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
  • Sitio web
  • 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
    • Eventos
    • Social Media (videos, share graphics)
    • Sitio web
    • 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

• • Basics of running digital ads
    • Targeting voters
    • Creative for ads
    • Where you buy/place ads
  • TargetSmart Online Media Buying Platform
    • Premier system endorsed by the ASDC
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Differences between platforms

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
  • Capitanes de bloque
    • 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.