YMCA of Central Ohio
YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association, but don't misinterpret this to mean that YMCAs are only for "young, Christian men." Ys are for all people of all faiths, races, ages, abilities and incomes. Together, the nation's 2,617 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organization in America, working to meet the health and human service needs of 20.2 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. YMCAs are at the heart of community life across the country: 42 million families and 72 million households are located within three miles of a YMCA.
Quick Tips
- Don’t forget to include part-time and seasonal employees.
- Assign individual employees to become familiar with a specific agency so that they can talk about its contributions.
- Invite agency representatives speak to employees about how they make a difference.
Set Priorities
As a non-profit, YMCA, in addition to their United Way campaign, also conducts its own annual giving campaign each year. These are the only two drives they ask their staff to support. The internal giving campaign takes place in March and runs for two to three months, so it is effectively separated from the United Way campaign which begins in late summer/early autumn. Because YMCA has a long history of partnership with United Way, the two organizations have worked closely for years, and there is excellent coordination between them.
Tailored Tactics
Each branch of the YMCA has a distinct personality and atmosphere, and YMCA encourages each director to stage events and experiences that will appeal to that particular group. Each branch establishes a goal and works to get staff members to increase their gift over the previous year.
YMCA also has a large contingent of part-time and seasonal (particularly in the summer) employees. Their campaign spans the period when these staff members are employed, to reach as many people as possible. Recognizing that their staff members are extremely busy, YMCA keeps their campaign simple and short.
Bring It Home
Because the YMCA is a United Way agency, they really emphasize the direct benefits received from United Way. The concept that “the more you give, the more you get back” is emphasized. YMCA believes in focusing on the message, the results that United Way gets and the fact that it positively impacts so many people. As a United Way agency, they are able to make the message truly personal and hard-hitting.
