Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace United Way of Racine County August, 2008

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 2 What is a Company Leadership Giving Program? A conscious and strategic effort to solicit employees with an exceptionally generous spirit, a desire to step forward and act on that spirit, and a well-placed trust in United Way to make a leadership gift of $1,000 or more. Across the country, leadership giving is the fastest-growing segment of most company workplace campaigns. Recent surveys suggest companies that have a leadership giving program in place experience, on average, 20 percent higher employee per capita giving than companies not using this technique.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 3 United Way of Racine County Leadership Levels $1,000-$1,749 Bronze Circle $1,750-$2,499 Copper Circle $2,500-$4,999 Silver Circle $5,000-$7,499 Gold Circle $7,500-$9,999 Diamond Circle $10,000 + Alexis de Tocqueville Society All leadership levels offer the following: - Option to combine the gifts of both spouse/partner for recognition purposes; - several pledge payment options: payroll deduction, cash, check, billing, stock payment; and - anonymity – option to decline having names published in United Way of Racine County’s materials.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 4 Donor Benefits of a Leadership Giving Campaign Community Awareness – A formal leadership giving program incorporates better communication, increases understanding and awareness of community needs. Positive Image – Leadership donors are perceived as positive role models for their peers, which may increase the level of participation and total dollars raised throughout the company. Personal Satisfaction – As a leadership donor, you are giving back to the community. You are making a difference in the lives of many people each and every day.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 5 Company Benefits of a Leadership Giving Campaign Positive Image – Demonstrates a company-wide commitment to improving lives in our community. Employee Performance – Leadership giving activities encourage teamwork and enhance relationships by connecting employees with a shared vision and passion. More Resources – A company’s overall United Way campaign increases, providing additional community resources to help people.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 6 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #1 Recruit Leadership Coordinator & Team: Recruit a respected senior staff member and current leadership giver to act as a leadership coordinator and conduct the Leadership Giving Campaign. The leadership coordinator should work closely with the employee campaign coordinator to ensure optimum results and should be a respected leader who is willing to invest time and make peer-to-peer contact. Depending on the size of your company, consider recruiting additional individuals to help with your Leadership Giving Campaign. Involving others will lead to increased participation and awareness.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 7 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #2 Plan Your Leadership Giving Program: Establish a timeline specific to your Leadership Giving Campaign. Review last year ’ s efforts and results. Set a realistic and attainable goal for new leadership gifts and total leadership giving (increased awareness, increased number or members, increased gift amount).

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 8 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #3 Create a Prospect List: Work with United Way of Racine County staff to set criteria for soliciting potential leadership donors. Consider: - Employees who gave at leadership levels last year - Current donors of $500 or more - Employees at your company whose annual salary is $50,000 and up - Senior management - Employees receiving stock or stock options as part of their compensation package - Retirees who were past donors; invite them to continue leadership roles

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 9 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #4 Communicate Develop and publicize the company goal for leadership giving in addition to the overall campaign Invite prospects to a special event to present the benefits of Leadership Giving See “Leadership Giving Presentation: Sample Agenda.” Consider: ¨ - Breakfast or lunch at a United Way agency with tour - Breakfast or lunch hosted by CEO - Rush hour wine and cheese tasting - Golf, tennis, etc. with CEO Distribute leadership brochures, pledge forms and other appropriate information. Whenever possible, personalize the materials with the individual's name.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 10 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #5 Thank Your Contributors: Send a thank you note to contributors and members of your team. Host a reception to acknowledge and thank leadership contributors. If possible spotlight leadership donors. For example, purchase special polo shirts or lapel pins for each leadership donor. Encourage members to wear them during the campaign to show their membership in the leadership campaign. United Way of Racine County also sends each leadership contributor a personal thank you.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 11 Steps for a Successful Leadership Giving Program Step #6 Report Names/Final Results and Celebrate: Be sure to get the correct spelling of names and gift information for each leadership contributor to ensure United Way of Racine County properly recognizes and thanks them for their generosity.

Encouraging Leadership Giving at Your Workplace 12 Available Tools Sample leadership meeting agenda Key talking points Prepared PowerPoint presentations Sample leadership giving letters Beacon Circle brochures United Way of Racine County staff