United Way’s Loaned Representative Program offers a unique opportunity to practice corporate social responsibility in a way that benefits your organization, your employee candidate and our community at large.

Loaned representatives from the public and private sector join forces with United Way staff during our fall campaign for a 15-week period. These individuals serve as an extension of United Way staff, acting as a resource person to the volunteers that help plan, implement and monitor workplace campaign strategies for over 250 organizations across the Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin communities.

 

DOWNLOAD THE LOANED REP BROCHURE (PDF)

 

How can my organization participate?

It’s easy. You sponsor (“loan us”) an employee from your own organization to participate in the program for the United Way campaign period.

 

What are the benefits to my organization?

There are many benefits to the program. On the public relations end, your organization will receive profile and public recognition via United Way publications, events and the web and at hundreds of workplaces throughout Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin. Internal to your organization, your participation will demonstrate your organization’s commitment to employee development.

Your employee will learn new skills via professional coaching and training with United Way, bolster their community understanding and establish new business contacts. They will return to you motivated, re-energized and refreshed.

 

What are my financial responsibilities with the program?

Sponsoring organizations continue to pay their employees’ salaries, benefits and incidental expenses such as parking and mileage.

 

What skills will my employees learn?

Your employee will interact with both the internal United Way team and outside business contacts via the workplace. Acting in a motivational role, they will hone and refine their skills in:

• sales techniques and customer service;
• public speaking;
• teamwork and interpersonal relationships;
• strategic analysis and planning;
• leadership capabilities and project management; and
• new contact development and networking opportunities.

 

What can my employees expect?

United Way staff will train, monitor and evaluate your employee throughout the entire experience. They will equip them with all the tools necessary to succeed in the role.

United Way will provide:

• education on community issues, the United Way movement, and fundraising basics; and
• training on sales techniques, customer service, presentation skills, analysis and planning.

Each loaned representative works closely with a United Way staff member who will provide them with support and a final evaluation.

 

What will your employees key responsibilities be?

Loaned representatives will:

• provide the support necessary to conduct effective workplace campaigns by assisting with the planning process, coordination of campaign materials and promotional items, delivery of training programs for committee members and canvassers, as well as speaker presentations for employee groups;
• monitor activities, report results, and complete a final evaluation on each account; and
• travel as required in the Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin area to attend campaign events and other functions as required.

 

Who makes a good loaned representative?

The ideal candidate is passionate about the community, comfortable in a team environment, ready and willing to learn, confident and innovative, a problem solver, and eager for new challenges.

Enthusiastic and interested, they are ready to make the most out of the experience and bring their new learning back to your workplace.

We are looking for:

• excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships, motivate others, encourage involvement, and instill a sense of excitement;
• strong organizational and time-management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities;
• excellent teamwork skills and the ability to work with a variety of individuals (including top-level management) from diverse backgrounds; and
• flexibility, high energy level and the willingness “to do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

 

What do past loaned representatives say about their experience?

Isabella Barretto (2010, OMAFRA):  
When you work as a loaned rep you get a true understanding of the real needs that exist within our community. It raises your awareness of the United Way funded programs that support everyone in our community, from children to seniors. When you raise funds during the campaign you are truly making a difference in someone’s life for the better. Being a loaned rep is a rewarding and exciting experience.

Melissa Hunter (The Co-operators, 2010): 
This has been a life changing experience. Through interactions with United Way’s corporate partners and agencies my awareness of the area’s social and economical needs evolved. Being a loaned rep allowed me to give back to my community. This is a very unique and fun position that has strengthened my confidence and interpersonal skills.

Kathie Noble (2009, OMAFRA): 
What an amazing experience. I improved my presentation skills by speaking to groups of various sizes about my own personal experience while at the same time promoting a great charity—United Way. I also found that I improved my organizational skills and learned more about goal setting and problem solving while working with United Way’s campaign coordinators to plan and implement workplace campaigns. I worked with amazing “teams” from businesses and nonprofits across the city.  I would be a United Way loaned representative again in a heartbeat.

 

Past Sponsors

In 2010, three organizations sponsored the Loaned Representative Program, providing United Way with the people power required to run a very successful annual campaign and keep the community up-to-date on our work:

• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
• The Co-operators
• University of Guelph

 

Duration of Assignment

First Tuesday in September to mid-December (includes professional training)

 

For More Information

Grace Correia, Campaign Director
85 Westmount Rd.
Guelph, ON, N1H 5J2
T: 519-821-0571 ext. 33
E: grace'at'unitedwayguelph.com