CEO Ask Letter to Employees (Option 1)

<insert date>

Dear <insert employee name>,

During the next few weeks, you will be hearing a great deal about our local

United Way. <insert local United Way name> recruits people and organizations

from across the community to bring passion, expertise and commitment to get

things done. By focusing on the building blocks for a good quality of life —

education, income, and health — United Way is strengthening communities

and opportunities for all who live there.

Please take time this year to learn more about how United Way is advancing the

common good and join me and many other employees who Live United. There

is a lot you can do. You can give, you can advocate, and you can volunteer.

An explanation of United Way’s work and a pledge form is attached (or pledge

online with instructions). Plus, over the next few weeks, you will have many

opportunities to hear and learn more about the difference United Way makes in

our community. Please join me in supporting United Way.

Thank you.

<insert name of CEO>

CEO Ask Letter to Employees (Option 2) <insert date>

Dear <insert employee name>,

At <insert company name>, we’ve always been about helping others and

strengthening the community. Now our commitment is even more important.

Soon you’ll have the opportunity to show how much you care by supporting the

annual United Way campaign. United Way advances the common good by

creating opportunities for a better life for all. Your donation, no matter what

the amount, makes a difference and is vitally important.

With one gift to United Way, you will touch the lives of many individuals and

families. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all.

We all win when a child has a head start on quality education that leads to

success in future jobs, when individuals have enough income to support a family

through retirement, and when we all enjoy good health.

These results and changes have benefits that ripple out to the community as a

whole, helping others and strengthening the community. Now, more than ever,

your gift goes further with United Way.

We will be kicking off our United Way workplace campaign on <insert date>. Our

campaign team has put together a series of great events for us to support. Let’s

make this the most successful campaign ever!

Please join me in giving to United Way and complete the enclosed contribution

form (or pledge online with instructions). Remember you can give, you can

advocate and you can volunteer. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.

If you have any questions about the campaign, please contact <insert employee

campaign coordinator name(s) and contact information>.

Sincerely,

<insert name of CEO>

CEO Ask Letter to Employees who previously donated (Option 3)

<insert date>

Dear <insert employee name>,

<insert employee name>, Thank you for your generous donation last year as a <insert company name>

employee.

United Way recruits people and organizations who bring the passion, expertise and

resources needed to get things done. Last year, your gift was combined with others to

help advance the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all.

Our company’s 2011 United Way campaign will begin on <insert date>. During the

campaign, you will hear more about the impact United Way is making in helping

families move from barely surviving to succeeding.

For 123 years, United Way has been the trusted leader mobilizing resources to

address the community’s most pressing issues, resulting in solutions that create

measurable progress. Your donation allows United Way to continue to strategically

focus on — education, income and health — the building blocks for a good life.

Each of us can share something, so please join me in making a generous gift to

United Way. I invite you to connect with <insert employee campaign coordinator

name(s) and contact information> to take an agency tour, volunteer and get more

involved with our company campaign.

Your gift, your voice and your talent are unique and important. When you share these

with others, you exemplify what it means to LIVE UNITED.

Sincerely,

Sample Campaign Plan

Getting Started

Establish your committee right now! Every department should be

represented including union representatives

Pick up campaign materials at UWRC and utilize them immediately

Hang UWRC flyers throughout each department

Establish a date and time for presentations

Inform UWRC of the date and time so a UWRC representative can attend

Educate and motivate your campaign coordinators

Set campaign goal

Aim for 100% participation from your organization

Refer to “Keep the Fun in Fundraising” insert for new ideas

Refer to “Key Phrases” and the “Fact Sheet” inserts for additional talking points

The Perfect Campaign Presentation – 20 Minutes

Distribute pledge form

Welcome by campaign coordinator 2 minutes

Introduce UWRC presenter

Explain what it means to “Live United” 2 minutes

(refer to “How to Live United” insert)

Explain UWRC initiatives “who we help” 2 minutes

(refer to Community Impact Information Sheet)

If available, introduce speaker

Stress that UWRC is local & every dollar counts

Introduce UWRC video & play it 6 minutes

Incentive Information 2 minutes

Explain the various ways to donate: 3 minutes

Cash, Payroll Deduction, Credit Card, Stock, Online

Offer to answer any questions

(refer to “Frequently asked questions”)

Encourage them to complete pledge form 3 minutes

After your presentations

Keep up the communication

Within committee, with top management, with all co-workers

Use e-mail, bulletin boards, mailboxes

Use case stories/testimonials to make the case to give

Keep your committee informed of their progress

For more information visit our website www.uwrc.org

Show your enthusiasm

Thank everyone often

~ Over, please ~

Before you finish the campaign

Each person should be approached again

If you already have their card, thank them again

Collect all pledge cards regardless of whether a donation is made

If they are uncertain about donating ask again on the last day

Completely answer questions

Prior to reporting results to United Way

Total results & communicate success

Submit pledge cards to payroll

Please remember to submit them to UWRC after payroll is

completed

Thank you/wrap up meeting (include food!)

Start planning other UWRC events to increase visibility

Food, back-to-school, children’s books, toys, toiletry drives

E-mail updates throughout the year to donors

KEY CAMPAIGN PHRASES

LIVE UNITED

LIVING UNITED MEANS THINKING OF WE BEFORE ME

WHEN WE REACH OUT A HAND TO ONE, WE INFLUENCE THE

CONDITION OF ALL

IT TAKES EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING TOGETHER, TO

CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE

THE MOST POWERFUL WAY TO INVEST YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS TO

GIVE TO THE UWRC COMMUNITY ACTION FUND

ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD MEANS CREATING

OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL

THERE ARE BASIC THINGS WE ALL NEED FOR A GOOD LIFE

INCOME, EDUCATION AND HEALTH

A quality education that leads to a stable job

Income that can support a family

and good health

UNITED WAY’S GOAL IS TO CREATE LONG-LASTING

CHANGES BY ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF

PROBLEMS

OBTAIN MEASURABLE RESULTS

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED THE UNITED WAY

1 OUT OF 3 PEOPLE WILL USE UNITED WAY SERVICES

TOGETHER WE CAN GET RESULTS THAT NO ONE CAN ACCOMPLISH

ALONE

GIVE ADVOCATE VOLUNTEER

Fact Sheet

What is United Way of Rockland County?

The United Way of Rockland County is you, your friends and neighbors. It is a local, independent organization that is run

by volunteers and staff who focus on addressing long-term solutions for health and human Services problems in Rockland

County. Volunteers do everything from raising money from businesses, their employees and our entire community to

evaluating what local programs should be funded. Three full-time and two part-time staff members assist over 550

volunteers who work every day to improve the lives of the people who work and live in Rockland County, New York.

Where does my donated dollar go?

If you give to the United Way of Rockland County’s Community Care Fund, your dollar is combined with hundreds of

thousands more to fund programs that serve everyone from the smallest child to the most senior adult in Rockland.

Whatever is raised here, stays to help here (unless you establish on our pledge form that it is to go elsewhere).

How much of the money raised goes to the programs you fund?

Because the United Way of Rockland relies on volunteers, operating costs stay low so more money can be spent on

needed services. In 20010, United Way of Rockland withheld approximately 14.96% of the total campaign to help fund its

operations. The Better Business Bureau has given us their “seal of approval” for many years and stated that in their

opinion a charity is not spending too much on fundraising as long as the fundraising overhead is less than 33% of what is

raised. These fundraising and administrative costs are much lower than if each organization, supported by United Way,

were to raise the money completely on its own.

What is the history of the United Way movement?

United Way traces its history to 1887 in Denver, when a priest, two ministers and a rabbi planned the first united

campaign for ten health and welfare agencies raising $21,000. But the organizations as we know them today were

developed in the twenties, thirties and forties, when business and labor leaders together sought to reduce the number of

charitable appeals being made to them by conducting a single, efficient, fundraising drive. United Way of Rockland

County was established in 1964.

Today, there are approximately 1220 independent and autonomous United Ways in the United States and many more

across the rest of the world, working with volunteers to improve their community. Approximately 32 million people, one

out of three people employed in the United States, contribute to United Ways each year, making United Way the largest

charity in the country.

Confidentiality

United Way of Rockland County believes that giving is a personal matter. Whether individuals wish to give and how

much they choose is a personal choice and we keep this information confidential. All United Ways are totally opposed to

any type of coercion. Fundraising success is dependant on how much potential donors know and understand the

organization.

How is the United Way governed?

The United Way of Rockland County is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. These volunteers come from all

segments of the community. They serve on committees that plan and implement the campaign, market our service to the

community, study Rockland’s needs and determine where the money that is raised is to go. This process of “citizen

review” allows volunteers to be part of the entire process, to help solve community problems, meet community needs and

to plan for future community requirements by making focused, result-based funding decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many good charities – why give to UWRC?

A donation to United Way of Rockland County is the most powerful investment

you can make in your community because it is combined with other gifts –

multiplying their power to reach more people and to impact critical needs in our

community far more than you could do with a single gift to another organization.

A typical United Way donor supports at least one other charity along with their

church, temple or mosque as there are many needs in Rockland to be addressed.

However thousands of people who work and/or live here recognize that UWRC is

a charity that supports initiatives geared to improving lives in our community

regardless of income, background, race, ethnicity or background.

I don’t use these services – so why should I support them?

You never know when you will need United Way – don’t you want them to be

there for you when you do?

Your contribution is an investment in your future as well as your family’s future.

Whatever we raise this year for Rockland will be given out next year for

programs that help you, your co-workers, neighbors and friends.

The world would be a much better place if we could all take care of ourselves and

no one needed our help. However, none of us really goes through life alone, and

none of us is really beyond the problem of sickness or the tragedy an accident can

bring. The great thing about United Way is that it provides one very practical

way for self-sufficient…and fortunate…people to give direct help to people who

cannot help themselves, such as a neglected child, a person in crisis or an elderly

retiree.

I live outside of Rockland County – why should I give here?

Many people who work here use the services of our non-profit community

throughout the work day (such as child care, United Way’s 211 helpline etc.).

Local businesses such as ours are running a United Way of Rockland County

campaign because they believe in supporting United Way’s work.

If you also want to support the local United Way in which you live, make that

clear on your pledge form.

Why don’t you fund my favorite agency OR I don’t like that you support xyz agency.

This year UWRC opened up its grant process to ALL non-profits in Rockland and

is concentrating on initiatives to focus on issues that Rockland residents

prioritized for us.

The community Initiatives that we are funding are focused on literacy, financial

stability and family supports.

Have you been touched by the United Way?

Have you (or any member of your family) friend, neighbor or co-worker:

1. had a house fire?

2. taken a CPR course?

3. cared for an elderly parent, grandparent or family member?

4. been treated for mental or emotional problems?

5. had a problem with alcohol or drugs?

6. did not know where or how you were going to pay for food or utility bills?

7. been a victim of domestic violence?

8. just needed someone to talk to on the phone?

9. been a companion to a younger child?

10. needed clothing for school age children?

11. been in a flood or tornado?

12. been sexually assaulted?

13. participated in a community center program?

14. mentored anyone?

15. know anyone with Down’s syndrome?

16. needed to visit a food pantry?

17. had meals delivered to your home?

18. worked with a deaf or blind person?

19. needed emergency shelter?

20. had a legal problem?

21. needed day care for a child?

22. utilized an afterschool program?

23. needed help learning to read?

If you have said YES to any of the above, you may have been touched by a

program funded by the United Way of Rockland County’s Community Care Fund.

The message: If you want to help the most members of our community,

please give to the United Way of Rockland County Community Care Fund.

Incentive Information

1. FOR COMPANIES THAT MATCH: Remind your employees that their

company really believes in the results that come from donating to United

Way. They will match each donation, so your dollar goes even further.

2. Additional Incentives: Be Creative!

Examples:

a. Have a raffle to encourage employees to donate with

prizes such as:

The parking spot nearest the door

Leaving an hour early

Dress down day

b. 100% participation = a bagel breakfast

THANK EVERYONE AGAIN AND AGAIN! Remind them that you never know

when you will need the United Way and the only way that we will be there to help

is if we receive support in whatever amount you can afford today.

KEEP THE FUN IN FUNDRAISING

1. Bring small prizes such as: candy, pens or keychains

2. Begin with a few ice breaker questions & give a prize

Examples:

Who has worked here the longest?

Whose birthday is nearest to today?

Who has the most children?

Who is wearing blue socks?

Who is wearing contact lenses?

3. Add an element of surprise:

Before the presentation attendees arrive, place a sticky under a seat and who ever

is sitting in that chair gets a small prize

4. Who’s been listening?

While people are filling out their pledge forms ask Q&A’s about the UWRC

Examples:

What is the UW Motto? (Live United)

What is the UW of Rockland Website? (www.uwrc.org)

What is the UW largest day of community service called? (Day of Caring)

What are the UW Worldwide 3 Impact Areas? (Education, Income & Health)

Name a service specific to the UWRC (2-1-1, CA$H)

What percent of Rocklanders are touched by the United Way? (1 in 3)

What is the UWRC phone number? 845-358-8929

5. Give an “I donated to the UWRC” sticker to anyone who contributes