For the last 100 years, Workplace Giving Campaigns have been one of the ways United Way forges relationships with the local business community.
These campaigns not only help in the fight against poverty but also create a culture of philanthropy for businesses in our region. However, as with anything that’s 100 years old, innovation is necessary to stay relevant.
Underscoring the fun in fundraising.
Lincoln Financial Group is a shining example of what a little innovation and creativity can do for a campaign. Each year, Lincoln Financial runs 11 regional giving campaigns to United Ways across the country. This year, Jen Warne, EVP, Chief People Officer, and Allison Green Johnson, President, Lincoln Financial Foundation and SVP, Chief Diversity Officer, served as the Executive co-sponsors for their United Way Workplace Campaign. “The annual campaign is another opportunity for Team Lincoln to come together and mobilize our efforts to make an impact on our communities,” said Johnson.
The Philadelphia regional team, chaired by Meghan Wright, Vice President, Executive Director of the Lincoln Financial Foundation ran an incredibly successful workplace campaign that put the “fun” back in fundraising. Their campaign featured a virtual kickoff event with extraordinary prizes and video testimonials from three “executive champions” to help educate employees about why they give to United Way and encourage them to participate.
“The annual campaign is another opportunity for Team Lincoln to come together and mobilize our efforts to make an impact on our communities.”
When asked why this year’s campaign was such a success, Danielle Johnson, Enterprise Campaign Chair replied, “We were more strategic with how we ran this campaign. We wanted employees to respond with urgency, so we cut our four-week campaign to two weeks. We had senior leadership and passionate employee volunteers serve as 'executive champions'. They got personal about why giving matters to them and that resonated with employees.”
"We had senior leadership and passionate employee volunteers serve as 'executive champions'. They got personal about why giving matters to them and that resonated with employees.”
Year after year, Lincoln Financial remains committed to United Way. This year, thanks to the generous donations of its employees and annual grants, Lincoln Financial surpassed its goal of giving over $1 million for United Ways across Lincoln locations. The best part, Allison Green Johnson noted, was that this campaign fit so well into Lincoln Financial’s mission of corporate responsibility. “It reminded us of our mission and what is important to us as a company. Giving back and donating is one of the top five engagement activities for employees. It was amazing to come together in such a big way after the pandemic.”
Lincoln Financial’s workplace campaign team took risks, got creative with their campaign, and worked incredibly hard to see their ideas come to fruition. They are truly inspirational.
A big thank you to Lincoln Financial and its employees for hosting a wonderfully successful workplace campaign. Because of campaigns like yours, our nonprofit partners have reliable access to the funds they need to serve our community. We can’t wait to see what you do in the future.