Canvassing & Phonebanking

This tipsheet covers six principles to help organizations interested in developing and implementing a relational organizing strategy. These tips include:

• Relationships are key to keeping people engaged and ready to take action
• Developing a relational organizing strategy takes time
• A variety of relational organizing approaches is the spice of life!
• Relational organizing is power-building
• 1-on-1s are about creating long-lasting, transformative relationships
• Relational organizing and cultural organizing can be very effective together

Getting wins increasingly depends on engaging voters online, using digital advocacy and engagement tools, platforms, and vendor services. Since 2019, State Voices has demo-d over 50 tools for functions such as relational organizing, phone dialing, and online fundraising, and distilled this information into a guide to help progressive organizations navigate a complex digital space and find tools to meet their needs. In this guide, you will find an overview of each tool, including pros and cons, and cost and technical support information, as well as a breakdown of State Voices favorites.    

Every year M+R Strategies, a digital services firm for progressive non-profits, releases its Benchmarks Study. The 2021 version analyzes the nonprofit digital advocacy and fundraising field using data from over 220 participating organizations. The Study covers these areas:

• Digital advertising
• Email messaging
• Mobile/SMS messaging
• Social media
• Fundraising
• Membership
• Website traffic and useage

Solar United Neighbors designed and implemented a low- and moderate-income solar program that empowers D.C. residents to benefit from rooftop and commmunity solar. Lessons learned from the work necessary to build and run an effective program include: Start small, then scale up; Build trust in the community; Leverage key partnerships; Expand customer base through referrals; Work to simplify the process; and Be flexible and creative in the communications process.

A multi-racial coalition focused on organizing and escalating tactics helped defeat the Williams Pipeline: The Stop the Williams Pipeline coalition won by building, organizing, and activating a large and intense base of opposition targeted at the key decision-maker, Governor Andrew Cuomo.