PLANNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGN

Workplace giving campaigns come in all shapes and sizes. Companies or organizations vary based on the number of employees, corporate culture, and the type of business or organization. Choose an approach for your campaign that works best for your workplace.

Smaller workplace (25 or fewer employees) / Medium-sized workplace (26 – 100 employees) / Larger (101 or more employees)
  • Take advantage of smaller size.
  • You can have a very personal approach – distribute pledge forms personally.
  • You may want to add a home-made touch – perhaps have a few co-workers bake something to have at a staff meeting when you kick off the campaign.
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  • A good way to reach employees is with a speaker at a campaign kick-off event.
  • Reach out to your co-workers using emails and posters to promote the campaign.
  • Special events may help raise awareness of, and enthusiasm for, the campaign.
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  • Larger size may offer more opportunities for incentives to employees to return pledge forms, prizes for special events, etc.
  • You may want a committee or campaign coordinators at separate sites to help you run the campaign.

The list below includes both suggestions that can help any campaign be more successful.

BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN

  • Think about your goals for the campaign as you review the Campaign History graphs for your worksite that were included in your coordinator folder. Would you like to increase the number of donors and/or increase the dollars raised? If you would like to discuss ideas on growing your campaign, please contact Julie at Community Shares ( ).
  • Review the campaign brochure and pledge form so you can answer questions from fellow employees. For more information about Community Shares of Wisconsin, take a look at our website.
  • Please feel free to call us at (608) 256-1066 with any questions. We are always happy to help!
  • Select a period of two to four weeks when you will conduct the campaign. Campaigns typically occur in September and October. Enlist help from your peers and ensure you have senior management support.

STARTING THE CAMPAIGN

  • Include a campaign presentationata staff meeting or invite staff to a special meeting about your workplace giving campaign.
  • Call us to schedule a speaker –one of ourmember nonprofits and/or a representative of Community Shares of Wisconsin.
  • Use our campaign video. This three minute video includes comments from our member groups about what your gift accomplishes.
  • If possible, personally hand out pledge forms to your co-workers. This increases the likelihood that they will participate. (Note that the back of the pledge form also includes examples of the difference a few dollars a pay period or several dollars a month can make.)

PROMOTE THE OPPORTUNITY TO “Give at the Office”

  • Send an email message promoting the campaign. You may want to use the sample language in documents we’ve prepared. See the “Sample Brief Communication” and “Your Dollars at Work”.
  • Display Community Shares posters in prominent areas.
  • Announce the campaign on your Intranet (see the “Sample Communication with Links”). You may also want to share one (or more) of the “Recent Results” from our member nonprofits.
  • Plan a special event to raise money for the campaign. Your event may be as simple as a bake sale or more involved like a silent auction – whatever makes sense for the culture of your organization. Special eventscan help raise the visibility of the campaign and may get more of your coworkers engaged.

AFTER THE CAMPAIGN

  • Complete the report envelope and return it along with all completed pledge forms, checks, and cash to Community Shares of Wisconsin, 612 W. Main St., Ste. 200, Madison, WI53703. (See the sample report envelope). A blank report envelope is included with your campaign materials.) If your report contains a large amount of cash and you would prefer not to mail it, please call (608) 256-1066 to arrange for our staff to pick it up. Please return your report form by11/3/14.
  • Community Shares and our member nonprofits will send thank-you notes to all donors.