2018 CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018-2019 Campaign Coordinator Guide A Special Message 2 Your Role as Campaign Coordinator.. 3 About Our United Way.. 4 Agency Partners & Direct Services.. 5, 6 10 Steps to a Successful Campaign.. 7, 8 Campaign Materials. 9,10 United Way Presentations 101. 11 Fun Ideas & Online Resources.... 12 Frequently Asked Questions. 13 United Way Staff Contacts. 14 1
A SPECIAL MESSAGE Dear Campaign Coordinator, Welcome to United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and your role as a Campaign Coordinator. The United Way annual campaign is about OPENING DOORS to bring people together and provide opportunities to address our community s most important issues. Our United Way advocates for the Education, Health and Financial Stability of everyone in our community. We are the problem solvers, the hand raisers, the game changers. Through your effort and the generous gifts of your fellow team members, we will be able to positively impact one out of every three residents on the Lower Shore. This incredibly necessary work would not be possible without your vital role as Campaign Coordinator! Serving our community as a Campaign Coordinator gives needed help and hope to our families, friends, neighbors and coworkers right here on the Lower Eastern Shore. For almost 75 years, our United Way has experienced much success in our annual employee campaigns because: We have enthusiastic Campaign Coordinators, just like you, who take their jobs very seriously All money raised stays right here to support local programs We are administratively efficient. By serving a four county area with a small but mighty United Way staff, we save our partner agencies thousands of dollars in fundraising costs We have unmatched stewardship and accountability services provided for EVERY donor. This allows us to ensure that all gifts are directed to areas where they have a significant impact Our United Way and community need you now more than ever. Please help us tell our story so we can ensure children have solid educational opportunities, provide financial stability to families in crisis, and give our seniors and vulnerable neighbors access to quality health care. We know you re a busy professional and we appreciate you giving us two of your most valued resources: your time and attention. We are incredibly grateful for your leadership! Please know that our United Way staff and Board of Directors are here to support you every step of the way. Together, UNITED, everyone can inspire hope, create opportunities, and OPEN DOORS that lead to a better tomorrow. On behalf of our staff, Board of Directors, partner agencies, and program service recipients, please accept our heartfelt thanks for all that you do. Sincerely, Dana Seiler Board Chairman 2
YOUR ROLE AS CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR Thank you for being your company s Campaign Coordinator! Each year, volunteers like you play an important role in United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore s Annual Campaign. What does a Campaign Coordinator do? As a Coordinator, you help your co-workers get involved in making our community a better place by planning and coordinating a successful United Way campaign within your company. Key Responsibilities and Guidelines: Attend the United Way CEO & Campaign Coordinator Breakfast Work closely with your CEO and United Way staff member to raise money and awareness for local programs Develop an effective campaign plan including presentations, goals, incentives, etc. Coordinate the distribution and collection of campaign materials Promote the campaign throughout your company Make your company campaign fun! Utilize the 10 Steps to a Successful Campaign on Pages 7-8 Set an example by making the first pledge and sharing with your team why you support our local community Perdue Sales and Marketing Executives paid up on the Car Wash Challenge 3
ABOUT OUR UNITED WAY United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and our supporters fight for the Education, Health and Financial Stability of every person in our community. For nearly 75 years, we continue to be the largest non-governmental source of funding for 81 critical programs in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. United Way helps Lower Shore residents obtain educational success by reducing the achievement gap between low and middle income students; financial stability by advancing the economic security of families and individuals in our community; and good health by improving access to, and awareness of, local health and wellness services. United Way currently invests over $1.6 million in community programs and helps change the lives of over 84,000 individuals. Quick Facts about UWLES Mission statement: To create and enhance opportunities for making a positive and lasting impact in Education, Financial Stability and Health for all. Our United Way is governed by a Board of Directors made up of 34 local volunteers. Dollars raised by our United Way stay in the four Lower Shore counties of Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester and Somerset. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore has achieved the elite Platinum Level Guide Star nonprofit status, demonstrating the organization's commitment to transparency. This rating is awarded to nonprofits who exceed industry standards and outperform most others in its category. More information can be found at http://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-6016589 United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore is the official Volunteer Center for the Lower Shore. Our Get Connected platform is the go-to place for volunteers to connect with local opportunities and events. www.shoregetconnected.org. Students at Pinehurst Elementary School Salisbury University students help clean up around Wicomico County United Way Emerging Leaders participate in a ramp build to allow a homebound resident to leave her home. 4
AGENCY PARTNERS & DIRECT SERVICES American Red Cross - Delmarva Disaster Services Bay Area Center for Independent Living Assistive Technology Center Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Shore Mentoring Catholic Charities - Seton Center Basic Needs / Food / Case Management Chesapeake Housing Mission Critical Home Repair Christian Shelter Emergency Shelter Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care Hospice Care Palliative Care Compass Support Program Delmarva Community Services Transportation for Dialysis Patients Alzheimer's Respite Care Emergency Food Pantry Emergency Dental Program Homelessness Prevention Veterans Medical Transportation Senior Rural Transportation & Food Distribution Delmarva Boy Scouts Lower Shore Outreach Diakonia Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Emergency Food Assistance Homeless Prevention & Rapid Rehousing Dove Pointe Day Services Easterseals Pediatric Therapy Services Epoch Dream Center After School Enrichment & Summer Program For All Seasons Dorchester School-Based Mental Health Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouting Outreach Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico Community Building Roof & Repair Program Horizons Salisbury Academic Connections Summer Enrichment Life Crisis Center MD 2-1-1 24/7 Referral Hotline Lower Shore Enterprises Workforce Development & Community Integration Transportation M.A.C., Inc. Meals on Wheels Senior Job Training Alzheimer s Day Program Senior Care Maryland Food Bank, Eastern Shore Pantry on the Go Mid Shore Community Mediation Ctr. Dorchester Schools Conflict Resolution Moveable Feast Home Delivered Meals 5
AGENCY PARTNERS & DIRECT SERVICES Recovery Resource Center Community Center Salisbury Urban Ministries Kids Café Community Health & Prescription Program Samaritan Ministries Emergency Shelter Soup Kitchen Somerset Community Services Day Program Transportation Talbot Special Riders Equine Therapy Program, Lower Shore Telamon Corporation FAST Job Training Program Financial Literacy & Housing Counseling The Child & Family Foundation One Year to Empowerment The Salvation Army Cambridge House of Hope Shelter Pathway of Hope Social Services The Salvation Army Lower Shore Social Services Older Adult Ministries Education & Latchkey Program Salisbury Youth Club Crisfield Youth Club Richard Hazel Youth Center Village of Hope Steps to Success Transitional Living Worcester County Developmental Center Day Program Worcester Youth & Family Services Mental Health Counseling Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Family Connections SAGES/ SABERS Youth Programs UNITED WAY DIRECT SERVICES Imagination Library Tech 4 Teens Agency Training & Support Information & Referral Community Impact & Donor Services Get Connected/ Volunteer Center Student United Way Emerging Leaders Projects ALICE Project Heroin & Addiction Awareness Health Literacy Girls on the Run Read to Succeed Tech Assurance Jump Start for Nonprofits Women United Women United volunteers took the inaugural class of Girls on the Run to Baltimore for the regional 5K. 6
10 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN 1 2 Meet and Engage with your CEO Have your CEO send out a personal letter to encourage support of the campaign Have your CEO be an active part of your kick-off Discuss and/or develop your campaign budget and possible incentives Recruit a Committee and Plan your Campaign Set your campaign timeline (ten days recommended) Discuss and/or develop your campaign budget Ask for help! Keep in mind people who volunteer are involved because they want to be and will lend energy to your campaign Decide what your campaign activities will look like (presentations, activities, food, and incentives or prizes) Ask your United Way staff contact to coordinate presentation speakers Assign committee tasks and establish target dates for completion Consider adding online enrollment, too!(20 employee minimum required for set up) 3 4 5 Set Employee Goals Create a dollar goal Create a percent participation goal Encourage employees to give at a certain dollar level to qualify for our Affinity Groups or Giving Societies: Women United ($500), Emerging Leaders ($250), Leadership Circle ($250) or Anchor Society ($500) Review and Evaluate Past Performance and Calculate Goal Work with United Way staff to find out about your company s giving history Review last year s campaign and any feedback you received as to what worked and didn t work Incorporate new ideas for this year s campaign Publicize your Campaign Share how to pledge, when to pledge, and what your pledges support Use official United Way materials (i.e. posters, videos, brochures, online) Send email communications to raise awareness about campaign activities and events Create a section on your company s intranet to share information about United Way and your company s campaign, linking it to United Way s website www.unitedway4us.org Use fun and easy incentives to encourage giving Use social media to create excitement and promote donor recognition and successes 7
6 7 8 9 Conduct an Educational Campaign Knowledge is power and presentations are KEY Invite your United Way staff contact to speak at a meeting Conduct group presentations for all departments if large meetings are not an option Share the United Way Campaign video Ensure every employee receives United Way materials Inform your team about the impact of a gift! Any amount helps! Promote Leadership Giving Discuss with your CEO the opportunity for he/she to recognize Leadership donors within the company Encourage donors to add spouse information on pledge form so they both receive credit for their combined gift Ask Everyone to Give...Without Pressure Airline tickets Lunch with the CEO Leave work early pass Allow everyone the opportunity to give. Ensure you Job swapping for the day engage every person by asking your committee and other Logo shirts advocates to reach out to their co-workers (people say the Lottery tickets number one reason they didn t give is because they weren t asked!) Cornament team entry Collect all pledge forms; pink copies stay with the donor, yellow copies go to your payroll office, and the top white copies go to United Way. Complete the campaign envelope form, and schedule a pick-up with your United Way contact or drop the campaign envelope off at your closest PNC location. Please do not submit via US mail. Report Results and say Thank You Incentive Ideas to Inspire Recognize individuals, groups, and departments that went above and beyond during the campaign Announce your final results to all employees through a communication from your CEO and/or conduct a celebration activity Thank everyone at the time of giving Make a Thank You display (hang posters, campaign activity photos and mementos of the campaign) Give special thanks to your committee (hold a special coffee break where everyone receives a special thank you from you and the CEO) Gas cards Extra vacation day Movie passes Prime parking space Sporting event tickets Restaurant gift certificates Theater or concert tickets Smith Island Cake Plants, mums, etc. United Way mugs, pens, etc. 0 HAVE FUN ALONG THE WAY! set up a team event. Engage your employees with creative activities that also educate about United Way Provide special pledge incentives for increased giving, and/or other levels you feel appropriate to award. United Way swag can be ordered at unitedwaystore.com or contact United Way to Volunteer together! Visit www.shoregetconnected.org for opportunities. 8
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS Pledge Form Three Easy Steps for Donors 1. Fill in the contact information at the top 2. Choose how you want to give 3. Sign your name Where does each copy go? White copy: United Way (submit in Campaign Envelope) Yellow copy: Your Payroll Department Pink copy: Stays with the Donor Affinity Groups The bottom of the pledge form is optional. This is where donors can request more information about our Emerging Leaders or Women United Optional Choices The Optional Choices section allows donors to restrict a contribution to a specific agency. There is a minimum $100 donation for a restricted contribution. The donor can also direct their contribution to another United Way. Undesignated gifts are allocated to programs with the greatest need and impact. A list of United Way Agency Partners is on the back of the form. Incentives Select shirt size when contribution is $250.00 or more. Select Opt Out if no gift is desired. Avery Hall Insurance Executives submitted to the Mashed Mayhem for all employee donors that pledged their support. Somerset County Public Schools hosted a SOLD OUT Crab Feast 9
Campaign Envelope Please complete all fields on the envelope! Record all donations and provide totals. Remember to include the contact person at your organization that handles payroll deduction pledges. Checks should be made payable to United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. Please DO NOT STAPLE checks to forms. Drop off the Campaign Envelope at United Way s Salisbury office, any local PNC Bank, or contact your United Way campaign staff to schedule a pick-up. Please do not mail. Campaign Posters Campaign posters can be hung in prominent places in your place of work to increase awareness of the campaign. Thermometers Use thermometers to set goals and communicate campaign progress. Yard Signs Display eye-catching signs outside of your building and on company grounds to show your support and increase awareness of the campaign. Window Clings Display these on your building s entry door/window glass, in staff breakrooms, and even on company vehicles to show that you re a United Way Community Partner! Digital Materials Additional materials, our campaign video and PDF copies of the materials listed above can be found online at: http://www.unitedway4us.org/campaign-toolkit 10
UNITED WAY PRESENTATIONS 101 Presentations are THE KEY to campaign success! Our United Way staff can tailor a presentation to suit your schedule and needs. Presentations can be anywhere from 3-30 minutes (15-20 minutes is ideal) and can take place any time of day or night, and for any size staff group. We are always on call! Please note: Giving WILL increase after having a United Way staff member present information. We aren t just there to raise funds we are also raising awareness of the programs available in our community. One of those programs might help one of your employees! This is a soft ask we never want anyone to feel pressured. We also value presentations as a way to say Thank you. Components of a Successful Presentation Welcome CEO or Campaign Coordinator Brief introduction of why the meeting was called. Distribute pledge forms with employee names. United Way Impact United Way Staff or Board Member Our United Way will share information about our programs and services and answer any questions about how to donate. Each year we highlight 3 programs in the areas of Education, Financial Stability and Health. If possible, we will also show our annual United Way Video (if A/V is set up prior to the meeting). Speaker Partner Agency Representative or Personal Story One of the most impactful ways to motivate a potential donor is to have a partner agency share information on the programs provided and even highlight a client that has been helped. Your staff liaison will be happy to coordinate this. Also, many companies find that their own employees may want to share their story if they have been helped through United Way. Wrap-up Campaign Coordinator Make sure to thank everyone for attending and ask co-workers to consider giving a donation. Provide information on any company incentives and share a deadline date for form submission. Voluntary Giving Policy An individual s choice of whether or not to contribute, as well as how much to contribute, is at the very basis of the United Way philosophy. The following principles outline United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore s commitment to voluntary giving: Any use of pressure or coercion is unethical, and does far more harm to our organization and those we serve than any short-term gains it may produce. While 100% participation can be a fun statistic to celebrate, ask that donors participate to help make a difference not as part of a quota. Contributing to United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore should be presented as an opportunity to help the community. The most effective workplace campaigns are the result of employee education about United Way and its agencies. Donations of any amount are valued. Payroll deduction allows donors to give as generously as they like by deducting a small amount of money per pay period. United Way encourages CEOs and management teams to inform their employees of this policy. 11
FUN IDEAS Casual Dress Day Allow employees who make a contribution to wear jeans or have a casual dress day. Challenge another department Choose an activity that might inspire your team to outperform a challenger. Establish baselines and rewards. Matching Game Invite employees to try their luck by matching baby and/or pet photos with pictures of management or different departments. Charge employees $2 per ballot and award the winning entry with a prize. Rock Star Parking Employees always appreciate premier parking spaces. Food Host an ice cream social, barbecue, chili cook-off, bake sale and/or picnic and have employees make a donation to attend. Tips for Treats Different departments have treats (anything from chips & queso to brownies, cookies, and candy). Employees visit the different departments and pay for treats. Any amount can be donated. Positive Change Place large water bottles in strategic places and encourage staff to drop off their loose change into these bottles to help make a positive change in the community. Get competitive and hold Penny Wars! ONLINE RESOURCES Website www.unitedway4us.org The United Way website is a great source of in-depth, up-to-date information. It includes current news, financial information, and updates on our work. Campaign Toolkit www.unitedway4us.org/campaign-toolkit The campaign video can be viewed online. Social Media United Way Store www.unitedwaystore.com Order UW merchandise. @uwles @UnitedWay_LES @UnitedWayLES @shoregetconnected @UnitedWay_LES e-newsletter & Annual Report While on the website, visitors can sign up to receive our quarterly electronic newsletter or browse our 2017 Annual report. It s a great way to stay informed about how United Way is working in the community throughout the year. Get Connected Volunteer Center Looking for volunteer opportunities? Visit www.shoregetconnected.org or contact UW Staff! 12
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Where does my contribution go? All funds in the Campaign go into our local Community Impact Fund unless a donor designates a specific agency. Each year, United Way s Community Impact Committee evaluates overall community needs and Partner Agency programs and allocates funds where they will have the most impact. The Community Impact Fund is the best way to help the most people right here at home. Who decides how my donation gets spent? In the spring, trained volunteers form our diverse Community Impact Committee (CIC), with all four counties represented. These individuals evaluate community needs and services provided by United Way Community Partners. This review assures that all gifts are used in a manner that best meets the needs of the community. These volunteers spend over 1,100 combined hours in making funding recommendations to the United Way Board for final approval. What about the pressure to give? United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore has specific policies against pressuring anyone to give. The decision to give is a personal one and no one should be pressured or coerced into giving. Refer to Page 11 for more information on United Way s Voluntary Giving Policy. How much of my donation stays on the Lower Shore? Thanks to a generous donor, 100% of all pledges raised stay on the Lower Eastern Shore. Our dues to be a part of the United Way Worldwide system and brand is covered completely so all individual donor dollars stay right here. United Way Worldwide provides us with marketing and staff training and support. What is United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore s overhead cost? United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore s administrative/overhead cost is 19% which is far below the 25% standard for national charities and the 37% national average. Can I give my gift to a specific partner? Yes, the designated contribution section allows donors to pick a specific partner agency to direct their gift. There is a minimum of $100 for a restricted contribution. Can I give my gift to another local United Way? Yes, you may designate another United Way by name or by City/State on the lower part of the pledge form. As a Campaign Coordinator, what if I get a question that I don t know how to answer? Don t be afraid to say you don t know. Each coordinator has a staff liaison that is happy to help. The United Way website, www.unitedway4us.org, also offers extensive information. For more online resources refer to Page 12 of this guide. 13
30 SECONDS ON UNITED WAY You never know when you might get asked to say a few words about United Way. Here s a 30 second pitch on what we do and what it means to LIVE UNITED. United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, health and financial stability- the building blocks for a good life. Everyone wins when children succeed in school, families are financially stable, and people have good health. The goal is to create long lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. We have different points of view, but are UNITED for the common good. Together, UNITED, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a bright future. That s what it means to LIVE UNITED. UNITED WAY STAFF CAMPAIGN CONTACTS Office: Info@unitedway4us.org Phone: 410-742-5143 Resource Development Manager: Stacey McMichael stacey@unitedway4us.org Finance Manager: Steve Fulkrod steven@unitedway4us.org 14
For Volunteer Opportunities click on www.shoregetconnected.org United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore 803 North Salisbury Blvd., Suite 2100 Salisbury, Maryland 21801 www.unitedway4us.org 410-742-5143 15