Last week I mentioned there are five general categories of campaign contributors.
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1. Family, relatives and close friends.
2. People who know you and like you.
3. People and ideological organizations that believe in your cause.
4. People who dislike your opponent.
5. Those who need access to you if you win. We call them investors.
Today a little about Political Campaign Fundraising from that second category. People who know you and like you.
Who are they?
Acquaintances. Casual friends. People you have worked with on projects or in previous jobs. People you know from clubs, and service organizations you belong to. People you’ve met at parties, functions and social gatherings. People you have done business with.
Where do you find them?
Go through your checkbook, the people and businesses you have paid through your on-line bank account, and your credit card statements. Check the contact list on your mobile phone, your rolo-dex and membership lists of clubs you belong to.
I’ve seen candidates raise money from those who sold them their house, their golf clubs, insurance policies, their car. I know candidates who have raised money from their hair dresser, plumber, mechanic, attorney, doctor, dentist, wine merchant, members of their garden clubs, bridge clubs, Lions Club, Rotary, and people they met while endeavoring for a worthy cause.
I’ve seen business owners raise a lot of money from their suppliers.
As you go through the sources I mentioned, jot down the names and put an amount next to each one…the size of the contribution you plan to ask them for, then start making calls.
And remember this:
When you call people on this list, don’t just ask for a campaign contribution, ask for a specific amount of money. If they can’t give what you ask, request a smaller amount.
If the person you know can cut a large check, pay a personal a visit instead of asking over the phone.
Don’t be discouraged if some say no. A no today is not necessarily a no forever. Ask their permission to put them on your email list, and send them your newsletter and updates on your campaign. They may give when they see your campaign gaining momentum.
Next week I’ll be back with some words about another source of campaign contributions. People and ideological organizations that believe in your cause.
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Political consultant Jay Townsend works with smart, passionate candidates who want to run for office, win elections and make a difference. He has successfully helped candidates learn how to run for the U.S. Senate, how to run for Congress, how to run for Mayor and develop a winning campaign marketing strategy.
How to win an election:
Running for office and knowing how to win an election is a challenge, especially for first time political candidates just learning how to run for office. Discerning the fine points of how to campaign, raise political contributions, and execute a political campaign strategy often requires the help of someone who has served as a political strategist or who has experience as a political consultant.