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Grassroots Organizing

Ballot Measure Organizing

Overview

This ballot measure training series prepares leaders with the skills and tools to effectively launch and manage ballot measure campaigns. The training provides both shared spaces for organizers to learn with and from colleagues and issue areas as well as specific issue area breakout rooms to allow for deeper planning, coaching, and strategizing.

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 training you will:

  • Identifying issue campaign, community partners, and tactics 
  • Developing a campaign budget
  • Learning and practicing how to effectively fundraise; grassroots and digital
  • Developing and implementing a campaign plan and timeline, including understanding filing deadlines for issue campaigns
  • Best practices for values-based messaging and how to effectively communicate the message in person and online
  • Building power and growing your base
  • Implementing effective voter engagement strategies, including field tactics
  • Navigating and securing community endorsements; coalition building

Training Date

  • Jul 24, 2025

One-day workshop, virtual

3:00–5:00 PM ET

Free

Register

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at electoral@repower.org if you require further assistance.

Harnessing Your c3 to Build Power

Overview

During election campaign season, lots of folks ask questions such as: 

  1. What political activities can a c3 engage in, if any?
  2. How close can we get to the line and not be out of compliance?
  3. In what ways can we build power? Demand change and not put our tax status at risk? 

If you have some of those questions, join us as we present a practical, principled approach to power building through the utility of c3s and c4s! This training will equip organizers to better navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by working at a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization. The training promises to be engaging and informative, leaving you better prepared to achieve your electoral goals through your respective c3 or c4 organizing arms.

P.S. This will not be a legal or compliance training. Instead of telling what you can’t do, the training will focus on the distinction between c3 and c4, what the entities can do, and creative ways to move beyond the limitations to build power for your community and people. 

Who is this for?

This course is for:

  • Organizers from all walks of life, from newly engaged to seasoned professionals who want to sharpen their strategy.

What will you learn?

  • Equip organizers to better navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by working at a 501c3 or 501c4 organization
  • Focus on the distinction between c3 and c3
  • what the two entities can do inside your campaigns
  • creative ways to move beyond limitations to build power for your community and your people.

Expectations

This is an interactive course with live practice. We ask participants to write in the chat box, share verbally, and participate in breakout group discussion. During breakouts, all participants will be asked to practice. We encourage, but do not require, participants to turn on video at all times, and especially during breakout discussions. If you are unable or unwilling to practice during breakouts, we ask that you let our Lead Trainer know, and you will not be placed in a breakout room. While we will respect that choice, we offer that this course may not be for you as the bulk of the learning happens in the breakout practice.

Participants should set aside about 2–3 hours a week for coursework—including attending live webinar sessions, and reviewing session pre-work.

Training Date

  • May 20, 2025

One-day workshop, virtual

12:00–2:00 pm ET

Free

Apply

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at electoral@repower.org if you require further assistance.

Power Mapping Workshop

Overview

Join us for an overview of one the most important tools in an organizer’s toolkit: The Power Map! Using SCOPE’s Power Analysis chart, re:power trainers will guide you through how to map your campaign and assess the relative power of your allies, opponents, decision-makers, and unorganized sectors. Developing a power analysis will help you craft more effective engagement strategies, targeted campaigns, and allow you to carve a path forward for your campaign! You will have the opportunity to practice creating a map, receive feedback from other participants, and gain access to materials you will use for the rest of your organizing journey.

Who is this course for?

  • Organizers from all walks of life, from newly engaged to seasoned professionals who want to sharpen their strategy.

What will you learn?

At the end of this training you will:

  • Be able to develop a power analysis that will guide your campaign strategy
  • Understand the nuances of allies, opponents, decision-makers and unorganized sectors
  • Apply this power mapping tool to your real work!

Training Date

  • Jul 22, 2025

One-day workshop, virtual

Time TBD

Free

Apply

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at electoral@repower.org if you require further assistance.

Strategy Academy

Overview

In life, we are all natural strategists. From simple things, like working out the best way to get to an appointment on time, or how to surprise a loved one with a holiday gift, to more serious challenges: figuring out how to meet our work deadlines, how to juggle kids, chores, work, and still finding a little time to rest, how to deal with loss and grief in challenging times.

Strategy is hard coded into our bodies. The question for organizers is: how do we become intentional about developing strategies that bring more people in, enable new people to take leadership, and that can be learned from so you can improve each time.

In this course, participants will learn and practice the Strategy components of our Grassroots Organizing Framework. Using practice scenarios, you will have the opportunity to work with others to practice setting goals, doing basic power analysis, identifying key resources, and creating an escalating tactical timeline that moves you towards your objective. Just as importantly, you will have the chance to experience what collaborative strategy can look like so you can bring it back to your community.

Who is this for?

  • Organizers, campaigners, and activists who want to build successful grassroots campaigns.
  • Organizers and campaigners who are looking to build their strategy muscle
  • Leaders who care deeply about their cause and are looking to build their work in proactive, not just reactive, ways.

What will you learn?

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Create a power map—a tool to strengthen your power analysis
  • Lay out a clear and concise theory of change
  • Create a timeline of tactics that support your strategic goal
Lesson Plan

Introduction to Organizing & Leadership; Basics of Leadership Teams

  • Learn about the power of grassroots organizing as a power building tool
  • Learn about leadership as a practice of enabling others to achieve purpose
  • Practice setting up the basic pillars of effective interdependent leadership teams

Strategy 1: Power & Goals

  • Learn how to set effective, clear strategic goals that center recruiting others as the main tool for growth
  • Practice power analysis: understanding yourself, your constituency, and the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents
  • Practice laying out a theory of change and a strategic goal

Strategy 2: Tactics & Timeline

  • Learn the principles of effective, engaging, motivating tactics
  • Practice brainstorming & analyzing tactics based on the resources available to your constituency
  • Practice building a tactical escalation timeline that can guide your strategy

Putting It All Together

  • Learn how to revise and sharpen your campaign strategy
  • Reflect on your learnings & how to apply the framework to your own campaigns

Expectations

This is an interactive course with live practice. We ask participants to write in the chat box, share verbally, and participate in breakout group discussion. During breakouts, all participants will be asked to practice. We encourage, but do not require, participants to turn on video at all times, and especially during breakout discussions. If you are unable or unwilling to practice during breakouts, we ask that you let our Lead Trainer know, and you will not be placed in a breakout room. While we will respect that choice, we offer that this course may not be for you as the bulk of the learning happens in the breakout practice.

Training Dates

  • Apr 16 – May 7, 2025

4 weeks, virtual

Wednesdays
6:00–8:00 pm ET

$75–$350*

Apply by April 4, 2025

Apply
  • Sep 24 – Oct 15, 2025

3 weeks, virtual

Wednesdays
6:00–8:00 pm ET

$75–$350*

Apply by September 12, 2025

Apply

*Please refer to the Training Policies page for more information on our sliding scale system. Please reach out to grassroots@repower.org if you have any questions.

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at grassroots@repower.org if you require further assistance.

Storytelling Academy

Overview

Through narrative and storytelling, we—as individuals, communities and nations—can learn how to make choices in response to the challenges of the uncertain world we live in. Narrative is how we communicate our values through stories, bringing alive the motivation we need for changing the world. Because it engages the head and the heart, narrative can instruct and inspire, not only teaching us about why we should act but also moving us to take action.

In this course, participants will learn the Public Narrative Framework and will develop stories about why they are called to leadership (“story of self”), how their values are connected to the collective values of their communities (“story of us”), and what challenges to our values demand urgent action (“story of now”). They will also learn basic practices on how to effectively coach and support others in developing and sharing their own stories.

Who is this course for?

  • Organizers, campaigners, communicators who are interested in the craft of storytelling.
  • Activists who are seeking to hone their storytelling skills to move people to action.
  • Leaders who want to sharpen their story to engage more people in their work.

What will you learn?

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Share your personal narrative in compelling, impactful, and inspiring ways
  • Adjust your personal story for various audiences
  • Begin coaching others on how to develop their personal narrative
Lesson Plan

Narrative for Leadership & Story of Self

  • Learn about the power of storytelling as a leadership tool
  • Practice developing and sharing a personal narrative
  • Practice asking curious questions and coaching others’ narratives

Story of Us

  • Learn how to use group narratives to intervene in moments of crisis, and elevate moments of celebration
  • Practice developing and sharing community narratives that motivate & inspire people
  • Practice asking curious questions and coaching others’ narratives

Story of Now & Linked Narratives

  • Learn how to use stories of urgency and opportunity to agitate and motivate action
  • Practice developing and sharing stories that cut through the noise and focus activity
  • Practice asking curious questions and coaching others’ narratives

Expectations

This is an interactive course with live practice. We ask participants to write in the chat box, share verbally, and participate in breakout group discussion. During breakouts, all participants will be asked to practice. We encourage, but do not require, participants to turn on video at all times, and especially during breakout discussions. If you are unable or unwilling to practice during breakouts, we ask that you let our Lead Trainer know, and you will not be placed in a breakout room. While we will respect that choice, we offer that this course may not be for you as the bulk of the learning happens in the breakout practice.

Participants should set aside about 2–3 hours a week for coursework—including attending live webinar sessions, and reviewing session pre-work.

Training Dates

  • Aug 20 – Sep 10, 2025

4 weeks, virtual

Wednesdays
6:00–8:00 pm ET

$75–$350*

Apply by August 8, 2025

Apply

*Please refer to the Training Policies page for more information on our sliding scale system. Please reach out to grassroots@repower.org if you have any questions.

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at grassroots@repower.org if you require further assistance.

Grassroots Organizing School

Overview

re:power Fund’s Grassroots Organizing School is an 18-week course built to provide BIPOC grassroots organizers with the training and support necessary to develop a baseline of relational organizing skills.

The curriculum, based on Professor Marshall Ganz’s successful “Leadership, Organizing, and Action” program, is designed to take participants through a full campaign learning journey and includes sessions on public narrative as a leadership tool, building organizing relationships, creating interdependent leadership teams, developing campaign strategy, and taking action with your community. 

Relational organizing is at the heart of Grassroots Organizing School’s approach. At re:power Fund, we believe that movements must center base building in all their strategies and that engaging new people, developing their leadership capacity, and placing them in positions of real responsibility is essential to long-term success beyond any individual campaign. With that in mind, our entire curriculum is built to enhance our organizers’ relational skills and their capacity to distribute responsibility and develop the leadership of others.

Who is the course for?

  • Organizing professionals who are doing work on the ground. That work can be tied to grassroots, electoral, and/or issue organizing. We seek to support organizers who are currently part of a campaign effort or are seeking to build one. Ideal candidates are actively responsible for building out a base of people in order to engage them in political work.
  • Leaders who are excited to build relationships, to invest in the leadership of others, and to build teams of purpose-driven leaders.
  • Movement activists who are looking to make a substantial investment in themselves and their work

What will you learn?

Course modules include:
  • Introduction to Organizing
  • Coaching as a Leadership Practice
  • Public Narrative: Stories of Self, Us, and Now
  • Relationship-Building
  • Building Interdependent Leadership Teams
  • Creating Shared Strategy
  • Tactics & Timeline
  • Mobilizing for Action
Structure

The course will launch with an in-person convening. Following that, we will meet virtually every week from June 9 until August 25. Participants will also be required to meet once every 2 weeks with an assigned small group of peers to complete a group assignment (a Skill Practice Assignment, or “SPA”).  

We’ll close with a final in-person convening.

Expectations

This is an intensive, interactive course, with high expectations for participation. 

During lectures & sections:

  • We ask participants to write in the chat box, share verbally, and participate in breakout group discussion. 

Outside of class time, participants will be asked to:

  • Apply their learning to their work in real time, 
  • Complete required readings,
  • Write biweekly reflection papers, and 
  • Complete biweekly short group projects alongside a small group of other participants. 

Participants should expect to spend about 5 hours a week for coursework—including attending live webinar sessions and completing assignments.

There are limited spaces available for participants in this course. Please be prepared to meet these expectations if you apply.

Make-up Policy

In case of a work or family emergency that cannot be rescheduled without putting jobs/health in jeopardy, participants may miss up to two scheduled sessions (lecture or sections). Make-up work will be required.

We will be meeting in person for this training. Please read our latest COVID-19 protocol before proceeding with your application.

COVID-19 Protocol

Cancelled

  • May 29 – Sep 7, 2025

18 weeks, in-person & virtual

Virtual Info Session:
Register Here
April 29 – 6-7pm ET

In-person Opening:
May 29–Jun 1, 2025
Ohio

Virtual Sessions: June 9–Aug 25, 2025

In-person Closing:
Sep 5–7, 2025
Maryland

$350–$7,000*

 

*Please refer to the Training Policies page for more information on our sliding scale system. Please reach out to grassroots@repower.org if you have any questions.

Policies & FAQ

For more information regarding payment, refund policy, and other frequently asked questions, please refer to our Training Policies page. Contact us at grassroots@repower.org if you require further assistance.