SUPPORT FOR 2019 DOWN BALLOT PRIMARY CANDIDATES READY TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
It’s time to bring movement-building to the electoral sphere. It’s time to primary and replace complacent Democrats and replace them with activists who are allies of, and accountable to, peoples’ movements and will fight boldly for justice and a sustainable future.
The campaigns we want to work with are eager to get training and support from experienced campaign operatives who are deeply committed to movement-building founded on progressive values. And they need to do it on a small budget.
That’s why SMT is launching its “Winning Down Ballot Races for Justice in the Digital Age” initiative.
SMT is a non-profit movement-partner that has trained staff from 2,200 organizing groups and unions in its first six years. SMT provides organizing strategy, training and campaign support to build progressive power and win in the digital age.
This support package is designed to offer campaigns the core of what they need, making the most of small group training to keep cost down.
What support and training is included?
A. Strategy assessment and online audit
This is a quick and dirty assessment that takes place over a 24 hour period and takes about 6 hours of SMT electoral staff time. It sets the campaign up to make the most of support and small group coaching.
Includes:
- A review of the campaign’s narrative, messaging, voter data analysis, field plan, tech stack (tools and apps in use and planned), social media presence, ad plan and digital budget (if available).
- A morning 60-minute video conference small group session in which we ask lots of questions.
- Write-up of a multi-page assessment with recommendations which is shared for the next step.
- An afternoon 90-minute video conference small group session in which we walk through recommendations with time for group discussion of points raised.
B. Individual and small group coaching
Here’s where we’ll help you ramp up – in both individual and small group sessions shared with staff from other campaigns in the cohort. We’ve budgeted 4 hours of staff time per topic per campaign, and small group sessions will stretch that quite a bit farther.
- Develop bold campaign messaging that is true to the candidate, resonates with your public and ties in with framing that has worked in progressive campaigns across the country
- Plan who you should be talking to and when based on data analysis. This will include help to build target audiences (e.g. those where persuasion is needed early, expanding the electorate), a basic timeline, and a field plan.
- Get the right tech stack in place (combination of digital tools and apps)
- Based on your strategy assessment and online audit, we will recommend a tech stack for you.
- Small group sessions will be held to discuss tech options, including basics like CRMs but also recently popular campaign apps and tools for relational voter engagement, GOTV, texting, canvassing and more
- SMT has extensive comparisons of tech tools and will share these when making recommendations
- SMT has relationships with other movement non-profits ready to provide extremely low-cost support for website development, app development and a range of other needs
- Develop your Facebook/Instagram ads plan and begin to implement
Includes:
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- Guidance for setting up your Facebook ad account correctly to ensure you can upload lists for precise targeting
- Help putting together an ad campaign plan based on audiences and your campaign timeline
- Guidance for developing content
- Developing audiences
- Doing message testing
- Running and evaluating 2 ad campaigns. We will guide and demo all this with you and provide feedback on what you set up as time allows.
C. Additional support if needed
SMT staff will be available to provide affordable support and guidance on an individual and small group basis as needed.
What does it cost?
$5,200 per campaign. SMT is providing a 50% subsidy to the first 12 campaigns accepted into the program. So for these 12 campaigns the cost is $2,600 per campaign.
How does my campaign apply?
Will be announced towards the end of September 2019. Get on the list by signing up below.
What are the minimum requirements?
- The candidate must have signed the “No Fossil Fuel Money” pledge
- Must have the support of a number of community groups and unions, even if informal at early stages.
- Access to the voter file
- A campaign manager in place
How many campaigns will be accepted?
At this time SMT is accepting 12 campaigns for 50% subsidies. Additional campaigns are welcome to join, if accepted, at the regular rate.
Join this cohort of candidates and staffers who are ready to fight boldly for a progressive future and want to wage a savvy campaign in the digital age.