eDAY OF ACTION
Online marketing and social networks have the power to help United Way reach new people, spark discussion and create impact on a large scale. With the click of a button, your “virtual United Way volunteers" can inspire action, raise funds and recruit volunteers among friends and family who may not have engaged with United Way before. United Ways should consider how a series of email “action alerts” can promote opportunities to give, advocate and volunteer – and how they might be a great way to participate in the United Way Day of Action on 06.21.08.
One reason to create a United Way eDay of Action is to make sure that you are taking full advantage of Constant Contact®. Constant Contact helps United Ways and other organizations connect with stakeholders and provides an easy and affordable way to build successful, lasting relationships within your community. All United Ways have access to a free Constant Contact account, which includes both the technology to write and send a variety of communications as well as access to expert personnel. Through Constant Contact, every United Way has access to customized United Way Day of Action templates. The templates are pre-populated with images and articles, so all you have to do is localize and send them out.
United Way of America's eDay of Action Alert promoting 2-1-1 (shown above) can be found at www.constantcontact.com. It provides information on 2-1-1 and encourages readers to sign the Calling for 2-1-1 Petition and forward the email to five friends.
Feel free to adapt the following sample copy to promote and engage your community in an online Day of Action.
Give
Asking United Way supporters to contact friends or colleagues helps highlight the great work of United Way and can be a strong motivator to give. Leading up to the national Day of Action, United Ways could ask donors to recruit at least six friends in your community to help raise $62,108 by 06.21.08. Incentives or awards could be given to individuals or groups for the most money raised, for raising a certain amount the fastest, and to the person who generated donations from the most people.
Text for Template
GIVE TODAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES!
June 21 is the longest day of the year. What will you do to make the most of this special day? With all those hours of daylight, I’d like you to join me and United Way ANYTOWN to consider how much more you can GIVE to the causes you care about and inspire others to do the same.
On this Day of Action on 06.21.08, we need your help to raise $62,108. Your donations will be used to help create a good life for all by focusing the three building blocks for a quality life: education, income and health.
Insert details of local fundraising campaign.
Let’s make it the longest day of GIVING this year.
Advocate
Think broadly about what it means to be an advocate – a champion of the issues and causes United Way helps address. There’s a lot more to it than writing letters to elected officials. It’s about understanding the issues your United Way is focused on and promoting them to friends and family. It’s about speaking up.
For example, 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that, where available, connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities. United Way and their supporters could make sure that EVERYONE in the community knows about the service, and how important it is to giving and getting help.
Text for Template
INFORM AND INSPIRE TODAY!
June 21 is the longest day of the year. What will you do to make the most of this special day? With all those hours of daylight, United Way ANYTOWN would like you to spread the word about a valuable service our community has called 2-1-1.
Lots of people in our community need essential services or want to help others, but they don’t know where to turn. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that, where available, connects people with important community services and volunteer opportunities.
Do you know someone that needs access to services? Do you know someone who wants to volunteer? Help spread the word and let your friends and colleagues know about this vital service. Making 2-1-1 part of our community’s conversation will help ensure its use and long term success.
Volunteer
Sponsor a campaign to inspire volunteers to pledge hours to help United Way address one of your impact areas. On your website, track and publicize the pledges as they are made and fulfilled. You can engage employers to offer matching hours to employees’ volunteer hours. Text for Template MAKE A PLEDGE TO VOLUNTEER AND LIVE UNITED! June 21 is the longest day of the year. What will you do to make the most of this special day? With all those hours of daylight, United Way ANYTOWN would like invite you to be a part of the solution to in our community and inspire others to do the same. Do you have an hour or two to volunteer each month? Each week? A full day every month? Can you volunteer in person, or online? On this United Way Day of Action, decide how you want to volunteer and make a public pledge to serve. Or pledge to recruit more volunteers for an effort that is important to you. Click here for information about how to volunteer through United Way, or with other organizations. Register here and we will post the information on our site. Volunteers can register their hours/volunteers recruited and will be recognized for achieving their goal. And ask your employer about matching your volunteer hours. Insert details about your volunteer pledge drive.
