If You Can Mention Donations, Do It. Here’s How.

In this continuing series, we explore the results of a survey conducted among over fifty state and local new leaders asking for any voluntary advice they might give to new or inexperienced new leaders seeking elected office. Part 6 can be found here.

One of the most important things you will have to do as a candidate is raise money. In fact, the number one job for each candidate is to raise support. During your campaign, there will be many times when you will have the opportunity to say something for a closing remark: during TV or radio interviews, meet and greets, fundraisers, campaign flyers, even personal and professional relationships. These are excellent opportunities for putting in a plug for donations.

Sometimes you will want to avoid it depending on what the occasion is (stumping for your campaign while attending a friend’s funeral—bad idea), however, there will be plenty of other times when it will be perfectly acceptable. The easiest is on your own advertisements. It is required that any kind of campaign advertisements you create also have who actually paid for said advertisement. Instead of only putting on the point of contact, also throw on a little sentence like “to make a donation, send a check or inquire to…” This makes it easy for a recipient of an advertisement to send in a donation without having to look up your information on the internet.

During a TV interview, you can also get a free plug in without having to do any extra work (although they might not air it). When they ask “do you have any closing remarks?” simply something to the effect of: “Thank you for having me. I’d also like to thank my supporters and XYZ. If anyone watching would like to get involved or make a contribution, visit mycampaignwebsite.com.” Easy as that. As a note, on your campaign website, include a very large donate button, make the donation process seamless, and include contact information if they would like to send in a donation or call your office. If it’s not easy, people make the extra effort.

The same is true in more personal situations. Whenever someone asks how they can help, mention donations. Even if that person is unable to donate, they might know someone else who can. Successful campaigns almost never succeed on their own merits: it takes the time, effort, and skills of a vast multitude of people in order to prosper. That includes people outside of your own direct staff and volunteers. Never underestimate the power of grassroots campaigns!