2016 Holiday Tool Kit

Kettle Program
Tips for a Successful Campaign
Overall Kettle Strategy
The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division Kettle Campaign brings in
approximately $2 million dollars annually for individuals and families in need. The
campaign is directly managed by corps officers and “Service Extension” and the funds
go directly to local programming.
Issues for Consideration
Christmas Ambassadors (Volunteer Bell Ringers)
• Volunteers maximize donations collected (by reducing overhead expenses). They
also typically collect higher amounts per hour.
• We must work to establish a volunteer base early (See volunteer recruitment plan in
volunteer section 3b).
• Volunteer groups such as Boy Scouts, Rotary Clubs, businesses, and churches
can also be utilized effectively.
• Consider starting a Red Kettle Club (http://redkettleclub.org/) with one of your
local middle or high schools.
• Businesses/groups could be encouraged to “adopt” or sponsor a kettle (more
notes on this topic follow).
• Paperwork:
o Volunteers covering only one shift must fill out a one-­‐‐time volunteer
application.
o Volunteers who will be with you the whole season need to fill out the
entire volunteer packet (including background check).
• It’s a good idea to run one time volunteers’ names through the FBI’s sex offender
database at www.nsopr.gov. No release is required for you to check this
database. People on the sex offender database cannot volunteer.
Paid kettle workers
• Paid workers are paid minimum wages and are temporary employees.
• Kettle workers can sometimes create a negative impression, so you need to
observe and coach your workers.
• The cost of kettle workers reduces fundraising efficiency; sites staffed by paid
kettle workers receive fewer donations than do volunteer sites.
2d. Tips For A Successful Campaign