Campaign Themes, Ideas & Tips
Great campaigns are fun, but they're also purposeful. Every game, contest, and cookout on this page exists for one reason: to create a community where all of us can thrive. When you make giving fun, you're not just boosting your numbers. You're helping build a healthier, more financially stable Norman where every young person has the chance to reach their full potential.
So bring the energy. Treat your coworkers. Make giving something people want to be part of.
As you plan your event, keep the goal in mind. Are you trying to:
- Raise money
- Build morale
- Educate your team about United Way of Norman and the programs it funds
- Encourage volunteering
- Shine a light on community needs — and how United Way of Norman is meeting them
Pick the event that fits your goal, then make it your own.
3 keys to success:
Publicize it. People can't join what they don't know about. Spread the word early and often.
Say thank you. Every gift matters, whether it's $1 or $1,000. Make sure every donor knows their support is changing lives right here in Norman.
Make it personal. Consider opening your event with a real story. Ask your United Way staff partner about this year's ALICE story and other ready-to-use content you can drop into your event to connect the fun back to the impact.
Personalizing your campaign with a theme increases the fun and gives people a reason to show up. Choose a theme, then look for a natural way to connect it to the work your donations fund - a quick story, a stat, or a shout-out to a partner agency goes a long way.
Theme: Sports or Olympics
- Give for the Gold
- Teaming Up for the Community
- All Stars for United Way
Event Ideas
- Pep rally kickoff with “create a cheer” competition
- Office Olympics
- Chair races
Incentives/Appreciation Ideas
- Medals or blue ribbons to winning team and donors
- Small trophies filled with candy
- Tickets to local sporting events
Theme: Summertime
- Caring is Cool
- Be a Lifesaver... Give to the United Way
- Giving is HOT
Event Ideas
- Employee Cookout or BBQ
- Casual Day for United Way
Incentives/Appreciation Ideas
- Free vacation days
- Reusable water bottles
- Tickets or passes to pools and summer attractions
Theme: Back to School
- Give - It’s Elementary
- The ABCs of Caring
- Community Rock (borrowing from Schoolhouse Rock)
Event Ideas
- United Way Pop Quiz
- Sack Lunch Swap
- Playground games tournament
- Spelling Bee
Incentives/Appreciation Ideas
- Long break or time off (Recess)
- "Good job!" or star stickers on thank you notes
- Apples and treats
Theme: Movies or Hollywood
- Lights! Camera! Action!
- Reach for the Stars
- Be a Star: Give to United Way!
Event Ideas
- Star Struck Trivia competition
- Awrds Show Watch Party
- Red Carpet event
Incentives/Appreciation Ideas
- “Red Carpet” reserved parking for a month
- Walk of Fame -donor names on stars in the hallway
- Gift certificates to local movie theatres
- Rent a popcorn machine
Additional Theme Ideas
Decades (50s–90s) · Beach Party · Carnival · Video Games · Mardi Gras · Scavenger Hunt · Hawaiian/Luau · Vegas Night · Mystery Theme · Fan-favorite show or movie universes (pick what's trending with your team!)
Most people give from the heart. But a little extra encouragement never hurts! Incentives can motivate people to give more, or to give for the first time.
They can be big or small: a prize for everyone who participates, a drawing for one lucky winner, or a special thank-you for first-time donors. It's your team, your call. Below are some tried-and-true favorites — but don't be afraid to get creative. Just get any incentives approved before you start promoting them.
Time Off
Many ECCs say this easily grows campaign participation. This incentive may come in the form of an extra full or half-day off for employees who donate at a certain level, or maybe all employees who participate will be entered into a drawing for some extra paid leave.
Casual Day
This is probably the second most popular incentive/fundraiser in workplaces with a professional dress- code. Consider giving “passes” to wear jeans, t-shirts, or flip-flops on scheduled days for employees who participate. Is your CEO concerned about the team in accounting sporting sweatpants and cutoffs? Feel free to set a “Casual Day” dress code to keep everyone on the same page.
Snacks or Meals
Nothing draws people to a morning event or presentation like good-old coffee and donuts! Or, if your employees aren’t morning people, how about a “snack bar” with some popular candies, chips, and beverages (HR approved, of course).
Primo Parking
Who doesn’t like scoring up-front parking, or nabbing that sweet parking spot that keeps your car in the shade in the summer? If practical, consider “reserving” a few of those spaces for a week or month for employees who give at a certain amount, or use them in a drawing for people who participate in the campaign. This can also easily be turned into a year-round fundraiser for your organization!
Swag
We’re talking t-shirts, water bottles, phone chargers, and all other types of “branded” giveaways for employees who participate. These can be designed with the United Way logo, your organization’s logo, or even your campaign slogan. Note: Want to get your hands on some United Way of Norman shirts? Contact us at 405.329.2025, and we’ll help you out!
Prize Drawings
Employees who participate or donate at or above a certain level will be entered into a prize drawing. Suggested prizes include sports tickets, gift cards, days off, and prime parking spaces. When in doubt, ask employees what they would really like to win and use that!
Give an Inch Contest
Executives participate in an all-day competition to see who can raise the most money. Each participant wears a tie marked with “donation” lines. Each time an employee makes a donation to that person they get to cut off a piece of the tie at a line (starting at the bottom, of course). The winner at the end of the day is whoever has raised the most money. Additional prizes can be given to the shortest tie, the ugliest tie, etc.
Baby Picture Match
Invite employees to try their luck matching baby pictures of management and/or each other. Set up a board with numbered baby photos on one side and current management/employee photos with names on the other side. Charge a set amount for ballots, and whoever gets the most correct answers wins a prize. Be sure to have a back-up plan in case there is a tie.
Tailgate Party
Fire up the grill! Determine costs of set-up. Set a sale price for the BBQ. Pre-sell tickets to the event and donate all proceeds to United Way. Make sure you have plenty of meat and fixings, buns, drinks, paper products and of course a grill! You may also want to set up a volleyball net, footballs to toss around, and some music to set the mood.
Chili Cook-Off
Employees cook their favorite chili recipe and enter it into a cook-off contest. Charge employees a fee to try the chili. A panel of chili experts can select the Official Chili Champion – be sure to offer a prize to the winner.
Office Olympics
Set up a relay course for executives to race through sitting in chairs or riding tricycles. Use a stopwatch to time contestants, with the fastest person winning a prize. Observers donate or wager donations on their favorite contestants.
Talent Show/Lip Sync/Karaoke Contest
This has the potential for being a BIG fundraiser and a GREAT team builder! Participants pay $2 to enter and are given a list of songs and a pledge sheet in advance. Participants ask employees to support them by pledging an amount of money. At the event, have a big box of funny hats, feather boas and other costume items available for participants to use. Pass the hat at the party to receive even more pledges. Note: A variation of this activity is “Executive Karaoke.” Employees pay money for executives to get up and sing the song of their choice.
Ice Cream Social
Provide several flavors of ice cream and all the toppings needed to make a decadent sundae! Offer hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce, chopped nuts and whipped cream – don’t forget the cherries! Charge employees a fee for their decadent creation, with all donations going to United Way.
How you say thanks matters less than that you say it. Whether someone gave $1 or $1,000, they deserve to know their support made a real difference. Have fun with it, and make sure your co-workers' generosity doesn't go unnoticed.
Suggestions
- Send "Thank You" emails, notes, cards, or letters
- Post "Thank You" flyers in high-traffic areas
- Throw a pizza party or bring in donuts
- Host a special lunch for Leadership Givers and your campaign team
- Give out United Way pins or stickers
- Leave a piece of candy on each person's desk
- Most importantly: report final results back to your team!
Need help bringing an idea to life? Your United Way team is just a phone call or an email away at 405.329.2025 or email kholder@unitedway-norman.org