Overview
Campaign School for Issue Organizers is built to support issue-focused organizers to connect the dots between elections and year-round issue-based organizing. Through the boom and bust of election cycles, many grassroots organizations find themselves scrambling when money is brought in during big election years. This training will equip organizers in the skills and tools they need to be prepared for these moments.
In this course, we will take participants through the full-cycle of electoral campaigning, from how to calculate a win number and create a field plan, to campaign budgeting and fundraising, to launching and managing a canvass. While the primary focus is on electoral skills, this course is intended to build the confidence, rigor and strategy that organizers need to transfer these skills to issue-based grassroots organizing. This is a four-week course that meets twice a week, for two hours per session. Participants will have access to coaches throughout the duration of this course.
Who is this course for?
- Grassroots Organizers, Base Builders, Campaigners who want to build inclusive, productive and positive work environments
- Issue-focused organizers who are, or will be receiving, C3 or C4 dollars to manage electoral programs to uplift issue-focused campaigns ie. ballot measures, pro-working class candidates, etc.
- Folks who have 3+ years of organizing experience
What will you learn?
At the end of this course you will be able to:
- Create a strategic, winning, and movement-building campaign plan
- Incorporate healthy campaign culture into your work
- Build strong teams of paid and volunteer staff to drive your campaign
- Craft persuasive and effective scripts for organizing conversations
Lesson Plan
Overview a Field Plan and Direct Voter Contact Basics
Learn why you need a field plan and program to be successful. Get an overview of what a field plan looks like, how to create your “North Star” (i.e. your campaign Win Number), and the basics of direct voter contact.
Campaign Budgeting & Fundraising
Understand your role as fundraisers while building your confidence, and how to hold leadership in raising election dollars before, during, and after a campaign cycle.
Targeting Voters & VAN
Learn how to target the key voters that your campaign needs to talk to, how to determine your win numbers, and the basics on how to use the Voter Activation Network (VAN) and navigate its limitations.
Base Building and Digital Tools
Explore how to build an inclusive base of support and how to craft what you say to your base once you have identified them.
Script Building
Practice organizing conversations to help shape and inform our field programs. Participants will role play and get the opportunity to write an effective script that connects your target audience with desired outcomes.
Building a Volunteer Program
Identify the 5 elements of a great volunteer program, understand your role in volunteer recruitment and retention, and how to develop volunteer leadership through a ladder of engagement.
Launching & Managing Canvasses
Learn one of the key ingredients of a successful field program: the door-to-door canvass. Participants will learn how to effectively set up canvasses and manage canvass staff.
Managing Up & Across Your Team
Learn to better coordinate and communicate with their peers and managers in order to achieve the shared vision and goals of the campaign.
