You, as one of our United Way Champions are central to the success of the campaign in your organization, and ultimately, to the well-being of your community. No individual, company or agency, alone can achieve as much as we can working together. Thank-you! As a Champion, your role is to: Help employees understand how a contribution to United Way directly impacts residents in Perth & Huron. Give all employees an opportunity to invest in their community by asking them if they want to donate. Benefits to you: Opportunity to learn and develop leadership skills. Lead a project from start to finish. Further your understanding of United Way s role and impact in the community. Get to know your colleagues and network with other workplace Champions. Have fun while contributing to a great cause. Vision A better life for everyone in our communities. Mission Improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action.
Prior to Week One: Prepare Set campaign dates Set financial and non-financial goals and communicate them to stakeholders: (Campaign Committee, United Way representative, management, and then your workplace) e.g. Goal: 85% participation; or $3000 total Assemble and post supplies for a visible campaign (posters, brochures, UW serving your community sheets) Hold leadership campaign (if applicable) Read the Impact Report (enclosed in your package) Make your gift making it easier to ask others to give Week One: Launch Employee Campaign Kick-Off including a supported partner speaker and United Way representative Announce your campaign goal Distribute pledge forms and canvass employees, meet with each colleague in person to make your ask. Make your case, share why YOU support United Way. Educate employees about United Way using staff meetings, bulletin boards, emails and company events. Answer any questions truthfully and forthright. Share your campaign pictures in Social Media Tip: Saying thank you to donors is important Three Ps to Success Try these 1) Prepare 2) Personalize 3) Participation Confirmation Analyse the previous campaign, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and make decisions on how you can make improvements Establish a solid Campaign Committee, comradery and new ideas can be helpful Personalize pledge forms, pre-fill out names on the forms, to reduce donor barriers Week Two: Review and Complete Analyse results to date and adjust your plan as required to reach your goal Communicate progress with United Way Complete canvassing and follow up with any employees as necessary. Make sure everyone has had an opportunity to participate. Collect unused forms. After Campaign: Wrap-Up Announce your achievements! And draw for prizes. Recognize volunteers! (Verbally, in company newsletter, etc.) Submit your campaign envelopes including pledge forms and special event proceeds to your United Way Perth-Huron representative as soon as possible Aim for 100% return of pledge forms - whether they are complete or not Tip: Provide incentives for employees to contribute. Examples for raffles: Wine basket Day off The best parking spot Restaurant certificate Jean days Trade jobs for a day
Use Online Material: visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca > Get Involved > Run a Workplace Campaign. You will find letters, pledge forms, logos, posters videos and other helpful tools. Tip: Connect with the heart of the matter Share stories of lives changed; found at perthhuron.unitedway.ca/impact/community-stories/ Have a special speaker tell their story; call 519-271-7730 to book. Try this Work a Day for United Way Have your co-workers indicate they want to donate one day of their pay to United Way, deducted installments over one year s pay. We created stickers that employees just had to put on their form, and with help of payroll we figured out their donation. It grew our campaign by 37%! Tip: Make a due date for pledge forms We suggest a two week campaign but a bigger workforce could mean you need more time. Events create enthusiasm, build momentum and increase awareness. BBQ Pizza Day Baby Picture Match Up Bake Sale Chili Cook-off CD/book exchange Plant sales Rent-a-boss Jean day Theme day Office Olympics Mini golf in the office Re-gift Auction Go blue or Go bald Pie in the face Tip: Events are best scheduled after the pledge forms have been distributed. Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Establish a campaign team Set a date Contact UWPH to arrange a presentation SWOT analysis Set goals Personalize pledge forms & assemble supplies Campaign Kick-Off Canvass Canvass Canvass Canvass Announce Goal Distribution pledge forms Review results to date Follow up with employees who have not returned their forms Call UWPH to communicate progress and/or request support 519-271-7730 Special Events Campaign wrap up Announce achievements Fill out front of envelope Call UWPH for pick up
Training: United Way staff brings with them their skills and experiences to help you and your campaign exceed goals. They will share proven strategies and offer tips, best practices and easy to use ideas to help you succeed. Online Material: visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca > Get Involved > Run a Workplace Campaign. You will find letters, pledge forms, logos, posters, videos and other helpful documents. Impact speakers: There is no greater testament to the community we build and the lives we change than through the first-hand accounts of our impact speakers. Our speakers people who have benefited from United Way funded front line programs or services and staff working on the front lines in the community put a face and a story behind each dollar donated. Presentations: Leaders in the community will come out to assist you with presentations to key groups during management meetings, staff meetings, etc. This is especially helpful when you are promoting the value of leadership gifts, which helps all campaigns grow. Print Material: Pledge forms, brochures, directory of all supported partners, and posters are available free of charge to help you promote the value of the United Way. Event Promotion: United Way will assist you in promoting your events through our monthly newsletter and social media. Send us your pictures and campaign stories to share. Cheque Presentations: United Way is happy to attend and share your achievement celebration with your team. e.g. cheque presentation, awards, photos, possible press coverage, etc. We have a BIG cheque for photo ops! Recognition: Canvasser certificates are available through your staff representative on request. Call United Way: Use United Way staff members as a resource for answers regarding information about the United Way, fundraising, and supported partners in Perth and Huron. 519-271-7730 877-818-8867 Social Media Facebook.com/UWPH1 @UnitedWayPH
Gifts that are receiptable Direct cash, cheque and credit card donations of $20 and over are automatically issued a tax receipt. Direct cash, cheque and credit card donations are receiptable for the tax year in which they are received by United Way. Monthly donations will be receipted at the end of the calendar year, others within 4 weeks of UWPH receiving them. Employees who donate through Payroll Deduction Plans are provided with donation tax receipts typically reported on their work T4 forms. Gifts that are not receipted Auction items, raffle and sale items Gift-in-kind services How much does your gift really cost? The Canadian Government offers tax incentives to encourage Canadian citizens to donate to registered charities of their choice, benefitting communities at large, in a way the individual chooses. Tip: Explain that payroll deductions are pre-tax, which means considerable savings. Donation Tax Credit Cost after Tax $5,000 $1,967. 78 $3,032. 22 $1,200 $441. 70 $758. 30 $500 $160. 58 $339. 42 $365 $106. 36 $258. 64 $200 $40. 10 $159. 90 $100 $20. 50 $79. 50 Note: for example purposes only. Tax rebates will differ depending on income Make target asks to your peers The number one reason why people do not donate is because they have not been asked. Therefore, we know that asking people for a contribution is an important part of the canvassing process. Asking for a specific amount can be helpful in reaching your canvassing goals. Consider the Work a Day for United Way approach. It is a great way to put your peers donation into perspective. People give to people. Tip: Try to do all your asks in person. When individuals donate $1,200 or more they are recognized as a Leader Giver. Encourage existing donors that are giving close to $1,200 to consider becoming a Leader Donor. Targeting giving is the number one campaign growth strategy. Your best donor is a past donor. Start there! Recognition Name Giving Level Every Day Hero ($1 per day) $365 Friends of the Way $500-$999 Leader $1,200-$2,499
Tips when answering questions: Listen make sure you understand your co-workers concerns. Try: I understand why you might feel that way. Have you considered Encourage questions Let people express themselves. It gives you an opportunity to address their concerns and correct misconceptions. Be yourself you have important information to present. Your job is to educate and create awareness regarding the work of the UWPH. Don t worry if you don t know the answers if you are stumped tell them you will get back to them after speaking with your UW representative. Remember to give people an option to change their minds. Anyone can sign up or stop donations at any time. Did you know? Over 40% of donations come from employee contributions at workplaces, making a measurable difference in what matters in our community. We cannot do it without champions like you! Will my donation stay in my community? Yes. Unless you designate your gift to another United Way, your donation will remain within your community in Huron and Perth and invest in local programs and initiatives. Why would I give through UWPH when I can give directly to an agency? United Way is a proven, effective and economical method of raising funds. Our supported partners receive more than just funding from us. We also support our partners with social research, training, mentoring, and marketing/media. Doing their own fundraising takes workers away from the frontline where they are needed most. I can t afford it. Everyone s circumstance is different, only you can determine what is right for you. Donating through payroll deduction will spread your donation over a full calendar year making your gift affordable. Your payroll gift will be tracked on your T4 and you will realize a savings on your tax return, making the net cost of your gift much less than you would think. Emphasize each and every gift makes a difference and that we hope you can participate at whatever level is most comfortable for you. Even the smallest gift has impact. Try: I felt the same way when I was first approached. May I explain why I give now? I ve already made my gift this year to other charities Thank you for your commitment to making a difference. By supporting United Way, you help ensure that social services in your own community are maintained. Our designated giving program allows donors to give to a charity of their choice.
United Way spends too much on fundraising and administration Our fundraising and related administration costs are regularly reported between 14-16 percent of the total funds raised. United Way is proud of its efforts to keep costs low through sponsorship, and volunteers. United Way s fundraising costs are consistently and substantially below the national average of 26%. The Canada Revenue Agency considers 30% to be an acceptable standard. As a registered Canadian charity, United Way is obliged to file a T3010 report with CRA annually, detailing all of its fundraising, administration, executive compensation and other costs. The latest CRA T3010 data can be found at www.cra-arc.gc.ca. Every dollar donated and every dollar spent is oun d for in our independently audited financial statements. I don t use any of the services funded by United Way You might be surprised. United Way funds initiatives through out the community. It s possible that you, members of your family, colleagues, or neighbours access funded initiatives. United Way helps our community strength by dealing with the root causes of critical social issues. United Way is about creating measurably better communities. We do this through research, community dialogue, advocacy, and evaluations. I pay taxes. The government should be responsible for looking after these services Shifts in government funding means agencies find it increasingly challenging to deliver critical services. Many funded agencies rely heavily on stable funding from United Way to deliver additional services which have been identified as critical in addressing new and emerging needs. It takes a community to care for a community. United Way mobilizes resources and brings together partners, labour, government, business and volunteers to create sustainable change in the lives of Perth and Huron residents. Municipalities have budgets too. When their budget dollars are exhausted they turn to organizations, such as United Way. About Executive Director: Ryan Erb When travelling across Perth and Huron for meetings, he drives in a Chevy Sonic - 100% sponsored by Stratford Motor Products. His current family vehicle is a 2006 mini-van. United Way Perth-Huron files its annual CRA T3010 report, which includes salary ranges for its highest compensated employees. Why do some organizations conduct their own fundraising even though they receive money from United Way? UWPH is not the sole supporter of any of our supported partners. Unfortunately, demand for services requires many agencies to raise money on their own as well. The more funding UWPH is able to provide to the social service network, the less time and resources agencies are required to allocate to fundraising. That results in more time and resources to allocate toward their main objective delivery of important social services to the citizens of Perth and Huron Counties. It also reduces their overhead costs.
In a community where everyone matters, we create opportunities for individuals and families to not just survive in our community, but to thrive and contribute. Poverty is a far reaching, complex issue. It touches everyone from children to seniors in our community. GOALS People are financially secure People have their basic needs met Current Investment: PF Solutions Family Services Perth-Huron Local Community Food Centre Huron County Distribution Centre Stratford/Perth Shelterlink United Way Perth-Huron invests in programs that make our community vibrant and safe to help create opportunities for individuals, families and communities. We focus on improving access to social and healthrelated support services, as well as supporting community integration and engagement. GOALS People are fully engaged in creating strong, inclusive communities People are connected to a strong network of community services, and to the social supports they need Current Investment: Family Services Perth-Huron Poverty to Prosperity, Huron Health Unit Social Research & Planning Council Community Outreach/Knollcrest Lodge Stratford-Perth YMCA John Howard Society Working toward ensuring that all children and youth experience positive mental health and well-being, and feel a sense of belonging in their communities. United Way supported partners provide access to skill development, literacy, mentoring, nourishment and physical activity. GOALS Children and youth experience positive mental health and wellbeing Children and youth are involved and feel they belong in their communities Current Investment: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Listowel & Area Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Huron CNIB Emily Murphy Centre St Marys Youth Centre YMCA Mitchell Youth Centre Huron Recreational Arts & Sports Program Huron Safe Homes for Youth