Ga strategies new sources for pac fundraising
•Download as PPT, PDF•
1 like•234 views
In 2014, Government Affairs Strategies presented at the American Society of Association Executives Government Affairs Symposium on Finding new ways to get PAC funds.
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (10)
Viewers also liked
Similar to Ga strategies new sources for pac fundraising
Similar to Ga strategies new sources for pac fundraising (20)
More from Chip Ahlswede
More from Chip Ahlswede (9)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Ga strategies new sources for pac fundraising
- 1. ASAE GR SymposiumASAE GR Symposium Finding PAC Funds In New Places
- 2. New Places for PAC Chip Ahlswede Meredith Weisel
- 3. Disclaimers Make sure to clear this through your legal team – We have International, US, State, and local associations here. – Not all laws are 100% the same – Take the idea, build the concept, find the solution Not all associations are the same – Some of you have individual members – Some of you have corporate members – Others have community members – This presentation offers options for everyone, but not all work everywhere Final Disclaimer… You gotta try
- 4. What makes an effective PAC program? Presence Leadership Structure Motivation Simplicity Transparency Opportunity VISION PAC = Culture
- 5. Pre-Membership What Makes You Effective? Who do you represent? What do you stand for? How do you do it? How are people involved Creating a Vision = Future PAC Fundraising
- 6. New Membership When they join Give them info Provide details Give them the issues Give them the vision Build your database…
- 7. Prior Approval Strong Logo Detailed Disclosure Engaging Explanation Standard FormMultiple Signatures Contact Info
- 8. Does it Have to be? Header Support Levels Bullet Points Standard FormDetailed Disclosure Contact Info I’m an INDUSTRY CHAMPION! We believe in: -Rights -Opportunity -‘Merica Sign me up as: -Congress Club (2 years) -Governors Club (4 years) -Senators Club (6 years) -President’s Cabinet (8 years) Buncha legal blah blah blah Member Contact info etc. How to get to you
- 9. Lead By Example What do you know about donors?
- 10. PAC @ Events How can you best position your PAC @ Events?
- 11. Education is Key How do your members learn?
- 12. Use Your Data What you don’t know could shock you
- 13. Use that Data Where do your PAC $s come from?
- 14. Political Events Your Legislative Day Private receptions Demonstration of PAC power After Hours Events
- 15. Legislator Visits Translate the PAC value Importance of business advocacy Importance of employee advocacy Importance of industry advocacy
- 16. Believe in the cause … Fully educate members • Work with the issues • Shape the idea • Connect the process • Create a vision Issue Roundtables
- 17. Ask Yourself… Where are you? Where aren’t you? Where are your members? Where could you be? Where should you be? Where Else?
- 18. Selling Your PAC Successful GA Program Policy Politics Public Advocacy Effective PAC Fundraising GA Strategies helps you utilize resources Win@GAstrategies.com
Editor's Notes
- Disclaimers – Be sure that these recommendations comply with your state laws. We recognize that there are both member and company associations here, so not ALL suggestions work for everyone. We also recognize some of you are doing some of these things, however there are opportunities for everyone to try something If you need another disclaimer, we haven’t tested these with each of your associations, so much of it is something to adapt, which is why we have our processes that we use to figure out what works for your specific industry
- PAC = Culture Support for your PAC comes from a culture, a culture that grows and perpetuates in your organization It has to have CONSTANT presence It needs to permeate all branches of your organization It needs to carry over from year to year, group to group, leaders to leaders, etc. However it isn’t going to be there right away off the bat. So start where you can Board of Directors / Leadership Government Relations Committee Community Outreach / Marketing Committees Industry leaders The key is figuring out the motivation, and building around that. Make supporting the PAC EASY The more steps that exist the harder it is for people to support it, the less likely they are to actually do it. Take all of the guess work out for them Always look for opportunities to open discussion about political opportunities Remember – SELL A VISION, Not a process
- Pre-Membership Opportunity to promote that you are defenders of a Consumer Oriented target group. Examples: Real Estate – Making the American Dream Possible Business – Giving small business a chance Advocacy – Protecting the ideals of ____________ Labor – Keeping People Working Environmental – Protecting the land for our children Whatever it is, connect it to why people care – draw on the ethos of your organization Identify how you defend on those issues Through good public policy Through educating the public Through electing great leaders on the issue Identify that members are involved Through their time, commitment, and participation That everyone involved is making this industry/ advocacy group / engagement group better
- During New Membership Sign Up Include information about the political advocacy efforts Include policies you’ve worked on recently Include how it has changed perspective in Washington / State House / City Hall / etc. USE QUOTES FROM PEOPLE Include information about Political Activity, and compare with how other organizations operate What do you need to know about Political Activity? That you need the support of both parties That you need support from more than one area (state, region, etc.) That you need support from more than one industry (how do you partner with your PAC) That collectively Republicans and Democrats, Coastal and Rural, Members and Partners are what helps craft the laws that affect the organization Where does your money go? Focus on Committees that affect your organization Showcase that it isn’t partisan, but issue driven Show how people can give their input What do others do? Use Statistics on PACs What they bring in annually? What they spend annually? Who / where they spend annually? What groups are they involved in? Stack yourself up in the industry/ sector/ category/ region How are decisions made? Include information about the committee Include information about the past decisions Show how transparent your process is What impact can you point to? What difference have you made? A particular race, changed leadership on a committee, represented a particularly important state, etc. Include information about what your organization wants to accomplish All too often our political endeavors are defensive Show vision, identify what could be changed for the better What have your members said What has the public said What have your partner organizations said What have your opponents said What have political leaders said Show how your members are the ones making the difference Get them to buy in Include information about how people can contribute, and not just financially What expertise do you have as a “new member” that we can learn from? How can they tell you more? How can they contribute to the organization? How can they get involved? Who do you know that is important? Do you know your: Senator House Member State Elected Official State Senate State House Mayor City Council Other? What do you / your employees/ members/ partners/ etc. do politically? Hold Office Appointed Elected Contribute politically Volunteer for campaigns
- Prior Approval Forms Most prior approval forms are almost 100% the same Same Layout Logo Header Signature 10 years of signatures 500 word disclosure at the bottom in 6 point font They are all boring They are all forms They are all uninviting They almost all push people away from wanting to say “yes” The number one reason why – YOU LET YOUR LAWYERS DESIGN THEM Let your marketing department design these Include the things you have to Disclosures Sign pieces Years they sign for But make it exciting Show activity Pictures Engagement Buzzwords Position it as an opportunity Limit it differently Rather than make it about what year they are signing up for, make it about something more tangible – Election cycle Legislative cycle Give your own name to a time period THEN have the lawyers sign off on it and show them how you included the right disclaimers, etc. By the way, often what can be said in 500 words, can be said in half or less. Tell your lawyers to revise it to simplify and condense the language – In many cases, they can, but not all.
- Let your marketing department design these Include the things you have to Disclosures Sign pieces Years they sign for But make it exciting Show activity Pictures Engagement Buzzwords Position it as an opportunity Limit it differently Rather than make it about what year they are signing up for, make it about something more tangible – Election cycle Legislative cycle Give your own name to a time period THEN have the lawyers sign off on it and show them how you included the right disclaimers, etc. By the way, often what can be said in 500 words, can be said in half or less. Tell your lawyers to revise it to simplify and condense the language – In many cases, they can, but not all.
- Leadership Board of Directors Politically Oriented Committees All Committees Industry Leaders General Membership Past contributors Other contributors New Contributors Major Investor Programs Who are your key people What can they bring to the table Who can they bring to the group What do they need What can you offer them What are you getting from them? Money Contacts Commitment Support Testimonials Have a plan to get it all right then and there – again EASY
- Events Have a presence at everything Make it about your political goals, not your PAC goals, but have PAC be a part of the effort Demonstrate value, success, and engagement Offer opportunities to find out more (prior approval, or solicitation) Be ready to answer questions Have materials that they can take with them at everything Remember it is marketing, keep it that way Don’t expect a ton of support at everything, just a little here and there Don’t think that if you don’t get a response it didn’t have an effect
- Education / Training Does your membership look to you for continuing education If not are there roles that you can create for industry learning Develop education that is government affairs related Get it approved from the state governing boards Develop it in a marketable way that attracts people Don’t make it “Legislative Update”, make it “Bills That Could Close Your Business” Can you create a designation out of this? Make it something desirable Can you create a training that employers can teach their employees? How to look at the issues affecting the business How to learn how to create a relationship with elected officials
- Data Usage Who gave in the past, but hasn’t renewed Who has given the same amount for a number of years that could step up Who has relationships with elected officials Who has given in the past to other elected officials Who is giving to other organizations, PACs and groups
- How can you turn what you do into new opportunities?
- Hill Day Private receptions Opportunities to show off the PAC support After Hours events Partner with organizations if you can’t fill a room Use your lobbyist
- Legislator Visits Have them talk to your businesses and staff about the importance of advocacy and activism Have them talk to your people about the importance of advocacy and activism
- Issue Roundtables Discuss effective involvement Discuss what they main ways a group can be effective is with legislators Prep people to talk about the PAC