Campaign Season Is Here, and Our Pacesetters Are Leading the Way

Something exciting is happening across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties this month. United Way of Southwest Michigan's Campaign Season is officially underway, and a group of local organizations we call our Pacesetters are the ones setting things in motion.

First, a quick word on what Campaign Season is all about! When we use that phrase, we mean the fundraising campaigns that companies and nonprofits host across our three counties each year. No two look exactly alike. Some ask employees directly for donations. Others are built around fun teambuilding events that pull departments together for a little friendly competition. Some center on volunteer projects that get staff out into the community. And others are simply a corporate gift that helps United Way direct dollars to programs at local nonprofits and fund resources like 211 and Volunteer United. Campaign dollars & corporate gifts are most of where United Way brings in dollars that go right back out into the community, so it’s an important time of year for us.

Giving can look however works best for you, too. For a lot of folks, it is a small amount pulled from each paycheck, which barely registers on payday but adds up to something real over a year. Others make one larger gift all at once, and some give through a family trust or a legacy gift that leaves a mark on this community for years to come.

So where do Pacesetters fit in? They are the organizations that go first. Pacesetters launch early, set an ambitious goal, and show everyone else how it is done, handing the rest of the season real momentum along the way.

This year's Pacesetters are a group we are proud to stand behind. Leading the pack is United Federal Credit Union, our largest Pacesetter, who is raising the bar by matching every employee donation to United Way dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of every gift their team makes. Joining them are Mid-West Family Marketing & Media, St. Joseph Public Schools, and Vail Rubber Works, along with our own team here at United Way of Southwest Michigan, because we believe in leading by example. United Federal Credit Union has the honor of kicking off the whole season, with their campaign launching the first week of August.

Here is why all this matters. Every dollar raised stays right here in Southwest Michigan and goes to work for our ALICE households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and it describes the people who get up and go to work every day but still cannot quite cover the basics like housing, childcare, food, and transportation. These are our neighbors, and in a lot of cases our coworkers too.

Your dollars also stretch further than you might think. A gift of $180, or just $15 a month, can fill backpacks with school supplies for six students, or cover four nights of shelter and meals for someone experiencing homelessness. A $1,040 annual gift can offer nine sessions of group support for a survivor of domestic violence, or the training and on-the-job experience that helps someone get back on their feet.

There is a fun bonus, too! Whether you give or not, you can register for the chance to win fun incentives from area businesses. And, those that donate will get bonus entries to win! The grand prize pairs a two night stay at Ambrose Bed & Breakfast in Baroda, flex passes to Twin City Players shows and $350 worth of Taste of Southwest Michigan dining in St. Joseph, New Buffalo, Paw Paw, Stevensville, and Cassopolis. No purchase is necessary, and full rules are at uwsm.org/incentives.

So here is where you come in. Your workplace might already be a United Way fundraising company or organization, and if it is, they will launch their two- or three-week campaign sometime between now and December. If you are not sure when yours runs, reach out to your HR Department or email me at [email protected]. And if your workplace is not running a campaign yet, we’ll help you start one!

To our 2026 Pacesetters, thank you for setting the pace and reminding all of us what community really looks like. And to everyone reading this, we hope you can give so Southwest Michigan can continue to thrive. Thank you!