United Way turbocharges Costco’s WPG program

FROM THE JUDGES:

I really liked the way the partners collaborated to redesign their engagement and the ensuing increase in giving participation is excellent.”

RESULTS + IMPACT

  • The ‘CostcoFest’ short film program pitched team members against each other in friendly competition
  • As a result, overall team members involvement in WPG grew to 38% and in one warehouse, it was over 79%
  • Overall an 8% increase in WPG was achieved
  • In a year, $240,000 raised and donated to its charity partners – the RSPCA and the Children’s Hospital

 OVERVIEW + HIGHLIGHTS

United Way Australia (UWA) works with corporate businesses, government, trusts and foundations, and community and charity partners to help improve early literacy and youth transition to employment.

Costco is a membership warehouse dedicated to providing the best products for the best possible prices. Costco started its WPG program in 2018.

UWA manages the Costco workplace giving program, building on existing relationships between United Way and Costco in USA. UWA works as the conduit between Costco and the charities they support, who were determined through the interests of the staff and what areas of impact they were keen to donate to.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19, Costco was unable to organise in-person events. Instead, UWA and Costco worked together to hold CostcoFest, a short-film event where each warehouse put together a 3-minute video on “what giving means to me”. The charities were given criteria to judge and choose a winning warehouse. The charity partners also put together short videos thanking the Costco staff for their donations, which were played on repeat in lunchrooms throughout October.