Our experience tells us that the most effective and rewarding campaigns follow these best practices.
Step 1: Utilize Mile High United Way’s Experienced Staff and Resources
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Attend the Campaign Leader Training. |
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Keep in touch regularly with your Donor Relations Representative. |
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Refer to our online toolkit and the Mile High United Way website for up-to-date news on our work in the community. |
Step 2: Secure Support from the Top
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Ask your CEO to actively support the campaign by renewing or increasing their corporate gift. |
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Develop a budget for events and incentives. |
Step 3: Build a Strong and Diverse Campaign Team
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Recruit a campaign committee that includes representatives from as many departments as you can throughout the organization. |
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Train and educate your team(s) about Mile High United Way, then assign responsibilities. |
Step 4: Develop a Campaign Plan
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Review your campaign history with your Donor Relations Representative to identify growth strategies and techniques. |
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Set your campaign goal, timeline and theme. |
Step 5: Promote and Educate
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Publicize your campaign through your company newsletters, with posters, email reminders, etc. |
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Contributors who understand or experience important issues in the community are more eager to get involved and give. |
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Consider creative ways to communicate “the ask” – paycheck stuffers, emails, bulletin boards. |
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Ask employees who have given in past years to speak about their experience at kickoff or have them write a short paragraph “testimonial” you could use to support the campaign. |
Step 6: Make Kickoff Exciting
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Make your own pledge to the campaign. |
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Communicate:
Management support
Campaign goals and activities
How to make a gift
When the campaign ends
Play the Mile High United Way campaign video
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Step 7: Make “the Ask”
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Distribute pledge forms & brochures to all staff. |
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Make sure everyone is asked for a gift through group rallies and/or one-on-one conversations. |
Step 8: Establish a Leadership ($1,000+) Giving Program
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Hold smaller, more targeted events to educate prospective Leadership contributors about community needs and the unique benefits of investing at the different levels. |
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Ask your Donor Relations Representative about other local companies’ annual Leadership challenges that can provide incentive |
Step 9: Monitor Progress and Report Results
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Hold a mid-campaign review with your Donor Relations Representative to see if you’re on track with goals. |
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Transmit all pledge forms to Mile High United Way within two weeks of closing your campaign. |
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Share your results with employees and thank them for their support. |
Step 10: Stay Involved Year Round
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Attend events such as Turkey Trot and the Women’s Leadership Luncheon. |
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Refer to our website for current Success Stories about recipients of the community’s collective generosity. Include these success stories in your organization’s newsletter, or email the stories to all staff. |
We invite you to be part of the change. You can give, you can advocate or you can volunteer.
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