The United Way Rings of Care Association offers its members the opportunity to become involved in the tradition of strong community leadership. Members are firmly committed to maintaining a vital United Way for the support of more than 21 local agencies and community initiatives.

Membership Levels (annual gift)
Gold $1000 plus
Red $750 - $999
Blue $500 - $749

Leadership Givers will enjoy the privileges of being invited to special parties, recognition events, volunteer projects and various networking activities. All societies have the following available options:

• Combining the gifts of both spouses for recognition purposes, i.e., if you give $500 and your spouse gives $500, you qualify as a $1,000 Gold Rings of Care member. Please notify United Way if you combine gifts.

   

• Several pledge payment options: Payroll deduction, stock option plan and gifts of appreciated assets, and periodic billings at work or home.

   

• Anonymity - you have the option to decline having your name published in United Way literature. Please note that United Way does not share with nor sell names to businesses, non-profits or other entities.

Obviously, the most important reason for leadership giving is the support of United Way agencies like The Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, The Gathering Place, Family Services Alliance of Southeast Idaho, and so many more. These agencies can take this support and turn it into miraculous results for the people they serve.

Campaign Success

Many companies and organizations across the county are having increasingly successful United Way campaigns with leadership giving programs. One senior executive recently described how the tremendous growth in United Way contributions at his company in the last two years had resulted from a strong leadership giving emphasis. Contributions rose 38 percent the first year and 28 percent the following year. We are unaware of any organization with an organized leadership giving program, endorsed by the CEO, which has not seen significant increase in its total campaign.

Simply Ask

Most Employee Campaign Coordinators are surprised to learn how fine-tuning what they are already doing can result in leadership gifts and a substantial campaign increase. In fact, emphasizing the Suggested Guide for Giving with all levels of employees will automatically produce leadership givers.

To give a head start to the many companies which have new leadership giving programs or wish to develop one, follow this checklist.

• Meet with your United Way staff liaison to determine the potential for your organization.

   

• Meet with your CEO to seek her or his active involvement. Your success depends on the commitment of the top executive or manager. The CEO may ask another leader in your organization to be his or her representative for the leadership giving program, but the endorsement and commitment of the CEO clearly must be part of the program. At your meeting, seek assistance in making the following decisions. Identify the coordinator for the leadership giving program in your organization. If not the CEO, or Employee Campaign Coordinator, this person should be an individual who is a strong United Way supporter and who is both capable and willing to lead by example.

   

• Determine which people will be asked to consider a leadership gift. Most likely, you will want to coordinate this decision with your CEO. Who are good leadership giving prospects? As a general rule, persons earning $50,000 or more are good possibilities for the $500 level. (See the Suggested Guide for Giving in the The Case for Giving section of this kit.) Determine whether there are Gold Rings of Care Association ($1,000 plus) or Alexis de Tocqueville Society ($10,000 plus) prospects in your organization.

   

• Decide how your company will give special recognition to leadership givers. Is some form of special event planned to encourage leadership gifts? If not, will the request to become a leadership giver be made in person, by phone or in writing? By whom?

   

• Recruit key team members and attend the Leadership Giving workshop at campaign training.

   

• Establish the timing of the leadership giving solicitation in the context of the larger United Way employee campaign. What type of materials will be used to support the request and/or the event? You can order from United Way or use your own.

   

• Ask for the contribution.

   

• Be sure the individuals you solicit understand the impact their gift will make. Provide information about their United Way contribution and how it is used.

   

• Explain the recognition offered to Leadership Givers by United Way and your company. Finally, follow-up after the request. Thank everyone who helped with the leadership giving program, including your CEO.

   

• Report leadership giving results to United Way so that your company's leadership givers will receive special recognition from United Way.

United Way provides a Leadership Giving pledge form.

Reporting Leadership Givers

Remember that the recognition available from United Way to your leadership givers only can be provided if you provide their names to United Way.

To be certain we thank every leadership giver, please provide a list of names and donation amounts. This list must be submitted by December 30, 2001. Please note: In all cases, requests for anonymity regarding leadership giving is respected. We never sell lists of names to other organizations.