* 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.

* Pick a campaign theme or other imaginative way to engage employees in United Way. Ask your United Way representative to share ideas of what other companies have done to make their events successful.

* 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.

* 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.

30 Minute

3 minutes

4 minutes

10 minutes

4 minutes

5 minutes

2 minutes

2 minutes

Proposed Kickoff Agenda

Welcome (Employee Campaign Coordinator)

United Way Campaign Endorsement by CEO or Senior Manager

United Way Presentation (United Way Representative)

United Way Video

United Way Agency Staff or “Success Story” Speaker

Ask for the Gift (ECC or United Way Representative)

Closing Remarks/Collect Pledge Cards (ECC)