SIX STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN - Step 1

Step 1: Create a Winning Team

Together, Everyone Achieves More! You may have already started recruiting others to assist you with the campaign. As you build your team, strive to include individuals in your organization who are leaders, respected team players, and dedicated to the success/completion of the job. Keep in mind that a team should include different talents to make the campaign activities exceptional, personalities to connect with a variety of different people, and positions to represent all within your organization. Take a look at our Campaign Cabinet for the 2006 Campaign. This team is available to help you.

Coordinator Trainings are held prior to the campaign. It is vital that you attend one with your team or share the knowledge and skills you attain from that training. After you attend, your top priority is to educate everyone working on the campaign. Work with your United Way representative to develop content and timing for your team training sessions. Your representative will provide materials about United Way programs and best practices, give insightful ideas, and answer any questions you may have. Consider holding your training or committee meeting at a United Way agency to reinforce the relevance of your team's efforts and give each team member a story to tell.

At your first team meeting:

• Introduce all team members and clarify the role of each team member to the entire group.
• If your team is large, hand out an organization chart as a reminder of roles and responsibilities throughout the campaign.
• Familiarize committee members with United Way - why it is important, how it works, the agencies supported and what they do, and how much it depends on employee campaigns to meet the needs of the community.
• Share key strategies for a successful campaign.
• Appoint members of your team to projects, special (fun) events, leadership giving, pledge form distribution, etc.
• Review the Pledge Form and the Report Envelope with your team prior to launching the campaign.
  

Secure Support from Management

Enlist your CEO's visible and personal support to ensure that your campaign is a success. The support of your CEO and Top Management can lead to more resources, more flexibility in planning and implementing your campaign and recognition for all involved. In addition, support of the organization's leadership sets a positive tone for the campaign and can also set the stage for increased contributions at every level.
With last year's results in hand and a potential goal and timeline in mind, set a meeting with your CEO and ask him/her to:

• Visibly support the campaign and support the campaign team in the necessary time to plan and run a successful campaign
• Enlist the support of all senior executives and encourage them to visibly support the campaign as well
• Recruit a member of senior management as a Leadership Giving Chairperson
• Make a corporate gift
• Write a personal letter to the employees and speak at an employee meeting. Our
  CEO letter sample is in the Tools and Resources section. You can use this as a draft for him or her to work with.
• Attend group meetings and other campaign activities
• Approve time and resources that will be needed to hold a fun and educational campaign
• Ensure newly hired employees are given the opportunity to contribute when hired
• Actively involve retirees in the campaign
• Stay involved in a year-round relationship with United Way and the community

Need Help Getting Started?

Get to know your United Way representative. If you haven't met or need the contact information, look at Tools and Resources for a list of UWCA Campaign Staff. You may also want to refer to United Way Facts as a tool for training your team.

• Six Steps to a Successful Campaign
• Important Dates for your Campaign
• Tools and Resources