Give a Last Minute Fundraiser—It’s NOT Too Late!

Even though the election is less than 3 weeks away, your candidates will need money up until the very end because those last minute radio and TV ads are VERY important.  You can get the invites out by email to your friends right away, and the event can be simple.  People are bristling with energy now, and many will like the idea of having people to talk to as November 7^th closes in.

One friend is having her party ON November 7^th!  She only requires that people donate $30 (or more if they can afford it) to WesPAC-endorsed candidates right away.  When they respond that they are coming, she asks if they have made their donations yet.  She will keep at them until they say, “Yes.”  (You do have to trust your friends.)  She will have her computer set up on the WesPAC page for those who come but forgot to do it ahead of time.

If you don’t want to give an election watch program, there are still two open weekends from which to choose. And giving a little fundraiser is not as difficult or complicated as you may think. In fact, it is quite easy. 

Here we repeat some tips we offered a while back.

Just identify a few good Democrats or like-minded others who are likely to want to support your candidate anyway. Eight to twelve guests works well. 

You might ask, “Isn’t it easier just to ask people to donate on their own?”  Well, yes, but that isn’t as much fun and it doesn’t keep the ball rolling.  As the elections draw near, getting together to talk while enjoying some snacks and a drink is energizing and motivating.

1.       Invitations.  Invite people by phone or email.  Promise good fellowship and good conversation.  You can set an amount that you expect your guests to donate (this amount can be modest). 

2.       Campaign Materials.  If you can get hold of the candidate’s literature or gear (such as buttons and bumper stickers), have them out on the table with or near the food.  If you paid for something and cannot afford to give it away, put a little note indicating what you would appreciate receiving for each item.  (The amount should no more than your out-of-pocket cost.)  If you have a cap, t-shirts or other more expensive political gear, wear or display them and be prepared to tell others how to get theirs. Name recognition is always important, so you can help your guests become walking campaign ads afterwards.

3.       Refreshments.  It’s OK to keep it simple and inexpensive!  Serve finger food, such as cheese and crackers, carrot sticks, nuts, popcorn, and something sweet (cookies or a cake). Limit drinks to beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee or tea, and water.   Have food set up when guests arrive.  (If anyone asks if they can bring something, take them up on it!)

4.       How They Donate.  IMPORTANT!!! You should not collect any money yourself!  There are two legal ways to do this.  The easiest way to manage the donation is to have guests use your computer to go online and donate through the candidates website.  Have your computer already on the appropriate donation page before guests arrive.  Ask guests, one at a time, to make their donations.  You will simply have to trust that they follow through because they will want privacy while entering their financial data.  (Set it off so that they can print out their own receipt if they want to.).  Or, you can prepare a few stamped envelopes addressed to the campaign.  Download donation forms from the candidate’s website (if available).  Ask guests who do not, for whatever reason, want to donate online to make out checks (no cash), put them in the envelope, seal it, and add their return address.  You can then mail these out yourself.  (Better yet, get a supply of the campaign’s official envelopes, which serves as both an envelope and the donation form, and have your guests seal the envelopes.  Then you can deliver or mail the stack of completed envelopes to the campaign.)

5.       The “Program.”  After people have chatted a bit and had something to eat and drink and made their donations, it is time for some sort of informal presentation.  You might want to discuss the candidate or present how to be of further assistance to him or her.  If you know a good story about the candidate, tell it. If you have personally met with the candidate, describe that interaction.  (People like hearing about the candidates “as real people.”)   Sometimes discussions morph from one subject to another, and everyone has fun for a long time.  Sometimes this portion is fairly brief and everyone goes home. 

6.       If your candidate has put out a DVD, show that on your TV or laptop.  Or if you downloaded a good speech by your candidate, show that.  If it is a weekend night, you might consider showing a political movie or documentary if your TV room will comfortably handle your group.  There are too many relevant movies to list here, and more are released every day.   In summary, the main goal is to have a good discussion and spark more interest in your candidate that will hopefully carry over after everyone has gone home.  And, oh yes, if you made one or two hundred dollars for your candidate, declare the evening a great success!

The Wes Clark Countdown to Change Team,

Tricia Spiegel, Stan Davis, Debby Burroughs, Cheryl Poling