Daffodil Campaign

Door to Door Zone Captain Guide

2020

We are proud of the progress we’ve made to advance

cancer research, support people living with and beyond

cancer and advocate for a healthier Canada for all.

None of this would have been possible without the

dedication and passion of our donors and volunteers.

‘Volunteers do not necessarily have

the time, they just have the heart.’

-Ann Richardson

‘What is the essence of life?

To serve others and to do good.’

-Aristotle

Contents Each spring during our Daffodil Campaign, Canadians

rally around this symbol. The daffodil is resilient. It

survives our harsh Canadian winters and is the first flower

to bloom in the spring, a time of renewal and hope. For

those living with cancer, the daffodil is a symbol of

strength, courage and life.

p. 1 Our Mission

p. 2 Canvassing

p. 3 Campaign Support Pyramid

p. 4 Zone Captain Activities Overview

p. 5 Activities Timeline

p. 6 Pick up + Train + Clarify

p. 7 Contact + Confirm

p. 8 Canvasser Record Sheet

p. 9 Contact Information on Canvass Kit

p. 10 Distribute + Review/ highlight

p. 11 Follow up/ Check in

p. 12 Collect, Record

p. 13 Return Canvass Kits

1

Our mission The Canadian Cancer Society is a national

community-based organization of volunteers whose

mission is the eradication of cancer and the

enhancement of the quality of life of people living with

cancer. Please visit our website cancer.ca or call our

toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at

1-888-939-3333 for more information.

Life is bigger than cancer. Cancer changes people. 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed

with cancer in their lifetime. But a cancer diagnosis doesn’t

have to define a person. Our goal is to improve the cancer

experience by helping people live longer and enhancing their

quality of life. We believe that life is bigger than cancer.

Thanks to generous donations, we can: 

Research. CCS is the only national funder of

ground-breaking research into more than 100 types of

cancer, giving us a valuable sightline on all aspects of the

cancer landscape and allowing us to translate key

learnings from one area to another.

 

Support. We offer programs and services that help local

people with cancer and their families when they’re unsure

or anxious.   

Prevent. We advocate to governments on important

cancer-related issues to drive important social change and

funding. 

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Canvassing

While traditional door to door canvassing is probably the

best-known type of canvassing, there are several other

effective canvassing options to suit a range of preferences

and/or schedules. Canvasser kits are provided and receipts

are issued for all donations.

Many canvassers do more than one method.

Door to Door Canvassing The traditional door to door approach is the best-known

type of canvassing and continues to raise significant

funds. Canvassers use maps to follow a designated walk

or community zone route, knocking on doors asking for

donations face to face.

Family and Friends Canvassing Approaching family and friends is an easy extension to

canvassing a walk/route. Canvassing friends and family

can be easier and more convenient.

Workplace Canvassing Workplace canvassing is also a convenient option for

volunteers who don’t have time to commit to going door

to door on weekends or in the evenings.

Online Canvassing One of the newest forms of canvassing is online. It is a

convenient, quick and easy way for volunteers to ask

personal contacts for donations. Zone Captains, Area

Captains and canvassers can register online and send

emails to friends and family, colleagues, clubs and

associations to help raise funds during the campaign.

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Campaign Support Pyramid

The Door-to-Door Campaign is made possible by the many

staff and volunteers in the Campaign Support Pyramid.

Zone Captains are important links between Community

Leads and Canvassers.

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Zone Captain Activities Overview

A Zone Captain plays a key role within the Campaign

Support Pyramid and an important link between Community

Leads and Canvassers. Zone Captains are responsible for

the following activities:

Pick up +

train/ clarify

Pick up canvass kits from

the Community

Coordinator, review

contents and procedures

Contact +

confirm

Call/email canvassers to

confirm participation and

write contact information on

kits

Follow up

+ Check in

Follow up call/ email in mid

April to canvassers

Collect +

record

Collect kits from canvassers

and record any not

received on the Affidavit

Distribute +

review /

highlight

Distribute kits to

canvassers, review the

process and highlight ‘New

to 2020’ changes

Return

Return canvasser kits to the

Community Coordinator

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Zone Captain Activities Timeline

March 1 - 14: Pick up canvass kits from the

Community Coordinator, review contents and

procedures

Last two weeks of March: Call/email canvassers to

confirm participation and write contact information

on kits

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First week of May: Canvassers return kits to Zone

6 Captains. Once all kits are returned, please return them

to Area Captain or Community Coordinator by May 15th

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Pick up + train/

clarify

Your Community Coordinator will let you know the time and location of

your Zone Captain Orientation. If you cannot attend, let them know and

they will make arrangements to get the canvass kits to you.

Materials that will be distributed include:

Zone Captain Binder containing:

∙ 2020 Canvasser Record Sheet (CRS) – this

contains the list of canvassers you are

responsible to get the canvass kits to ∙ Previous years’ CRS for reference

∙ 2020 Note Form

∙ Affidavit (for lost Receipt Books)

∙ Maps for those canvassing ‘walks’ Door to

Door (Overview Map of Zone and

individual Walks)

∙ Description of Walks

Canvasser Kits containing:

∙ 20 tax receipts

∙ Receipt Summary (found under the receipts)

∙ A bag of daffodil pins

∙ New in 2020 newsletter

∙ Volunteer ID lanyard

∙ “Facing Cancer?” bookmarks

∙ Donation Envelope (brown)

∙ Leave Behind Envelopes

∙ Maps for those canvassing door to door

CRS Sample

Canvasser kit Sample

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Contact + confirm

Contact the canvassers in your zones

Each canvasser’s contact and canvassing information is on the

Canvasser Record Sheet in the Zone Captain Binder.

In this day and age, people can be very busy. Please call and email

more than once. As David Galpin, the North Shore Community

Coordinator says, “As a Zone Captain, you cannot over-

communicate”.

Here is a sample script:

“Hi, my name is . I am a volunteer Zone Captain for the Canadian

Cancer Society’s Door to Door Daffodil Campaign. Thank you for

all your hard work as a canvasser. I have your canvass kit here,

what is the best way to get it to you?”

Contacting tips:

∙ Obtain email addresses, and cell phone numbers (where

possible) Confirm accuracy of contact information.

∙ When sending emails to a group of volunteers, it is required

that you use the BCC field to add recipients to keep in line

with national privacy laws.

∙ Do not write on kit until canvasser has confirmed.

∙ Try texting, calling and email. Avoid long messages.

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Canvasser Record Sheet Once you have reached the canvassers, and they have confirmed

their participation, write their contact information on their

canvass kits - and o your Canvasser Record Sheet

Instructions from the

canvasser will be indicated

here; Ex “Please put

through mail slot”, or

“Vacation until March 26”

If a WALK is indicated – i.e. their name has a

number on the far right column of the

Canvass Record Sheet – they will need a map

from the Zone Captain Binder. The maps are

numbered and give the canvasser

parameters of which homes to canvass.

NEW - Put your

calling notes here.

Write here the number of

the Canvasser Kit.

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Contact Information on

Canvass Kit Please complete fields only after confirming with

each Canvasser

Select from

CRS

Zone Captain info here

Put this number on Canvasser Record Sheet (CRS)

Canvasser info here

Please remember to insert maps into kits for every

canvasser doing WALKS

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Distribute + review /

highlight

Arrange Drop off / pick up of canvass kits

Some Zone Captains arrange pick ups in coffee shops. Some

drop off at the canvassers’ home. Some ask the canvasser to

pick up from their own home (usually due to mobility issues.)

Point out “New in 2020” to the canvasser (e.g. new kit, tax

receipt, and new credit card procedures)

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Follow up + Check in

Coaching email or phone call – mid April

The canvasser may need some encouragement, or

some questions answered. It’s a good idea to check in

with them midway through the month.

A Sample phone call or email:

“ Hello . It’s your Volunteer Zone Captain. I

hope you are enjoying this beautiful April weather!

How is your canvassing going? If you have any

questions, do not hesitate to call.”

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4

Collect + record

Arrange for pick up and/ or drop off of

canvass kits

During the last week of April, send an email to remind them to

wrap up their canvassing. Arrange pick up or drop off of

canvass kits.

Tips:

∙ Set up best time and location to return the canvasser kit

∙ Remind them to complete the Receipt Summary found behind the receipts

Missing Canvass Kits

If after repeated calls and emails to the

canvasser and the canvass kit is not

returned, please fill out the Affidavit of

Missing Items located in your Zone

Captain Binder.

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Return

Contact Community

Coordinator to arrange

return Canvass kits and

Zone Captain Binder

Congratulations!

Heartfelt thanks for all your

support and help!

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