United Way of Central Alabama


» Six Steps to a Successful Campaign Step 4 Put Your Plan into Action The number one reason people don't give is because they are not asked. People need information to make an informed decision. You want them to be educated on United Way and feel good about giving. Do not assume that people know what United Way does, how its partner agencies make a difference, and how employee campaign giving helps. Keep this in mind as you carry out your plans with meetings and special events. Your United Way Staff Representative and your Loaned Executive are available for your meetings and events to make a presentation, answer questions, or say thank you. Please use them as a resource for your campaign along with other materials provided. Asking Employees To Give The first step to a successful solicitation is for you to make your pledge. Then, ask every employee to give either in a group meeting or one-on-one. This gives the employee a chance to ask questions about United Way. Group Solicitation A group meeting can be presented in approximately 20 minutes. Include things to encourage attendance, e.g., refreshments, decorations, music, door prizes, etc. During the meeting: Have your CEO welcome employees and give his/her endorsement of United Way Have your Loaned Executive and/or a United Way representative to speak Allow employees to give testimonials Show the video Pass out pledge cards and have pens for signing Ask for cards to be returned at the meeting (or an appropriate date within the week) and thank everyone for attending One-on-One solicitation The One-on-One method involves you meeting with an employee individually and asking for their gift. Be sure you: Schedule an appointment to show you are respectful of the individual's time Consider who you are meeting with and tailor your presentation to their interest Prepare your "presentation" in advance and practice Present reasons for giving; share why you give Give them an opportunity to ask questions Ask for their participation at a specified level or ask them to increase their current gift Sharing a Story Make this effective through agency tours, fairs, speakers, an employee testimonial, or a meeting/event presentation by you or the loaned executive. Agency Tours & Speakers Call your Loaned Executive to schedule tours (your organization should arrange for their own transportation to and from tours) and speakers and keep in mind: Schedule tours and speakers a minimum of two weeks in advance When choosing a date and time, allow time for travel as well as the tour Give employees lots of advanced notice Send reminders the day before If the size of your group significantly changes or if you need to cancel, notify your Loaned Executive at least 24 hours in advance When you call your Loaned Executive to schedule a tour or speaker have the following information: Company contact person's name, title, and phone number Address of where meeting will be held and directions Date, time, and approximate number of people Description of audience, e.g., management, labor, mostly male or female Any specific request of agency or field of service Presentations Without question, a presentation of some sort - whether it is one-on-one or to a group - is essential to the success of your campaign. Determining the type of campaign presentation that is best suited for an organization depends largely on the number of employees, organization structure and corporate culture. A presentation is an excellent opportunity to provide employees not only information about how their contributions will be invested to improve the health of the community but also an opportunity to ask questions about United Way. A group meeting agenda usually looks something like this: Opening remarks (2 minutes) - open the meeting with a few words about the company's history of employee campaigns and commitment to this year's campaign. Announce leadership giving campaign results or the corporate gift at this time. Overview (10 minutes) - your United Way representative and an agency speaker will explain investments that United Way makes in your area and the counties served by United Way and its partner agencies. Be sure to include the facts relating to the accountability and efficiency of United Way. Show the campaign video (7-10 minutes) Ask for pledges (1 minute) -emphasize the opportunity to give and allow them to make an individual decision based on the story and facts presented, not by pressure. Questions (2 minutes) Handling Objections and Questions When faced with tough questions or objections remember: an objection is an opportunity to give positive information about United Way. When handling objections to United Way, keep the following things in mind: A question is not an objection Don't take it personally Don't argue Ask open ended questions for clarification Address the concern Focus on the positive If you're not sure of an answer, say so. Then, call our Communications Department @ 458-2045 or your Loaned Executive and get back to the person with an answer quickly. For additional help with some questions you may face during your campaign, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions. Making a Pledge At this point, your employees have heard the story and have been asked to give. Make giving easy for them and wrap-up easy for you: Payroll Deduction Giving by Payroll Deduction is a convenient and effective way for an employee to contribute. If Payroll Deduction is not currently used at your organization, United Way staff can help you establish the process. Credit Card Donors can also pledge and pay by credit card. United Way accepts payments made through Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. This method requires providing United Way with a signed pledge card, credit card number and expiration date. If the donor does not specify when they would like their card debited, United Way will debit the credit card on the date the pledge card is received in the United Way office. Stock Gifts Donating appreciated stock is an excellent tool that allows donors to "donate more but feel it less" because the tax deduction for the donation is based on the current fair market value. For more information on how to donate stock, contact Marcy Clark at 458-2012. Follow-up Request that all pledge forms be completed and turned in by a specific date even if the employee chooses not to give. Having all pledge forms completed and turned in is a good way of recognizing if every employee was given the opportunity to contribute. » Tools and Resources » Important Dates » Campaign Ads » Campaign Logos and Graphics » Videos » Reporting Forms » Speaker, Tour, and Agency Fair Forms