The Campaign Workshop Blog
Define Advocacy - Definition, Tactics & Terms
Posted on May 03, 2021 by Sophie Thurber (she/her)The Tactics and Terms That Define Advocacy
Learn how we define advocacy -Advocacy, defined in the simplest terms, is about fighting for something you believe in. When we talk about advocacy, the issues and tactics may change, but the core is about supporting a cause or policy and working to create the change we want to see in the world. What is the difference between how we define an advocacy campaign and a political campaign? The difference may sometimes seem murky, but it boils down to express advocacy vs. issue advocacy. Express advocacy…How to Find a Political Campaign Job
Posted on Apr 26, 2021 by Joe Fuld (he/him)Land a Political Campaign Job with Our 12 Tips
When I started on the campaign trail, I was lucky enough to go through the Campaign Management Institute, where I became focused on grassroots political campaigns and met mentors through college programs and internships. Meeting folks who had made careers out of political campaigns, advocacy and public affairs, encouraged me to go on the road, pursue a career in politics and…Nonprofit Job Boards For Your Next Career Move
Posted on Apr 19, 2021 by17 Nonprofit Job Boards for Your Search
If you’re looking for your next career move that makes a difference, check out nonprofit job boards to find openings in the areas you’re interested in. Below, we compiled a list of boards that will help you find the right fit. Check out our larger list of job boards, jobs banks, and search firms here.…Why We Have a Paid Internship Program at The Campaign Workshop
Posted on Apr 12, 2021 by Joe Fuld (he/him)A Paid Internship Makes for Better Interns
Finding a paid internship in politics, public affairs or political consulting is not easy. Oftentimes, hours of web research end in disappointment with search results offering unpaid internships with unclear job descriptions. Many small businesses have given up on internships altogether, paid or unpaid, because they could not find value. So, if you are looking for a paid internship or you are a company thinking about how to get real value from your internship program, this blog post is for you. …Advocacy Campaign Tips for the Win
Posted on Mar 29, 2021 byAdvocacy Campaign Goals Win Your Public Affairs Campaign
Running an effective advocacy campaign takes skill and planning. As we head into 2021, there will be a lot of competition for different advocacy issues to take a spotlight, so you need to be ready to hit the ground running. We put together five tips to help you run a winning advocacy campaign. Have a clear and measurable goal. Advocacy organizations often have goals for their campaigns that are hard to measure. For example, it can be tough to determine if a goal like “raising awareness”…Advocacy Video That Won't Break the Bank
Posted on Mar 22, 2021 by Ben Holse (he/him)Advocacy Video On a Budget
Advocacy video is all over social media and across the internet. Video has really become an essential channel for leveraging support on an issue for nonprofits. It’s no wonder why, many advocacy organizations and nonprofits have supporters with compelling narratives, and video is a great medium for storytelling. But we’ve seen too many small or mid-sized nonprofits that still choose to avoid creating an advocacy video strategy because they have a limited budget. Well, great news. Developing an engaging video for…7 Questions with Pollster Dave Fako, Founder of Fako Research & Strategies
Posted on Mar 19, 2021 by Ben Holse (he/him), Ibrahim Ahmed7 Questions with Dave Fako on Political and Advocacy Polling
Dave Fako founded Fako Research & Strategies (FR&S) in 1998. His career in politics, public policy, and government affairs spans over thirty years. Over his career, Dave Fako has developed strategies for statewide, congressional, state legislative, and municipal candidates, in addition to referendums, and has advised numerous public policy, advocacy organizations, and national and regional private sector companies. Dave Fako has developed expertise in state, local, and…Membership Communications Tips
Posted on Mar 15, 2021 by Elena VeatchMembership Communications Can Make a Difference
In our socially distanced world, having a thoughtful membership communications strategy is more important than ever. For labor unions and advocacy organizations effectively engaging members across mediums can make a real difference. Activating members to turn out in elections or put pressure on lawmakers to pass legislation is a core part of member communications. Here are our tips for taking your membership communications programs to the next level: Plan ahead for short- and long-term programs…Advocacy Engagement Funnel
Posted on Mar 08, 2021 byAdvocacy Engagement Goes Further with A Funnel
Getting more advocacy engagement for your organization involves finding new supporters and turning them into dedicated advocates. But getting people to make the transition from giving you their email address to taking action on your organization’s behalf requires a thoughtful engagement strategy. We created an advocacy funnel to show different actions you could ask your supporters to take and what value can be assigned to each action. The more personal the action is, the higher its value.…Grassroots Campaign - Mitigating Virtual Volunteer Flake Rate
Posted on Mar 01, 2021 by Ben Holse (he/him)Grassroots Campaign Planning - Get Your Virtual Volunteers to Come Back
Even before the pandemic, running a grassroots campaign was hard. And in the age of COVID-19, running a successful grassroots campaign with a network of engaged volunteers can feel nearly impossible. There are always going to be volunteers who sign up for shifts and do not show up. While it may seem easier to get people to log onto a Zoom volunteer shift than it would be to get them to drive all the way to your office to volunteer in person, when folks are at home there are…Nine Days: 7 Questions with Paul Kendrick
Posted on Feb 26, 2021 by Ellie BarneyAuthor Paul Kendrick Discusses His New Book Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life and Win the 1960 Election
As a former Obama White House Staffer, seasoned campaign organizer, former Harlem Children’s Zone team member, and now the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, co-author Paul Kendrick brings a fresh take to the idea that what’s past is prologue. In Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life and Win the 1960 Election, Stephen and Paul Kendrick present the story of Martin…Political Pollsters: Making the Most of Your Polling
Posted on Feb 22, 2021 by Elena VeatchPollsters- How To Work With Them & Be a Smart Consumer of Polling
Pollsters shouldn’t be the only members of your team who understand how to build an effective survey for your advocacy or political campaign. Becoming a smart consumer of campaign polling data is a must. this post will help you ask pollsters thoughtful questions. Good polling will help you utilize your budget efficiently, think strategically about your goals, and assess risks and opportunities in your electoral landscape. A good campaign pollster will understand your goals…Advocacy Tactics and Strategies Evolved
Posted on Feb 15, 2021 by Joe Fuld (he/him)Advocacy Tactics Have Shifted Over Time
Advocacy tactics and advocacy campaign strategies have changed a lot over the last 20 years. When I was a Chief of Staff in the New York State Legislature, I don't remember ever seeing a real public affairs campaign around public support of an issue that focused on legislators. The main way groups moved legislation was to hire a…User-Generated Content for Everyone -Storytelling for Advocacy
Posted on Feb 08, 2021 by Joe Fuld (he/him)User-Generated Content Tools to Build Storytelling for Advocacy During the time of COVID -19, getting together and sharing stories is an impossibility. So, when my mom turned 80, my sister came upon an easy user-generated content tool to organize friends to send a message to my mom for her friends and family. Five days and a few tutorials later, using Video Hug, we had organized a couple dozen 80-year-olds to send a message to my mom you can see the finished product here. The whole…TikTok: Engage Young Voters & Deliver The Youth Vote on Social Media
Posted on Feb 01, 2021 by Molly OpinskyTikTok changes your social media presence to engage young voters
If you don’t think TikTok is valuable, think again. Young voters made up a good portion of 2020 voters on a national and regional scale, increasing by 10 percentage points from the 2016 to 2020 elections. This upward trend is promising since only…