Retirees Make a Difference

A retiree campaign gives former employees — and those about to retire — a way to remain active in the community and part of your organization's team. The Retiree Program reduces the loss of United Way funds that can happen when people who have been donors leave the workforce.

• Seek the involvement and endorsement of your Chief Executive Officer
• Ask management about the availability of automatic pension deduction to make giving easier
• Establish a campaign timetable that complements regular employee campaign schedule
• Involve retirees. Recruit a retiree chair and, if possible, form a retiree committee to work on the campaign
• Develop a retiree campaign message and strategy
• Set a retiree fundraising goal that is separate from your company's goal
• Order campaign literature from the United Way
• Identify all retirees
• Personalize pledge forms available from United Way
• Organize incentives and/or special events, and recognition for the retiree campaign
• Mail the endorsement letter, along with a retiree pledge form, United Way brochure, information on incentives and a postage-paid return envelope
• Promote the campaign through in-house newsletters or retiree bulletins
• Include retirees in special events and other employee campaign activities
• Follow up on outstanding pledge forms
• Turn in final gifts/responses/pledge forms
• Report results to the CEO, United Way and retirees
• Thank and recognize key retiree campaign volunteers and contributors