Sample E-Mails
- Campaign preview — sent one week before campaign starts
- Campaign kickoff:
- Impact area #1: Education
- Impact area #2: Income
- Impact area #3: Health
- What a dollar buys
- Thank you — sent to people who have made a gift
- Reminder #1:
- Reminder #2: "last call" — sent the day before the campaign ends
- End-of-campaign "thank you" — sent after campaign concludes
Campaign Preview
Sent one week before the campaign starts
Subject line:
What does the future hold?
Body copy:
The [COMPANY NAME] United Way campaign starts next week! It's a great opportunity for us to have a little bit of fun as we learn more about the conditions in our community. You'll see how United Way is focused on creating a better future for people throughout our region.
Please join us in as many of the events and activities as you can:
- Learn about the impact your United Way contributions make in our community.
- Visit a United Way service provider to see your donation in action.
- Participate in a volunteer project.
- Take part in one of the fun team-building activities.
Of course, we'll also give you the opportunity to LIVE UNITED and support the United Way when you Give. Advocate. Volunteer.
Look for more information next week!
Sincerely,
[ECC]
P.S. Here's a little something to think about before our campaign kickoff. Ten years from today, someone who is currently 4 years old will be starting 9th grade. If you could do anything to improve the community for that child — and all of us — by 2020, what would you do?
Campaign Kickoff
General Version
Subject line:
Let's Create a Brighter Future
Body copy:
Today is the start of the [COMPANY NAME] United Way campaign! I'm especially excited about it this year because we have the chance to support United Way efforts to make transformative improvements in the lives of people in our community
Take the example of Analiza, a 4-year-old girl in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood in Dallas. Tens of thousands of children in our community from low-income families start kindergarten one or two years behind grade level — and many of them never catch up.
But two years ago, Analiza's mom, Joyce, signed them up for a United Way early education program. Your support has helped Analiza to now be on track, so that she'll be ready for kindergarten next fall.
Now imagine it's the year 2020. Ten years from now, Analiza will enter ninth grade. Do you think most of her classmates will be ready to succeed in high school — and beyond? Will they look at North Texas as a place that will offer good job opportunities to work toward? And will they and their parents have good health?
During the United Way campaign, we all have a chance to help make sure the answers to those questions are good ones. How can you get involved?
- Turn in your completed pledge from by [MONTH XX]
- Come to a meeting to learn more about Analiza and about the work United Way does in our community in the areas of Education, Income and Health
- Volunteer with your colleagues at a Day of Caring event — e-mail me for more information
- Take a tour of a United Way service provider — please let me know if you are interested
If you have any questions — about this or at any time throughout the campaign — please let me know. And thank you for your support of United Way!
Let's have a great campaign!
[ECC]
P.S. Last year, our United Way campaign raised [$XX,XXX] for our community and we expect to reach a goal of [$XX,XXX] this year. Please help us. Turn in your pledge card by [MONTH XX].
Campaign Kickoff
Leadership Version
Subject line:
Let's Create a Brighter Future
Body copy:
Today is the start of the [COMPANY NAME] United Way Leadership Giving campaign! I'm especially excited about it this year because we have the chance to support United Way efforts to make transformative improvements in the lives of people in our community.
Take the example of Analiza, a 4-year-old girl in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood in Dallas. Tens of thousands of children in our community from low-income families start kindergarten one or two years behind grade level — and many of them never catch up.
But two years ago, Analiza's mom, Joyce, signed them up for a United Way early education program. A gift of just $25 per week from a Leadership Society member like you helped Analiza and another child to get on track, so they'll be ready for kindergarten next fall.
Now imagine it's the year 2020. Ten years from now, Analiza will enter ninth grade. Do you think most of her classmates will be ready to succeed in high school — and beyond? Will they look at North Texas as a place that will offer good job opportunities to work toward? And will they and their parents have good health?
You can help make sure the answers to those questions are good ones. By giving $1,000 or more annually — that's only $20 per week — you become a United Way Leadership Society member. You lead by example — through your gifts, actions and voice. And you help create a better community for Analiza, Joyce, you and me. How can you get involved?
- Turn in your completed pledge from by [MONTH XX]
- Come to a meeting to learn more about Analiza and about the work United Way does in our community in the areas of Education, Income and Health
- Volunteer with your colleagues at a Day of Caring event — e-mail me for more information
- Take a tour of a United Way service provider — please let me know if you are interested
If you have any questions — about this or at any time throughout the campaign — please let me know. And thank you for your support of United Way!
Let's have a great campaign!
[ECC or Leadership Giving Chair]
P.S. Please help us. Make your pledge by [MONTH XX].
Campaign Kickoff
Tocqueville Version
Subject line:
Let's Create a Brighter Future
Body copy:
Today is the start of the [COMPANY NAME] United Way Tocqueville Society campaign! I'm especially excited about it this year because we have the chance to support United Way efforts to make transformative improvements in the lives of people in our community.
Take the example of Analiza, a 4-year-old girl in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood in Dallas. Tens of thousands of children in our community from low-income families start kindergarten one or two years behind grade level — and many of them never catch up.
But two years ago, Analiza's mom, Joyce, signed them up for a United Way early education program. A gift from a Tocqueville Society member like you helped 15 children like Analiza get on track, so they'll be ready for kindergarten next fall.
Now imagine it's the year 2020. Ten years from now, Analiza will enter ninth grade. Do you think most of her classmates will be ready to succeed in high school — and beyond? Will they look at North Texas as a place that will offer good job opportunities to work toward? And will they and their parents have good health?
You can help make sure the answers to those questions are good ones. By giving $10,000 or more annually, you become a United Way Tocqueville Society member. You lead by example — through your gifts, actions and voice. And you help create a better community for Analiza, Joyce, you and me. How can you get involved?
- Turn in your completed pledge from by [MONTH XX]
- Come to a meeting to learn more about Analiza and about the work United Way does in our community in the areas of Education, Income and Health
- Volunteer with your colleagues at a Day of Caring event — e-mail me for more information
- Take a tour of a United Way service provider — please let me know if you are interested
If you have any questions — about this or at any time throughout the campaign — please let me know. And thank you for your support of United Way!
Let's have a great campaign!
[ECC or Tocqueville Society Chair]
P.S. Please help us. Make your Tocqueville Society commitment by [MONTH XX].
Impact Area #1
Education
Subject line:
Don't Do Things the Hard Way
Body copy:
At this point in the [COMPANY NAME] United Way campaign, you've had a chance to hear about the important work United Way does in our community: moving more people out of poverty permanently, improving community health and preparing more students to succeed in education after high school.
I wanted to give you an example of how the impact your United Way gift can gave in the life of a wonderful child in our community. Maria went to Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas and wants to study biomedical engineering — and maybe one day become a surgeon. But she didn't have the math score on her SAT to get into the college of her choice.
Thanks to United Way contributors like you, Maria was able to participate in the United Way program Destination: Graduation, which helps 15 percent more students graduate. The program includes parental involvement, mentoring and counseling, and a college and career preparation that were so helpful to Maria.
"I learned you don't always have to do math the hard way," she says. She raised her total SAT score to 1,530. As a result, Maria earned admission to the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, putting her on track to achieve her education and career goals.
When you give to the United Way Community Impact Fund, you help prepare students like Maria for a brighter future. Right now, only 4 out of 10 high school graduates in our region are ready to succeed in education after high school. But your gift to United Way supports a community-wide effort that will make 60 percent of high school graduates ready for college and vocational training by 2020.
If you've already given, I thank you for contributing to the success of the [COMPANY NAME] campaign and the strength of our community.
If you haven't made your pledge, I hope you'll consider giving to United Way this year. The United Way Community Impact makes it easy for all of us to help create major improvements in the most pressing issues facing our community: Education, Income and Health.
Thank you,
[ECC]
Impact Area #2
Income
Subject line:
You Get What You Pay For
Body copy:
I hope you're excited about the [COMPANY NAME] United Way campaign. It's a great opportunity for us to join together with people throughout our community and make a clear difference in the lives of people who need our help.
People like Richard. Like so many others in our community, Richard lost his job as a remodeler during the current recession and had difficulty finding work. To make sure his wife and young children had their house and good meals, he had to make hard choices, like pawning his construction tools.
This year, Richard's wife Sylvia told him about the United Way Earn It! Keep It! Save It! program, which offers free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income families. Richard was skeptical; he says usually, "you get what you pay for." But a United Way volunteer helped Sylvia find all the credits she deserved—and a $5,700 return.
That got Richard's attention. So he asked for help. The same volunteer uncovered an error that Richard's former employer had made and other tax credits that Richard deserved from the last three years. In total, Richard got back more than $9,500 in savings!
Richard says, "I appreciate all the work United Way has done for us. We just flat didn't have the money for the service, much less the money to pay the back taxes. And it's all worked out for the better."
By giving to the United Way Community Impact Fund and volunteering for the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! program, United Way supporters helped more than 5,100 individuals and families get more than $10 million in savings in 2010. That's just one example of how United Way contributes to the ten-year effort of moving 250,000 more people out of poverty by 2020.
If you've already pledged your support to United Way this year, thank you so much for helping people like Richard and more than 550,000 more people in our community who are in poverty.
If you'd like to support the important work that United Way does in Income, Education and Health, there's still time. Every dollar you can give to the United Way Community Impact Fund helps!
Thank you,
[ECC]
Impact Area #3
Health
Subject line:
What Does a United Way Gift Sound Like?
Body copy:
One of the things I enjoy most about the United Way campaign is the chance to see how gifts by [COMPANY NAME] employees combine to improve lives in our community. But today I want to share with you a story about what a United Way gift sounds like.
"Jimmy" (not his real name) is 4 years old and he lives in Lewisville. His parents can't afford health insurance or the cost of regular checkups with a private pediatrician.
But United Way donors invest in pediatric care for families in need. At the PediPlace clinic in Lewisville, Jimmy has been a patient for most of his life. That means he gets the routine care he needs. And that when he has to visit the clinic, he's comfortable.
This year, Jimmy's regular well-child visits paid a huge dividend. Because Jimmy was calm and quiet during his checkup, the nurse practitioner heard a heart murmur. Jimmy was able to see a pediatric cardiologist, who will be able to monitor Jimmy's condition and treat any serious problems proactively.
Thanks to United Way donors like you, Jimmy has the best possible chance at a healthy future.
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) makes health care affordable for parents with low incomes. But only 1 out of every 6 kids in our region who is eligible for CHIP is currently enrolled. The lack of regular, preventive care translates into thousands of missed opportunities for better health.
I hope you'll join me in giving to the United Way Community Impact Fund and helping improve community health — for tens of thousands of kids like Jimmy and for all of us. Plus, our gifts to United Way will support important work in the areas of Education and Income. It's a great way to make a difference for people who need our help.
Thank you,
[ECC]
What a dollar buys
Subject line:
For the Price of Two Lattes...
Body copy:
One of the most common questions [COMPANY NAME] employees ask about United Way is what difference their gift makes. You might be surprised at how much an affordable weekly gift can accomplish when it's invested in the best Education, Income and Health programs in our community.
Every dollar you give to the United Way Community Impact Fund goes to address critical needs in our community. For example:
- $5 per week enables nearly 100 hardworking families to get more than $185,000 in savings through free tax preparation services at United Way Earn It! Keep It! Save It! sites.
- $10 per week provides job training and placement services to a low-income adult.
- $20 per week gives at-risk students and parents mentoring, training and tutoring through the United Way Destination: Graduation program, which improves graduation rates 15 percent and prepares students for college.
- $50 per week covers the cost of emergency health care for two of the more than 25,000 victims of family violence in our region.
I'm not saying any of us have to give up our morning coffee or anything else to make a United Way gift. But I hope that you can join me in giving to the United Way Community Impact Fund at the level that's right for you.
Thank you,
[ECC]
P.S. Please remember that your United Way pledge card is due by [MONTH XX].
Thank you
Sent to people who have made a gift
Subject line:
Thank You for Your United Way Gift
Body copy:
Thank you for committing your support to United Way. Your generosity will improve the lives of your neighbors and help create a brighter future for our region.
If you didn't already provide your personal e-mail address when you made your pledge, I encourage you to sign up to receive United Way e-mails at your personal address. It's a great way to stay informed about the impact your gift has. You'll also learn about opportunities to volunteer and advocate for better Education, Income and Health in our community.
Sign up to receive United Way e-mails
If you have any questions about United Way or about making your gift, please let me know.
Thank you,
[ECC]
Reminder #1
General Version
Sent at the campaign midpoint
Subject line:
Your Gift Matters: United Way Reminder
Body copy:
Today is the midpoint of the [COMPANY NAME] campaign for United Way, and we're off to a great start! Your colleagues are making their commitments to achieve the biggest possible improvements in the lives of people throughout our region.
If you have already given, THANK YOU! Because you choose to LIVE UNITED, you're creating a brighter future for our community.
If you haven't yet made your gift, please consider donating to help address critical needs in our community. A gift to the United Way Community Impact Fund helps us achieve the following community goals by 2020:
- Education — prepare 60 percent of high school graduates to succeed in education after high school.
- Income — move 250,000 more people out of poverty permanently.
- Health — improve community health through expanded access, preventive care and healthy behaviors.
If you have any questions about United Way or about making your gift, please contact me.
Thank you for considering how you and your family can LIVE UNITED!
Sincerely,
[ECC]
P.S. Please remember that United Way pledges are due by [MONTH XX].
Reminder #1
Leadership Version
Sent the day of a leadership event
Subject line:
Your Gift Matters: United Way Reminder
Body copy:
Thank you for attending today's United Way Leadership Giving event. Your colleagues are making their commitments to help [COMPANY NAME] reach our Leadership Giving goal of $[DOLLAR GOAL] — and achieve the biggest possible improvements in the lives of people throughout our region.
If you have already given, THANK YOU! Because you choose to LIVE UNITED and make a Leadership gift that sets an example for others, you're creating a brighter future for our community.
If you haven't yet made your gift, please consider donating $1,000 or more annually to help address critical needs in our community. A gift to the United Way Community Impact Fund helps us achieve the following community goals by 2020:
- Education — prepare 60 percent of high school graduates to succeed in education after high school.
- Income — move 250,000 more people out of poverty permanently.
- Health — improve community health through expanded access, preventive care and healthy behaviors.
If you have any questions about United Way or about making your gift, please contact me.
Thank you for considering how you and your family can LIVE UNITED!
Sincerely,
[ECC]
P.S. Please remember that United Way pledges are due by [MONTH XX].
Reminder #2
"Last Call"
Sent the day before the campaign ends
Subject line:
A Chance to Do Something Special: United Way Reminder
Body copy:
Tomorrow is the final day of the [COMPANY NAME] campaign for United Way. Already, [PARTICIPATION RATE]% of your colleagues have participated. And we've [reached {GOAL PERCENTAGE}% of our initial goal] [raised ${DOLLARS PLEDGED} for our community].
That represents a fantastic commitment to improving lives throughout our communities. I am so grateful to you all.
But I also know that we have an opportunity in this last push to do something special. Every additional person that chooses to LIVE UNITED, every additional dollar that is donated, helps address critical needs in our community. Will you help?
If you haven't already given, please consider making a pledge and investing in better Education, Income and Health throughout our region. Your gift can make a long-lasting improvement in the life of a hardworking person right here in the community.
Any questions about United Way or about making your gift? Please contact me.
Thank you for everything you do to LIVE UNITED!
Sincerely,
[ECC]
End-of-Campaign "Thank You"
Sent after campaign concludes
Subject line:
Thank You for a Successful United Way Campaign
Body copy:
Thank you for being part of a successful [COMPANY NAME] campaign for United Way. By uniting together, we have committed to improve lives in our community. Our financial gifts, volunteer efforts and passionate advocacy for our neighbors will improve Education, Income and Health for people throughout our region.
I'm pleased to report that [{COMPANY NAME} employees gave ${DOLLARS PLEDGED} to United Way,] [{PARTICIPATION RATE}% of {COMPANY NAME} employees gave to United Way,] [{NUMBER OF DONORS} of {COMPANY NAME} employees gave to United Way,] surpassing our goal of [${DOLLAR GOAL}] [{GOAL PERCENTAGE}%] [{NUMBER OF DONORS GOAL} donors].
[Additionally, {COMPANY NAME} employees gave more than {NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS} volunteer hours during the campaign.]
Those numbers demonstrate our willingness to care for our neighbors and our passion for improving our communities. Thank you all for everything you do to LIVE UNITED!
Sincerely,
[ECC]
P.S. Whether or not you were able to support the campaign, please remember that you can sign up to receive United Way e-mails at your personal address. It's a great way to learn about needs and opportunities throughout our community all year long.
Best Practices in Action
Use electronic communication
Whether you have a few dozen employees or thousands of employees spread out across dozens of locations, electronic communication can be an efficient way to keep United Way in people's minds throughout the campaign. During its 2009 campaign, Dallas ISD used voice-mail and e-mail messages from Dr. Michael Hinojosa — superintendent of schools and a United Way board member — to deliver campaign updates and educational information to more than 17,000 district employees. The district also developed a United Way section within its website to offer employees helpful information.