A thoughtfully-assembled team of volunteers will increase your chances of a successful campaign and make your job much easier.

Your Campaign Committee will help you manage your organization’s campaign and communicate with employees about United Way. Ask your CEO or local senior manager to help recruit people from all levels of your organization, from each business unit and from every location. Identifying a Co-Chair to serve as a resource will not only help this year but also help provide continuity during future campaigns.

The Campaign Committee will:

• Help you review the prior campaign and share new ideas.
• Assist in developing your campaign strategy.
• Be vital in carrying out your campaign plan.

It is critical that you:

• Work with your United Way staff partner to conduct a training session during their first team meeting, preferably at an agency so they can see their campaign dollars at work in the community.
• Establish specific duties for each campaign team member. All responsibilities and time commitments should be communicated when recruiting volunteers. Duties may include organizing volunteer trainings, setting up key events, arranging education opportunities for employees, tracking and communicating campaign results, etc.
• Keep your team engaged and informed. These colleagues will become your best advocates for United Way!

Recruiting Team Leaders (may also be called Coordinators, Ambassadors, Captains, etc.) will ensure that the United Way message reaches every level of your organization. In large organizations of 1,000 or more employees, you might recruit two levels of volunteers to help reach all employees.

Team Leaders will:

• Coordinate efforts to educate fellow employees about United Way.
• Build excitement for the campaign and encourage all to Live United.
• Make the ask and follow-up with their assigned employee group.
• Answer colleagues’ questions about United Way.

It is critical that you:

• Recruit one Team Leader for every 25 employees. At this ratio, Team Leaders can make personal contact with each employee in their group.
• Make sure each Team Leader knows the name and location of every employee for which they are responsible.
• Work with your United Way staff partner to conduct a training session, preferably at a United Way agency. To be a resource for others, the Team Leaders will need to have a real understanding of how United Way works in our community.
• Communicate with Team Leaders throughout the campaign, updating them on your progress and celebrating your success!
• Thank Team Leaders at the conclusion of the campaign. This may be through a personal note from the CEO, reception, or special gift.

You should work with your CEO to position campaign team membership as an honor. Increasing the visibility of the campaign team will generate enthusiasm and engagement among potential team members.

Who makes a good campaign committee member or team leader?

• Energetic, friendly, and enthusiastic staff members who enjoy working as part of a group.
• Emerging leaders in your organization.
• Well-respected new or veteran staff members of all levels.
• Staff members who Live United and have an interest or demonstrated commitment to improving our community.
• Employees who have benefited from United Way supported programs or services, served on United Way allocation panels or who volunteer for United Way partner agencies.

 Bright Idea

Dillard’s held their Team Leader Training at a United Way partner agency. In addition to learning more about their role, this was an opportunity for the Team Leaders to see first-hand how their contributions are making an impact.

Bright Idea

Team Captains at Frito-Lay were given LIVE UNITED shirts to wear throughout the United Way campaign. At the campaign kick-off and during individual team meetings the Team Captains were easily identifiable to all employees.