Zooming Into Campaign Season Efficiencies

Predictably, the fall brings cooler weather, football season, pumpkins and your local United Way community fundraising campaign. For the last 90 years, United Way of Central Carolinas has helped meet the most pressing needs of our neighbors.

 

As we all know, the last two years have been utterly unpredictable. The coronavirus pandemic has challenged even the most coveted norms and traditions, including almost a century-old annual practice by United Way to raise critical resources for our community.

 

This time last year, we were not sure how many corporations would answer the call to run their employee campaigns. And given the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, it would have been understandable. However, 471 corporations answered the call, and together, we found ways to give and serve our community in new and unique ways.

 

Despite the challenges during the fiscal year, United Way of Central Carolinas raised over $35 Million to support our five-county footprint- $20 Million* towards the COVID-19 Response Fund in partnership with the Foundation for the Carolinas and $15 Million from our annual fundraising campaign.

 

THE NEW (VIRTUAL) NORMAL

 

Together with our corporate partners, we are now leaning on virtual meeting platforms to make giving more accessible, fun, educational and safe.

 

We are taking lessons learned from last year and making our fundraising campaigns more engaging and efficient simultaneously. In fact, for the first time in history, all of our Top 100 corporate partners are running virtual campaigns!

 

Here are some of the ways we are executing in new and effective ways:

 

Online Giving Platform: The use of online giving platforms has helped eliminate the cost and need for paper materials.

 

Virtual Campaign Kick-Offs: Lead by a United Way team member, organizations can choose the meeting platform and invite employees to join from the comfort of their home or desk.

 

Virtual Poverty Simulations: Accessible online, the virtual poverty simulation is an engaging way to walk participants through the needs of our community.

 

Virtual Nonprofit Board Trainings: Same great nonprofit board training experience, but in a virtual classroom.

 

Virtual Racial Equity Engagement: In a series of emails, participants can challenge themselves with new perspectives and insights.

 

Virtual ‘Talk United’ Conversation: Host or join an open dialogue to address the root-causes of generational poverty in our community.

 

WE’RE STRONGER TOGETHER

 

We are proud to partner with over 400 companies across our five-county service area that all believe that no matter the circumstances, we have a collective responsibility to serve our neighbors in need. The commitment from our corporate partners is an impressive reminder of the power of unity. United Way is proud to help lead!

 

As we continue to respond to the ongoing needs of the pandemic, our community needs your partnership, collective energy and resources.

 

These virtual tools are challenging all the traditional ways we connect. We are hopeful to engage and inspire even more people who want to learn and invest to help change the odds for someone in need.

 

We will continue to provide hope and critical resources to those most in need during an unstable time in the world. Will you join us?

 

Be a part of the change

 

Give ONLINE today or contact our team to start a virtual campaign.

 

 

*An additional $5M was raised for the COVID-19 Response Fund during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.