Get Involved: Political Campaign Steps For Beginners

Getting involved in a political campaign can be a rewarding experience for those passionate about politics and the democratic process. Campaigns offer an opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and gain unique insights into the electoral process and the concerns of officials and the public. While campaign work is demanding and often lacks long-term stability, it can lead to government employment and provide valuable connections. There are several ways to get involved, from volunteering for a political candidate or organization supporting your causes to taking a gap semester to work on a campaign full-time. Networking is crucial, and individuals can also explore entry-level or independent consultant roles, which often provide non-monetary benefits like campaign housing or travel expense coverage. Remember, local and state elections are just as important as national ones and can significantly impact your community and national policy.

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Networking

Identify Your Network:

Start by creating a comprehensive "campaign rolodex." This is essentially a running record of all your contacts, including personal, professional, and community connections. Think broadly: friends, family, classmates, colleagues, members of groups you're part of, and even social media contacts. You never know who might be a potential validator, donor, or volunteer for your campaign.

Leverage Existing Connections:

Your personal and professional networks are valuable assets. Reach out to your contacts and ask if they'd like to get involved or if they know someone who could be a good fit for your team. This approach can help you find dedicated volunteers and tap into new networks.

Engage in Community Events:

Attend local community events, meetings, and forums to meet people and build relationships. This will help you connect with like-minded individuals and community leaders who share your interests and passions. These connections can be a source of support and may even become part of your campaign team.

Volunteer and Collaborate:

Volunteering is an excellent way to network and gain campaign experience. Look for volunteer opportunities within campaigns or political organizations. By working alongside others, you'll meet people with similar interests and build valuable connections. Collaborating with other campaigns or organizations can also expand your network and create mutually beneficial relationships.

Utilize Political Job Boards and Local Parties:

When seeking paid positions within campaigns, leverage political job boards, local political parties, and professional connections. These platforms and groups can connect you with experienced staff and provide insights into the political job market.

Attend Trainings and Courses:

Organizations like the National Democratic Training Committee offer courses on political networking, campaign management, and building relationships with donors, volunteers, and validators. These trainings can provide valuable skills and connect you with other like-minded individuals, expanding your network.

Remember, networking is about building genuine relationships, not just collecting contacts. Treat the people you meet with respect and authenticity, and don't be afraid to ask for help or offer your support. Strong networks are the foundation of successful campaigns.

Volunteering

There are many ways to volunteer, and you can choose the one that suits your personality and skills. For instance, extroverts may enjoy engaging in one-on-one discussions with people by canvassing door-to-door or in public spaces. On the other hand, introverts may prefer assembling campaign mailers and helping event staff behind the scenes. You can also volunteer your time to a political party rather than a specific campaign. This allows you to get involved without having to back a particular candidate.

Additionally, you can use your own facilities, such as your home or community room, for campaign activities as long as they are regularly used for non-commercial purposes. This can be a great way to host events and meetings for the campaign without incurring significant costs.

Campaign jobs

There are also opportunities to work for independent political entities, like the political fund of a union or trade organization, or an issue-oriented nonprofit. You could also consider working for a PAC or SuperPAC, a campaign vendor that services multiple candidates, a law firm with an election law practice, or a non-partisan non-profit that focuses on electoral issues.

When looking for a campaign job, it's important to consider your values and career goals. Identify the causes you care about and the type of work you want to do. Keep an open mind and be persistent in your job search. Campaign jobs are often seasonal and have variable needs, so hiring can be unpredictable. You may need to apply to several different campaigns before finding the right fit. Networking is crucial, so be sure to build connections with people who work in political campaigns and cultivate relationships with insiders.

Volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door and gain experience. It can also help you build a strong professional network that can lead to future job opportunities. Don't be discouraged if you don't have prior experience in politics, as campaigns value diversity and transferable skills. They actively seek individuals with unique backgrounds who can help amplify their message and reach more voters.

When applying for campaign jobs, send out your resume to as many opportunities as possible and follow up on your applications. Tailor your resume to each job you apply for, using keywords from the job description and highlighting relevant experience. Be prepared to interview with confidence and showcase your passion for the role.

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Fundraising

Understanding the Landscape

Before diving into fundraising, it's important to recognize that there are strict rules and regulations surrounding political fundraising. These rules vary from state to state but include guidelines on how money is raised, how it can be used, and compliance laws that must be followed. It is crucial to familiarize yourself with the relevant laws and regulations to ensure your fundraising activities are legal and compliant.

Developing a Plan

A well-thought-out plan is essential for successful fundraising. Start by determining the potential costs of running your campaign, including expenses for media outreach, staff salaries, polling, and campaign materials. You can then take one of two approaches: budget for every expense and fundraise to match that budget, or determine how much you can realistically raise and set your budget accordingly. Creating a comprehensive financial plan and budget will help you stay on track and ensure you're generating enough funds to cover your costs.

Identifying Donors

Building a solid donor base is crucial for fundraising success. Start with the candidate's personal network, as this is often the source of most contributions, especially for first-time candidates. Expand your reach by identifying individuals who share your political views and interests and are potentially interested in donating to your campaign. Utilize social media platforms, particularly Facebook, to cost-efficiently engage with potential donors and build your network.

Utilizing Various Channels

Take a multichannel approach to connect with donors. This includes in-person events, online advertising, SMS and email campaigns, direct mail, door-to-door solicitations, and meet-and-greets. Each channel offers a unique opportunity to engage with donors and should be optimized to align with your campaign's message and goals. Remember to follow up with donors after their first donation to express gratitude and encourage future contributions.

Engaging with Supporters

Political fundraising is not just about asking for donations; it's also about building relationships and engaging with supporters. Host community events, utilize social media, and share compelling content to create a community of engaged individuals who are invested in your campaign. This will not only help with fundraising but also with spreading your message and gaining support for your cause.

Campaign software

Political campaign software is a specialised subset of technology that helps political organisations execute campaign activities. It is not necessary to use political campaign software to win an election, but it can make campaigns easier to run and increase the odds of success.

• Canvassing: Canvassing or door-knocking apps rely on the voter file of registered voters within your state, district or county to make contact via phone, text, or in person. NGP VAN's MiniVan is one of the most widely-used canvassing apps, used by Democratic and progressive campaigns.
• Fundraising: NGP VAN also provides effective tools to focus your efforts on gathering donations from supporters, including contribution source tracking, Donor Target Scores, and custom fields for further organisation. SmartSuite is another software that helps with fundraising, allowing you to track campaigns, connect with donors, and plan events to generate momentum.
• Content sharing: Leverage social media to upload and curate a library of content, which your supporters can then post to their online networks. This can be used to fundraise, promote your campaign's agenda, fight disinformation, and more.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): CRMs are useful for growing and sustaining relationships with supporters. NationBuilder is a CRM that combines content management and customer relationship management software, helping with website design, fundraising, organising volunteers, and social media.
• Communication: Action Network is a political campaign software solution that offers email and text message broadcasting to share updates, fundraise, or mobilise supporters. You can personalise your messages by adding supporters' names and custom donation asks.
• Calling: CallHub is a calling tool for political phone banking, allowing volunteers to make calls from home with access to phone banking scripts, surveys, and individual contact details.

Frequently asked questions