Program launched on December 1, 2005 will provide fundraising and financial planning expertise to all 50 state parties.

Overview
Objective
Strategy
Where We Are
Help Build the Program
 
Overview
To provide fundraising and financial planning expertise to all 50 state parties which will allow for greater self-sufficiency in this election and for years to come.

By providing a regional finance support structure where seasoned fundraisers work directly with state party finance directors to build a six-year finance plan for each state party, we can ensure state parties have the resources to run successful campaigns in every state, every election.

Objective
To collaborate with state Democratic Party finance directors on an internal review and critique of existing fundraising practices within their organizations. We will also work with them to write and begin execution of four to six-year finance plans by the end of 2006, and substantially strengthen and make self-sustaining the finance operations of most state parties by 2008.

Our goal is not a one-size-fits-all approach for every state party. Instead, our hope is to create a hybrid model of best practices that each party can draw from and fit into its existing fundraising infrastructure. Our finance staff will benefit from reviewing and discussing each state party's fundraising plan close up in face-to-face meetings, and in that process act most effectively as a catalyst for new approaches.

While we cannot force change, we can develop long-term cooperative relationships in which our advice and expertise are welcomed and appreciated. Indeed, we have already attained that level of dealing and trust with most of the 50 state parties since Grassroots Democrats began operations over two years ago. State parties also rightly view us as a potential funding source for non-federal funds. Our dual position as a potential donor and a long-term advocate/advisor places us in a unique position to provide valuable services that state party staff will take seriously.

Strategy
Grassroots Democrats would retain five fundraising professionals who would be responsible for a geographic region and report to the Grassroots Democrats finance director. Each would meet and work with the fundraising personnel of each state party within his or her region. Grassroots Democrats would hire fundraisers with statewide or presidential campaign experience and who already have particular expertise concerning the region to which they would be assigned.

Grassroots Democrats staff would spend whatever time is necessary on the ground to encourage the drafting of a long range, six-year fundraising plan for each state party in consultation with state party staff. Our staff would not solicit donors, but instead assess current and past party fundraising practices and promote new and innovative ways of targeting and soliciting funds. Grassroots Democrats staff can draw on their own experiences and the successful practices of other state parties to bring proven ideas and methods to the table.

The following is a proposed regional model:

Region A (West Coast/Rocky Mountain): California, Oregon, Washington State, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah

Region B (Southwest/Lower Plains): Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri

Region C (Upper Midwest/Appalachia): North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia

Region D (Northeast): Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware

Region E (Mid-Atlantic/South): Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas

Where We Are
The financial services program was launched on December 1, 2005 with the hiring of Emily Wurgaft to cover "Region B". In this short amount of time we have made significant progress in Texas where Emily spent time working with their incoming Finance Director to write the 2006 finance plan for the State Party. In addition they brainstomed new and innovative ways to fund the Texas Democratic Party.

In the coming weeks Emily will be heading to Arizona and New Mexico where she will work with the party committees to assist in large fundraising events, determining new strategies and staffing. As we move further into 2006 Emily will expand her work throughout her region to build more sustainable state parties.

Help Build the Program
We need your help to build this new and innovative program. Please contribute to hire more staff to cover each of these regions and help state parties prepare for the long run. Click here to Contribute Now and thank you for your support.