We’ve got the tools to help you make your United Through Reading employee giving campaign stand out. Check out best practices proven to engage, excite, and ultimately unite your people.

The end goal? Heightened levels of contribution dollars and participation. Use these established strategies to help military families stay United Through Reading.

Start at the Top
It’s difficult to rally the troops if the generals aren’t fully invested.

  • First solicit senior leadership, then management – all before asking your employees for a dime! Announcing 100% participation from senior leadership goes a long way.


Tip: Personalized emails and in person follow up to leadership will help secure total giving. Also one of your campaign goals should be 100% staff support.

 

Recruit a Team
Don’t run your campaign alone. Instead, two to three months before the official campaign kickoff recruit a committee of enthusiastic, resourceful, and committed employees to help you plan the best possible campaign.

  • Create a “peer to peer” effort. No one wants a boss to ask them for money. Instead, involve representatives from various departments in your organization. Diversity is essential, so invite individuals from groups such as marketing, human resources, accounting, and more.
  • Set up regular committee meetings and delegate responsibilities. Committee members will serve as ambassadors, help develop messaging/materials, and host campaign activities. The goals are to create a “culture of giving” and remind staff what good will come of their investment.


Lock Down the Logistics
It’s all about timing—take it from us.

  • The most effective campaigns have proven to be short and sweet, so design yours with that in mind. Kick it off and wrap it up within 2-4 weeks.
  • Plan ahead. It’s important to launch the campaign with a clear kickoff and wrap it up ceremoniously. These are key elements to take into consideration when establishing timing up front.


Rally the Troops
Bring people together to not only Give but to Advocate and Volunteer as well.

  • Host a kickoff event. Educational meetings and events throughout your campaign get employees together— plus, they offer an element of fun and help drive engagement. It’s an opportunity to learn more about United Through Reading and the impact their support will have.


Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Campaigns with a good plan that includes great visibility encourage everyone to get involved.

  • Create a timeline for campaign marketing that includes teasers in internal publications even before the official campaign kickoff and then every week throughout the campaign to maintain excitement and engagement.
  • Use a mixed media approach. Email, your intranet, personalized letters, social media are all valuable elements you can use to promote your campaign. Hang posters and fliers in prominent places like lobbies, kitchens/lounges, and elevators to announce campaign dates and important information.

Don't Reinvent the Wheel!

Visit our Media Resource Center to find existing promotional and campaign materials like brochures, posters, videos and more.

Media Resource Center

Make It Fun

The most important rule when it comes to holding a successful employee giving campaign is to make it fun. How do you do that?

  • Hold an inspiring kick-off party, charity fair, or similar type of networking event. These types of activities give employees the opportunity to learn more about United Through Reading, which creates a deeper connection between employees and the impact they can have on a nonprofit’s mission. These events also give employees a chance to interact with colleagues and organizational leadership, a critical part of building and demonstrating leadership’s buy-in and embedding giving into the corporate DNA.


Tip: Identify a spokesperson who has been touched by United Through Reading and ask them to share their story at the kickoff event.  The ECC should serve as cheerleaders during the kickoff.  Serve lunch and keep the event to one hour, so it’s easy for staff to attend.  Attendance prizes can lend some fun and encouragement.

  • Encourage competition between departments. Publish participation rates (never total giving) from each department regularly throughout the campaign. You will start getting calls from managers and champions wanting to know their progress, so providing regular updates will help you manage all these requests more efficiently.
  • Suggest fun games for departments. One of the craziest games that we’ve seen included a pie in the face of the department manager, but most departments encourage turning in a pledge with candy or small tokens from the Employee Champion.
  • Have weekly giveaways and final prizes. Publish the winners in the weekly campaign announcement.


Tip: Celebrate the success of those who had over 50%, over 75%, and 100% participation in their departments with special gifts.


Wrap Things Up

Clearly signify that the campaign is officially a wrap and, while you’re at it, make sure your colleagues receive proper thanks.

  • Finalize your campaign. Publicize your campaign’s end date and ensure all donations are turned in by the deadline.
  • Don’t forget to say thanks. Ensuring your employees have a positive experience is critical to reinforcing your appreciation and creating consistent donors. Thank donors, employees, and your campaign team in a timely fashion at the end of the campaign.
  • Consider the best way to say thanks. Senior leadership each receives a handwritten letter.  Campaign Committee gets public recognition on the company intranet. The department with the most participation enjoys thank-you luncheon.
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