Many people don’t understand what United Way does or how their donations are being used in the community. That’s why presentations are the perfect opportunity for employees to learn about the value of United Way in the Greater New Orleans Area.

1. PLAN!

• Pick a time and place to hold your campaign presentation that is convenient for most people.
• Use incentives to encourage people to attend the presentation. Food, door prizes, Wear Your Jeans To Work Day are a few ideas to get you started.
• Invite your United Way Representative and/or an Agency/Celebrity Speaker to attend. Contact your United Way Representative for a list of Agency/Celebrity Speakers.
• Promote your campaign. Flyers, workplace newsletters or “save the date” e-mails are some of the ways you can encourage attendance.
• Make your own donation before you ask others to give
• Personally invite employees to attend.

2. ORGANIZE!

• Order your materials – campaign videos, brochures, etc. (Remember to test your audio/visual equipment before the presentation)
• Personalize the pledge forms – don’t forget to bring pens!
• Make your presentation fun with games and decorations- check out our themes page for suggestions.
• Bring United Way General Campaign Brochures, Community Impact Partners Directories and print out some suggested giving guides as handouts.
• Our Training Agendas can help you organize your presentation with minute by minute outlines.
• Prepare and practice your presentation in advance- your United Way Representative can help you if needed. Plan for your presentation to last no longer than 30 minutes.
• When giving your speech, try to use your notes only when necessary and make eye contact with your audience as much as possible.

3. MEET!

Personally give each employee their pledge form and encourage them to fill the cards out during the meeting if they choose to donate.

• Welcome your coworkers (ECC)
• Have your CEO or a Senior Manager endorse the campaign.
• United Way Staff Presentation and Campaign Video.
• Introduce your Agency/Celebrity Speaker and let them have the floor.
• Ask for the gift (ECC or United Way Representative)
• Closing Remarks and collection of pledge cards. (ECC)

4. FOLLOW UP!

• Collect all pledge forms, even from those who choose not to give.
• Distribute incentives
• Follow up with those who missed the meeting.

PLEASE AVOID…

• Assuming people already know about United Way
• Asking your Coordinators to speak with employees without providing them training
• Mailing pledge forms to employees
• Arguing with people who have concerns or questions – refer to your United Way representative for any questions that you cannot answer
• Making a gift mandatory

Make sure that your CEO and senior level officers are present. This shows employees that United Way is important to the company as a whole and sets an example for employees to follow.

Have your Leadership Giving meeting among senior managers before your kickoff. This ensures that you get pledges in from your top officers before asking employees to give. To motivate employees to join in contributing, you can announce the results of your Leadership Campaign before asking employees to give.

Try to have your Kickoff at an all-staff meeting that is already on the calendar. Employees don’t have to make a special effort to attend extra meetings. It is also a great way to add some extra spunk to the day-to-day agendas.

The most responsive contributors are those who have the opportunity to become informed and involved. Well-planned campaigns with an effective communications program, conducted by committed volunteers, will ensure responsive contributors. Not only does pressure hurt the contributor, it hurts the cause as well.

The following are a few reminders to ensure that participation in the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is voluntary:

• Giving is a personal matter, and should be kept confidential.
• Employee giving should not influence personnel decisions (i.e. compensation, promotion etc.).
• A Campaign objective, which is based solely on 100% participation in an employee campaign, can create a perception of pressure, real or implied. Be sure to communicate that 100% participation is a goal.
• Although top management support is invaluable to your campaign, have peers rather than superiors do individual solicitations.
• Make sure employees know that acts of coercion in any form are unacceptable.