Nonprofit VOTE’s model increases the capacity of service providers to do voter engagement work and improve models for nonprofits to register and engage voters in the course of ongoing activities. Using this model, Forefront will begin a phase of training and supporting voter engagement activities at organizations with high foot traffic in areas with low voter engagement.

1. Nonprofit VOTE
Illinois 2016
May 18th, 2016
Alison Leipsiger, Forefront
Helena Berbano, Nonprofit VOTE

2. Nonprofit VOTE
Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with
America’s nonprofits help their customers and clients
engage in the civic process.
They are the leading source of nonpartisan training,
materials and other resources for nonprofits doing
voter engagement work.
Visit their website at www.nonprofitvote.org to learn
more!

3. The Power of Nonprofits
Nonprofit service providers, community-based
organizations and the broader civic sector have the
power to reach otherwise neglected voters.
Nonprofits have:
• Frequent face-to-face contact with clients
and customers
• Credibility
• Deep roots in the community
• Cultural competency
• Mission alignment

4. How Does the Program Work?
Nonprofit VOTE
Forefront
Illinois
Nonprofit
Voter Registration and Civic Engagement
Illinois
Nonprofit
Illinois
Nonprofit
Illinois
Nonprofit
Other State
Partners
Other State
Nonprofits

5. Key Program Elements
• Nonpartisan
• Collecting voter registrations and voter pledge cards
• Helping clients/customers access information they
need to vote
• Example: Helping someone locate their polling
place or telling someone about an upcoming
candidate forum

6. Eight Illinois Nonprofits Receive:
• A $1,000 civic engagement grant
• Free training and ongoing technical assistance
• Resources, tools, materials
• Opportunities for peer learning
• Evaluation and impact analysis of voter engagement
activities

7. Eight Illinois Nonprofits Promise to:
• Collect Voter Registration and Voter Pledge cards
from at least 250 voters
• Track voters’ contact info for use in evaluation and
analysis
• Participate in monthly cohort calls between July and
October
• Plan a National Voter Registration Day event
• Attend or host training sessions for staff and
volunteers engaged in the program

8. Next Steps
1. Ask us questions! Alison: 312-327-8912
2. Respond to RFP by May 30th by emailing Alison at
aleipsiger@myforefront.org
3. Eight organizations will be chosen by mid-June
4. Program begins July 1st
5. Election day is November 8th
6. Nonprofit VOTE 2016 ends next February after all
data is collected and organizations have gone
through a debrief

9. Important Information
Alison Leipsiger
Director of Policy and Advocacy at Forefront:
312-327-8912
aleipsiger@myforefront.org
RFP and More Information
www.myforefront.org/vote
Nonprofit VOTE
www.nonprofitvote.org

10. myforefront.org