Tools To Run A Campaign

What is a Workplace Giving Campaign?

Workplace campaigns are one of the most effective ways United Way of Spokane County raises funds to tackle our region’s toughest challenges. They give employees a simple and powerful way to support causes they care about—directly from their paycheck. Many companies even match employee donations, making every dollar go further.

Whether you're a small business, large corporation, or nonprofit, you can be part of a growing number of local employers stepping up to create a stronger, more equitable Spokane County.
 

Why Start a Workplace Campaign?

More than ever, people want to work for companies that care. A workplace campaign builds community, boosts morale, and shows your employees—and the public—that your business is part of the solution.

 

Benefits for Employees

• Education & Awareness: Learn more about local issues and how to be part of the change.
• Team Building: Campaign events and volunteer opportunities bring people together in meaningful ways.
• Ease & Convenience: Donations are deducted automatically through payroll.
• Satisfaction & Choice: Employees can direct their gifts toward the causes they care about—education, financial stability, health, and more.
• Growth Opportunities: Leading a campaign or committee provides leadership and professional development experience.
   
   

Benefits for Companies

• Stronger Community Connections: Support a healthy, thriving community—one where your employees and customers want to live and work.
• Enhanced Reputation: Campaign participation can be shared in internal and external communications and is often recognized by United Way and media partners.
• Turnkey Process: Payroll deduction is easy to manage and spreads giving throughout the year.
• Customer Loyalty: Today’s consumers support companies that give back.
  
   

Benefits to Community

• Greater Reach: Introduces employees to vital local services they may not know exist.
• Collaboration: Strengthens ties between nonprofits, companies, and the community.
• Direct Impact: Every dollar raised stays local—fueling programs that change lives.
• Year-Round Service: Opportunities to engage through corporate volunteer events (more details coming soon!).
  
   

Advantages of Payroll Deduction

• Contributions are spread over time—making it easier to give.
• One pledge supports many local programs and services.
• Deductions stop automatically if paychecks stop.
• Boosts employee morale and unity.
   
   

How do I start a workplace campaign?

United Way of Spokane County is here to help. We’ll work with you to design a campaign that aligns with your company’s values and employee interests. You’ll get the tools and support you need to make it easy and effective.

Explore our [Campaign Toolkit] and [Best Practices Guide] to get started!

Campaign Materials

• Campaign Guide & Checklist
• What a Dollar Buys - Flyer
• Partner Agency List - Flyer
  
   

Engage Employees During Your Campaign

• Review the Campaign Best Practices Guide
• "Fun-raising" Activities- Download the flyer here
• Go to Volunteer Spokane and view opportunities in the community
• Sign Up for the United Way of Spokane County Newsletter to stay informed about out initiatives. Sign up here
   
   

Resources For Your Employees

• 211 Community Helpline
  
   

• Pledge form - 2025 Coming Soon
• Employee Pledge Spreadsheet - Download
• Corporate Pledge Form - Download
   

Tips and techniques to make your campaign stand out

We’ve got the tools to help you make your United Way campaign stand out. Check out best practices proven to engage, excite, and ultimately unite your people.

The end goal? Heightened levels of contribution dollars and participation. Use these established strategies to get the job done. In the end, they could help you stand out among your United Way Employee Campaign Chair (ECC) peers!
 

Recruit a Team

Don’t run your campaign alone. Recruit a committee of enthusiastic, resourceful, and committed employees to help you plan the best possible campaign.

• Involve representatives from various departments/shifts in your organization. Diversity is important, so invite individuals from groups such as marketing, human resources, accounting, and more.
• Set up regular committee meetings and delegate responsibilities. You can ensure campaign success by creating roles such as department liaison and payroll contact, and areas of focus such as marketing/events and campaign communications, for committee members.

Lock down the logistics

It’s all about timing—take it from us.

• The most effective campaigns have proven to be short and sweet, so design yours with that in mind. Kick it off and wrap it up within 2 weeks.
• Plan ahead. It’s important to launch the campaign with a clear kickoff and wrap it up ceremoniously. These are key elements to take into consideration when establishing timing upfront.
• Set goals. United Way will help you determine the numbers. Once they are set, make sure your colleagues know what they’re working toward.

Rally the Troops

Bring people together to not only Give but to Volunteer as well. It’s all part of Living United.

• Host a kickoff event. Educational meetings and events throughout your campaign get employees together— plus, they offer an element of fun and help drive engagement. It’s an opportunity to learn more about community needs and find out how to get involved. Ensure events offer employees a variety of ways to learn and understand what their contribution to the United Way of Spokane County will help accomplish.
• Promote volunteer projects. United Way of Spokane County offers a variety of group volunteer opportunities promoting team building. Reach out to your United Way contact for details you can share within your organization.
• Create a competition between departments.
• Facilitate a leadership meeting. Set a meeting designed to educate a unique segment of past contributors— those who have donated at a specific level (for example, $500 or more)—about the benefits of giving at the Leadership Giver level ($1,000+ annually).

Promote Your Campaign

Campaigns with great visibility encourage everyone to get involved. Here are a few ways to mix your communications up and get them the visibility they deserve.

• Employ regular, consistent communication. Launch your campaign with creative kickoff communications— then, communicate along the way to maintain excitement and engagement.
• Use a mixed media approach.
  • Email your intranet, personalized letters, pay stub inserts and United Way of Central Washington's website are all valuable elements you can use to promote your campaign.
  • Hang posters and flyers in prominent places like lobbies, kitchens/lounges, and elevators to announce your Charitable Campaign dates and important information.
• Increase employee awareness by creating competition between departments and/or using various events.
  • Payroll stuffers
  • Frequent updates on the progress of the campaign
  • Children’s art contest with a United Way theme
  • Brochures
  • Fliers about incentive items
  • Articles in the company’s newsletter, if applicable
  • Voice and email messages
  • Display campaign thermometers and posters, at building entrances, in break rooms, and other common areas 
  • Decorated break rooms and other common areas with United Way information

Strategies to Increase Participation

• Hold a drawing at the end of each employee meeting for all who turn in a pledge form
• Give everyone who turns in a pledge form at ticket [or several tickets]. When the campaign is complete, have a drawing for incentives, or have daily drawings that include only those who have already submitted their pledge form.
  If you make the company goal, throw a party.

Strategies to Increase the Average Gift

• Give the employees extra time off for increasing their gift by 10%.
  Hold a leadership giving campaign
• Establish a company leadership level and recognize accordingly.
• Ask the employees to give $1.00 more a week.

Incentives (You will need to ask your manager about these)

• Time off work
• Extra PTO time
• Casual Day/Jean Day
• Reserved/covered parking
• “Sleep-in” passes
• Extra half hour for lunch for a week

Don't Reinvent the Wheel!

Visit our Campaign Toolkit to find existing promotional and campaign materials like brochures, posters, pledge forms, videos, and more.

Wraps Things Up

Clearly signify that the campaign is officially a wrap and, while you’re at it, make sure your colleagues receive proper thanks.

• Report Results. Publicize your campaign’s end date and ensure all pledge forms are turned in by the deadline (remind donors to keep their copy of their pledge for tax purposes).

• For paper pledge/donation forms- place the donations and forms in an envelope [can be provided by United Way of Spokane County's office] In preparation for delivery or pickup:

  •  Include the original copy of pledge forms and all cash and checks from one-time gifts and special events.

  • Sign the envelope verifying the amount of cash and/or checks enclosed.

  • Submit all final results to United Way of United Way of Spokane County within two weeks of your campaign’s close, allowing United Way to process donations and thank your employees in a timely manner.

• Don’t forget to say thanks. Ensuring your employees have a positive experience is critical to reinforcing your appreciation and creating consistent donors. And, be timely with your thank-you efforts. Thank donors, employees, and your campaign team in a well-timed fashion at the end of the campaign.
• Recognize specific contributions. Thank contributors for participating in the campaign with incentives such as prize drawings, a thank-you luncheon, or personal letters.
• Stay in touch with United Way. Your United Way of Spokane County contact is available year-round. Arrange quarterly face-to-face meetings to keep them up to date on what’s going on at your company and to learn how your organization’s support of United Way makes Spokane County great.