece of paper in our mailbox
asking us to donate to the United Way, and that's about it. In the last five years we have
formed a committee dedicated to running a campaign and creating a broader reach. The
gtcuw.org
committee members help managers engage their employees by creating friendly fundraising
competitions, presenting an award each year for the team with the highest participation, gift
drawings, sharing volunteer opportunities, creating a campaign video to be viewed at team
meetings, and my personal favorite that I've done; ask your team members to share about
an organization or someone in their life who has helped them, or, made their life better?
Lastly, keep people invested. They should feel a part of the United Way family. You've
heard the expression "out of sight out of mind." Over the last three years we have been able
to retained donors and volunteers by verbally thanking them throughout the year, keeping
materials and signage up all year round, providing United Way info in our company
newsletters, sharing success stories, and educating our employees on all the organizations
in their own backyard that partner with United Way. As an ambassador, keep your team
informed of volunteer opportunities all year round and encourage the spirit of giving. "We all
do better when we all do better." - P. Wellstone. "Giving is Living" -my personal motto
List of best practices and resources
Planning and running an engaging and effective United Way campaign leads to:
 Increased number of donors and volunteers to help reach campaign goals
 Expanded employee education about other nonprofits in the community
 Reinforcement of an employee’s identification and commitment to causes important
to the community
 Empowerment of employees to remain an active part of not just your agency, but the
community as a whole
Make sure your agency’s leadership is involved and helps champion campaign goals and
efforts. This might include: involvement in the campaign committee, crafting a message in
support of the campaign, visibility at campaign events and being involved in the
recognition/Thank You of staff.
Recruit and empower an effective campaign committee for planning and execution of
strategies and events.
Consider the different employee groups in your agency: Do they work different schedules?
Do you have different locations to include? How will you engage these different groups? Are
there younger employees that are new to giving that may need more of a “case” for giving?
Do you have employees who need an update about how United Way is impacting the
community?
Contact your Relationship Manager or visit the Ambassador Portal at https://junction.
gtcuw.org for additional information.
Contact Information:
Bess Bryan
Program Coordinator
Living Well Disability Services
[email protected]
gtcuw.org