Step – 1:  Research

1. Review past campaign results:
   • Total amount pledged

   • Number of contributors

2. Evaluate prior year’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to:
   • Committee members
   • Labor participation
   • Solicitor recruitment and training

   • Publicity, events, and incentives

3. Know the participating charities and their services that will appeal to your colleagues.

Step – 2:  Agency Leadership

1. Meet with your Department/Agency head to discuss the objectives of the campaign and the employee goal.

2. Chart a schedule of events for the leadership of your Department/Agency to attend:
   • Committee Meeting
   • Training
   • Department Kick-Off
   • Promotional Activities

Step – 3:  Recruit an SECC Department Committee

1. Identify employees to serve on the committee:
   • Management
   • Organized Labor
   • Support Staff
   • Communications Staff

Step – 4:  Set Objectives

1. Increase the number of Captains to …

2. Increase the Average Employee Gift to $…

3. Increase the number of Contributors/Overall Participation to …

4. Increase the number of employees using payroll deduction to …

Step – 5:  Promotional Activities

1. Utilize Department/Agency Newsletter to publicize the campaign (memos, E-mails, intranets, etc.)

2. Place SECC campaign posters on bulletin boards and other visible areas.

3. Stimulate friendly competition among employees and/or locations.

Step – 6:  Captain Enrollment and Training

1. Orientation
   • Enroll captains to assist employees and with events at the various locations.

   • Discuss programs and services of each participating SECC charity.

2. Training
   • Trainings can be in person and/or virtual.
   • Outline the campaign goals, objectives and plans.
   • Explain the importance of designations.
   • Utilize prepared training on the Resources for Chairs and Captains website.
   • Close the session with a request for a gift from each captain.

Step – 7:  Campaign Kickoff

1. This is the most effective way of creating campaign awareness.

2. Kick-offs generate enthusiasm!

Step – 8:  Solicit

1. Start solicitations immediately after campaign kick-off.

2. Ask employees for a pledge
   • Do not just pass out pledge cards but make the solicitation a personal one.

   • Suggest payroll deduction as a simple and easy way to help the SECC participating charities.

3. Tell employees who do not wish to contribute to fill out a pledge card and mark the box for “I do not wish to contribute”, or direct them to make the same selection in ePledge.

Step – 9:  Report Progress

1. To agency leadership
2. To co-workers
3. To SECC
4. Keep lines of communication open
5. Maintain momentum

Step – 10:  Say “Thank You”

1. Send thank-you notes to all captains and contributing co-workers.

2. Hold a Recognition Event to award campaign workers with tokens of appreciation (e.g. personalized certificate).

3. Have agency leadership thank your agency employees for contributing.

Download the PDF