NDP Candidate and Campaign Staff Training and VendorFest

Big Blue Weekend

Candidate Training and VendorFest Details:

Training Agenda:

8:30 – 9:30 am (breakfast served)

Show me the $$$: Fundraising Best Practices & Tools

    • Best practices of online fundraising
    • Overview of how the NEW ActBlue down-ballot tool, called RAISE, which helps with disclosure/compliance reports and other resources
    • Basic functions of a Finance Plan and tips
      • Components of a Finance Plan, beating the slumps (summer, holidays), call time, targeting donors in VAN

9:35 – 10:20 am

Writing a Campaign Plan and Getting Started

  • What is in a Campaign Plan
    • Win Number, staff structure, mail schedule, budget, etc.
    • Field plan (doors, calls, texts)
  • Getting Started 
    • Headshot/action photos
    • موقع الكتروني
    • ActBlue page
    • Palm card
    • Campaign checklist (in NDP Candidate Manual)

10:25 – 11:10 am

Communications and Messaging

    • Finding your “why”
    • Crafting your 2-minute pitch
    • Overall campaign message, issues and values
    • Key components to deliver your message:
      • Doors
      • الأحداث
      • Social Media (videos, share graphics)
      • موقع الكتروني
      • Email Program
      • Digital Ads
      • Palm Card
      • Mail Program (more details on mail in next session!)

11:15 – Noon

Snail Mail: It Still Works

  • Crafting a Mail Plan
        • Budget, getting a list, targets, dates, quantity of pieces, etc.
  • Nuts and bolts of design and printing
      • Finding designers vs working with a full-service firm
      • Coordinated mail permit
      • Union printers/mail houses
    • Tips and best practices of a strong mail program

12:05 pm – 12:35

Compliance with FEC, NADC and Ballot Initiatives

    • Where do you file–FEC or NADC?
    • Steps: EIN, Bank Account, Filing Paperwork of your Campaign Committee with FEC or NADC
    • Basics of filing deadlines, fees, where you pull your list of donors from
    • Legal guidance on working with ballot initiatives, a critical tool to engage voters on issues beyond party lines

12:40 – 1:40 pm (lunch served)

Online Media Buying Platform

1:45 – 2:45 pm (free t-shirt)

Fun and Critical: Swag, Parades, Postcards, Block Captains

    • Swag
      • Tshirts, totes, rally signs, bumper stickers, buttons
      • Design, printing, costs
      • Online store 
    • Parades 
      • Tips and best practices for visibility at parades, handing out items, volunteers, etc.
      • List of parades and county events
    • Postcards
      • Creating postcard packets
      • Finding volunteers
    • بلوك نقباء
      • Finding your Block Captains
      • Tips to give them your lit, invite them to coffee, etc

2:50 – 3:50 pm (snacks served)

The Voter File: The Hub of Everything You Need

    • What is a voter file?
    • Getting access to VAN via NDP
    • Scores, Models, IDs
    • Cutting walk lists (and using MiniVan)
    • Creating survey questions
    • Phone banking from VAN
    • Texting from VAN
    • Mail list from VAN

Candidates can choose to stay to participate in the NDP’s State Central Committee meeting which will take place at the same hotel from 4-6pm.