Continued Q&A: Fundraising Online and Email

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Jun 28, 2007 2:17 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

Another great Tuesday session. It was an excellent end to the summer semester of Night School. I was excited with the number of attendees on the call for this important topic. Only a few of the dozens of questions asked could be answered live on the air. Let's use this forum to answer these questions and any others you have. I've picked out some additional questions from the emails and pasted them below on the comments. If you have any other questions about fundraising through online and e-mail, add them to the list and I'll answer them for everyone to see.

At the end of the call, we mentioned that the homework for this week is to write DFA's fundraising e-mail for next week. Please e-mail your submissions to training@democracyforamerica.com !

As always, you're free to email me other training related questions at: training@democracyforamerica.com

Continued Q&A: Fundraising Events and Call Time.

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Jun 20, 2007 12:54 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

Another great Tuesday session. I was impressed with the number of attendees on the call for this potentially vexing topic. Even more impressive was the volume of questions asked during the presentation. Our questions last night were wide ranging - from the very general to the very specific. Only a few of these questions could be answered live on the air. Let's use this forum to answer these questions and any others you have. I've picked out some additional questions from the emails and pasted them below on the comments. If you have any other questions about fundraising through events and call time, add them to the list and I'll answer them for everyone to see.

As always, you're free to email me other training related questions at:

training@democracyforamerica.com

 

Night School Summer Update

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Jun 4, 2007 4:12 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

Hey everyone! 

You have been participating in DFA’s online training program Night School for a while now. Since you’ve been involved in Night School I wanted to give you an early heads up about our upcoming Semester starting next week.

In past semesters, we’ve explored many skills needed to run an effective campaign or organization including working with the media, getting out the vote and holding officials accountable after the election.  During the last few months I have received numerous requests to cover sessions on one of the most important and often most challenging aspects of campaign work: raising money. 

It all starts next Tuesday, when we learn how to take the necessary first steps of writing out a plan on how to fund your campaign.  Next, we focus on two of the most effective and commonly used (or misused) fundraising tactics: Fundraising Events and Candidate Fundraising Calls.  Finally, we’ll wrap up the Summer Semester by looking at two tactics that have revolutionized fundraising in recent years: Online giving and Email. 

DFA Night School 2007 Summer Semester 

Developing a Finance Plan
Tuesday June 12th  8:30pm Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to RSVP: www.dfalink.com/financeplan  

Fundraising: Events and Call Time
Tuesday June 19th 8:30pm Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to RSVP: www.dfalink.com/eventsandcalltime  

Fundraising: Online and Email
Tuesday June 26th  8:30pm Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to RSVP: www.dfalink.com/onlineandemail

We’ll send everyone more details later this week, but since you already know a bit about how Night School works I’m asking you to invite two of your friends to attend as well.  Better yet, host a Night School House Party and invite all of your friends! 

Join us as we learn how to raise the money we need to continue taking our country back. 

Arshad Hasan
DFA Night School Host
Training Director

P.S. If you haven’t already done so, you can purchase DVD copies of previous Night School sessions (including the newly released 2007 Spring Semester) online at:

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool

Every purchase helps us continue to keep Night School free for everyone.  Order your DVD today!

So, You want to run for office...

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Mar 20, 2007 10:14 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

This Tuesday's call was a first-of-its-kind call. I have to say, I wasn't sure how it was all going to pan out - four elected officials in different time zones and their competing social/political obligation. But it all worked out. Great energy and great questions. I'll leave the space below in the comments for questions. I'll try to answer some of these questions myself, those that I can, but I'll work on getting questions to our elected officials so they can answer themselves.

Leave your comments and questions below:

Continued Coalitions Q&A

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Mar 14, 2007 3:32 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

Another great Tuesday session. Our questions last night were wide ranging - from the very general to the very specific. We'll use this blog as a forum to ask and answer these questions. I've picked out some additional questions from the emails and pasted them below on the comments. If you have any other questions about building coalitions, add them to the list and I'll answer them for everyone to see.

As always, you can still email me at training@democracyforamerica.com

 

 

 

Continuing our Citizen Lobbying discussion

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Mar 8, 2007 9:54 AM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School

Last Tuesday's Night School on Citizen lobbying spawned a number of really excellent questions. Only a few of these questions could be answered live on the air. Let's use this forum to answer these questions and any others you have. I'll post some question I recieved via email and through the main group blog. Add any others you like.

 On-topic questions about Citizen lobbying should be listed in the comments below. As always, you're free to email me other training related questions at training@democracyforamerica.com

 

Citizen Lobbying Q&A

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Mar 6, 2007 10:11 PM EST

This session of Night School went well, I thought. The best part for me was the number and quality of questions submitted. I always leave wanting to answer more questions, but this time it was really hard seeing so many good questions I couldn't answer live.  

If your question wasn't asked live, post it in the comments below and we'll start  a discussion on it.  Tomorrow morning, I'll select a number of these questions, post them, and answer as many as I can. I look forward to tomorrow's Q&A. Post your questions below...

Building a community of trained activists and staffers in 2007

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Jan 31, 2007 10:33 AM EST

Linked to groups: Training Academy Alumni, Class of 2007

Because, in politics, it is important to build networks and follow up on the good work we're doing. As a group of activists and staffers with special training from DFA, it's important that we build a community of people who share skills, experiences, and questions. This DFA Link group is for DFA members who've attended the DFA Training Academy weekend trainings to share experiences and resources. This DFA-Link group is the foundation of our Alumni follow up program.

http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=2126 

Read more

Trainings announced. Start getting the word out

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Jan 22, 2007 3:54 PM EST

Linked to groups: 2007 Training Academy Organizers

DFA has announced its trainings for 2007 via email, and the blogs (including BFA and Kos http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/22/1594/10596)

You'll notice that the number spiked up for training, but only a small amount in most cases (with some prominent exceptions). Most recruitment will happen on the ground.

Please get your training on organizational calendars and announcements all across the state. This will prevent other organizations from scheduling over the training and competing with your event. One organizational calendar you need to hit is the state Party. We've already had one Party schedule a major event over ours and we're working to change it.

It's also important to start getting your local blogs talking about the event. Some states have a major blog scene, some do not. But it's simple to email the people who maintain the blog or even put up your own post.

And on that note, if you have an account at Daily Kos, please recommend my diary at Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/22/1594/10596

Please comment on the diary, it'll encourage others to read, comment, and recommend.

Need your help...

Written by: Arshad Hasan on Oct 27, 2006 3:08 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Northern California Trained Activists

Hey!

A few days ago, i emailed and said I'd be taking off from DFA and coming down to Northern California to boost the McNerney campaign.

Well, it's been a wild ride since the minute i got down here. I just sent out a mass email about DFA's plan to take the McNerney campaign over the top. You probably just got that one.

Because you're a DFA activist with campaign training, I need your help for some specific work, if you're up for it. We have a plan to win this for Jerry. But right now, we don't have enough volunteer hours to carry this out. I talked to a couple folks who are already involved in this or other campaigns, which is awesome. If you're still waiting, time's up. It's time to step up. Let's make this THE campaign that the country talks about on November 8th.

Here's specifically what I need:
1) I need help reaching out to other DFA members about our plan for victory. I have a list of DFA activists that need to hear about what they can do. Would you help me contact that list of potential volunteers?
2) I need people to come to the DFA/McNerney Emergency meetings happening all across the District. You should RSVP if you haven't already:

Stockton (tonight) - www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." title="www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." target="_blank">www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150...
Morgan Hill (Sat) - www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." title="www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." target="_blank">www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150...
Oakland (Tues) - www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." title="www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150..." target="_blank">www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=150...

Please bring others. Make a list of four people, bring them along.

I'm SO excited about this campaign.

--Arshad