Be a
“Star Canvasser”
Fundraising:
Making a difference
Engagement (2014)
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Objectives
• In less than 15 minutes, you will learn more about:
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The GCWCC
Your role as a canvasser
How to engage and canvass your colleagues
How to assist people in making their donations
The Government of Canada Workplace
Charitable Campaign
The GCWCC is:
• An EMPLOYEE campaign: it is YOUR campaign
• The largest workplace campaign in Canada
• A donor choice campaign: Individuals can support
– United Way
– HealthPartners
– All Canadian registered charities
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Did you know…
In 1997, Treasury Board
selected United Way as
manager of the GCWCC.
True Stories
How donations help make a
difference
(click on the images for more info!)
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Making a Difference: LiveWorkPlay
Only 43% of people with a disability in Ottawa participate in the
workforce, compared with 70% of our general population.
Jeremy found a job, a mentor and a meaningful life with help from
LiveWorkPlay, a United Way Ottawa priority goal partner that is
helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment.
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Making a Difference: Parkinson Society Canada
Parkinson Society Canada is one of 16 national health charities that
make up Healthpartners. It provides education, support, and
advocacy on behalf of over 100,000 Canadians living with
Parkinson’s, and funds innovative research to help expand
knowledge on prevention, diagnosis and treatment in the hope of
ultimately finding a cure.
Herb Durant: “I can be miserable and have Parkinson’s
or I can be happy and have Parkinson’s — I’m still
going to have Parkinson’s. I never used to have a
positive outlook. In a way, Parkinson’s turned me into
an optimist.”
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Making a Difference: Centre d’intervention en abus
sexuels pour la famille (CIASF)
While Annie still doesn’t speak since the day she told
her mom, with therapy, she’s started singing.
The CIASF, a Centraide Outaouais funded
agency, provides assistance and support to
families and individuals confronted with
child sexual abuse problems.
– With a gift of $40 per pay ($1,040 per year),
you can help the CIASF host five group
meetings for eight children and teens victims
of sexual abuse.
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As a canvasser, you are…
• the link between the donor and charities
• the face of your department/agency’s fundraising
efforts
• giving people the opportunity to invest in their own
community
• enabling people to donate
Did you know…
Canvassing accounts for 92% of funds raised in the GCWCC. That means that in
2013, canvassers like you helped raise approximately
• $19 million in the NCR and
• $34 million nationally!
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Benefits of being a canvasser...
This is what other public servants have said:
I better understand the
difference between the
GCWCC and the United Way,
and the complexity of the
donation process
– Eric Beauchamp, CIEC
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I was able to build on my skills and
use them to benefit the greater
community – Elida Persic, CRA
So, how do I go about canvassing?
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Prepare …in 3 easy steps
Canvass…in 3 easy steps
Helping donors make their donation
Follow Up
Did you know…
The #1 reason people don’t give: They
haven’t been asked!!!
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Preparing yourself
1. Obtain your canvass list and your collaterals
- From your department’s GCWCC team
2. Introduce yourself to the people you will be canvassing
- Send an introductory email in advance of the face-to face visit
(view sample email in the Canvasser Toolbox)
3. Schedule a two minute face-to face “canvassing”
meeting with them
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Canvassing…in 3 steps
1. Have a face-to-face meeting with your colleague --Remember to bring a copy of the Donor Information Sheet
(DIS)
2. Ask if they would like to take this opportunity to donate
through the GCWCC and answer questions that may come up –
If you are unsure of technical questions, let them know that
you’ll find out and get back to them
3. Talk about the DIS and book a follow up visit to confirm the
pledge was made and to deliver the GCWCC calendar
Remember!
Donors can give through Payroll Deduction, cash, cheque , credit card & PayPal
(online only)
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Four approaches to consider before your
“canvass” meeting
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Benefits to the donor
Charitable needs
Uniqueness of the GCWCC
Your customized approach
Remember:
Listen to cues - different circumstances
warrant different “approaches”
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Approach: Benefits to the donor
THE FOCUS: What's in it for the donor
Include information about:
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The personal tax benefit for giving*
The benefits of Payroll Deduction
The benefits of consolidated giving
How the GCWCC protects the privacy of donors
Did you know…
The GCWCC can advise your charity
of your donation, upon request.
* Refer to the Charitable donation tax credit estimator
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Approach: Benefits to the donor
The canvass could sound like one — or more —of the following…
Giving through the GCWCC is a
one-stop shop for all you charitable
giving! You can give to all your
charities in one place, at one time
AND get a single tax receipt for all
those donations.
Charitable giving reduces your taxable income!
The Canada Revenue Agency’s Charitable
donation tax credit estimator can help you
know how much!
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With Payroll Deduction, there are
no lost receipts! Your giving is
included on your T4. And with
the donations spread out over the
year, from each pay, its actually
easier for budgeting.
The GCWCC protects your privacy:
there will be no direct mailing to
your home and the donor lists are
not shared.
Approach: Charitable needs
THE FOCUS: Emotional Connection
This would involve sharing true
stories on
• Social justice: homelessness, poverty,
domestic violence, abuse, hunger
• Health and well being: mental illness,
disease prevention, research, integrated
health, rehabilitation programs
• Community building: food bank,
community centers, homework clubs,
integrating immigrants, supporting seniors
• Your own experience
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The Canvass: “I give because” …
• I made use of the [services/programs] (give
examples of how you or someone you know
have benefited from organizations supported
by the GCWCC); or
• It’s important to me to help others like
[Share a true story from a charity you
support.]; or
• On average, 1 in 3 persons benefits from
organizations supported by the GCWCC.
That means that we all know someone that
has benefited from a charitable organization
or health charity: it could be your mother,
brother, cousin, neighbour, friend, or the
clerk at the coffee shop.
I give because I want those services
available to them…and to me.
Approach: Uniqueness of the GCWCC
THE FOCUS: the pride of giving
• Include facts about the scope and impact
of the GCWCC
• Consider that in 2014, we raised
– $37 million nationally
– $20.8 million in the NCR; and
– The average donation in
the NCR was $365
• Your campaign team will have specific
information regarding your
department/agency’s 2014 results
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The canvass could sound like…
“Did you know that the GCWCC is the largest
employee charitable campaign in Canada, and that
federal public servants raised $37 M for charities
last year?
In our department, employees raised $XXX. I’m
proud to be a part of this effort, because it means
that, together, we’ve helped… “
Give examples like
– fund school breakfast programs
– fund cancer research and
– help seniors stay in their home
Approach: Your Customized Approach
What would I
THE FOCUS : comfortable for you, and
like to hear?
relevant to your donor
• “Keep it real”
• Use a unique blend of any of these 3 approaches, or
• Modify your approach to make it resonate with your
donor
Did you know…
That an ideal canvass is a Face-to-Face
conversation.
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Three Possible Responses
Your colleague will respond in one of three ways…
1. Yes : Offer to assist the donor in completing their pledge
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Explain the Donor Information Sheet, follow up to confirm pledge
was made and deliver GCWCC calendar
If Yes, but “not right now”, follow up is required
2. No decision : Can I think about it? / Come back later…
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It is important to Follow up and Follow through
3. No: Respect their decision — it is a donor choice campaign
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Thank them for their time
Following Up – Following Through
• Give everyone a chance to give
– It’s important to get an answer from everyone , either
a yes or a no.
• Tips:
– Track all your canvassing responses
• Revisit all “unanswered” or maybes on your list
– Ensure that all questions have been answered
Important!
If your colleague said “yes”, verify that they have completed and
submitted their donation within your campaign timelines.
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How can I assist people in making their
donations?
• Read our other reference modules and watch the
training videos! They can be found in your Canvasser
Toolbox
– They will provide you with information on how people can
make their donations, and your role in helping them
• Make your donation first
– That way, you know how it works!
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