Valerie Rodriguez is the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Saddle Creek Logistics.
Valerie serves as the primary United Way Campaign Coordinator for their United Way Workplace Campaign, but is fortunate enough to have exceptional associates who handle responsibilities from both the corporate and operations sides, making their Campaign Coordinator structure robust and highly effective.
Valerie shared how Saddle Creek changed up their campaign this past year to better serve their associates!
Innovating Our Campaign
This year, we embarked on a new approach for our campaign. Historically, we concentrated our events within a four-month period, leading to overlaps and feedback from associates about the intensity of the schedule. In response, we decided to spread our events throughout the year. By meeting with all the building coordinators, each selected a two-week window within each month, allowing us ample time to create flyers, emails, and coordinate events in advance.
Our new system leverages a Square site for online donations, reducing the amount of cash we handle and providing convenience for associates to pay via phone. This change has also streamlined our reporting process, and we no longer have overlapping events. The inclusion of upcoming event details in all email communications has been well-received, making it easier for associates to stay informed about what’s scheduled.
Advice for Fellow Campaign Coordinators
My key piece of advice for other Campaign Coordinators is to involve others in the planning process. Allowing departments or buildings to choose the events they want to coordinate fosters motivation and engagement among associates. This collaborative approach not only distributes the workload but also encourages a sense of ownership and enthusiasm for the campaign’s success.
By integrating these strategies, we have created a more manageable and effective campaign schedule, receiving positive feedback and higher participation from our associates. We are excited to try it out again this year as we embark on the 2024 campaign!
