7 Tips for Writing for the Media
This document provides general advice for campaigns to use when writing to the media. The goal is to provide guidance that will help your candidate gain positive media coverage in local media.
The Campaign Toolkit
Welcome to our resource hub! Here you’ll find templates, trainings, and tools you can use to effectively launch and manage a political operation. Whether you’re from a local county party organization or a candidate – you can find everything you need to get started here. New resources and trainings will be added as they become available!
Tools & Templates
- Click Category to Reveal Resources
Comms
Fighting Disinformation
This is a training deck that includes an overview of how disinformation is spread, and what tools Democrats can use to combat it.
How to Write a Press Release
This document provides additional details and examples for crafting an engaging press release. It explains how you can catch a readers attention and helpful information that will make your release more useful to reporters.
Media Training 101
This is a training deck for candidates and campaign surrogates to learn tips for speaking to the media. It includes guidance on messaging, tips for effective interviews, and how to navigate difficult questions.
Press Release Template
This is a press release template that campaign staff or candidates can use to draft a release to send to media. It includes an outline of the format as well as general tips for writing to help your release be picked up by reporters.
Videos
Rural Organizing 101
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Paul Kendrick of Rust Belt Rising on key principles to improve our persuasion of rural voters. Drawing on promising examples, we’ll discuss strategies for making our outreach more resonate with rural voters so that we can win everywhere.
Media Training 101 with Becky Carroll
This training is a one-on-one, interview-style discussion with public relations professional and longtime Illinois campaign advisor, Becky Carroll of C-Strategies. We’ll talk through the basics for first-time candidates; from developing a communications blueprint, to building relationships with local media — participants will leave with strategies to effectively communicate a core campaign message. C-Strategies is an award-winning, 100% women-owned, communications and public affairs firm led by government, public policy and campaign veterans that uses results-driven tactics to build strategic plans, guide public opinion and manage crises for clients.
Messaging Beyond Our Base with Rust Belt Rising
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Paul Kendrick of Rust Belt Rising on how to improve messaging when talking to voters outside the Democratic base. We’ll discuss the importance of messaging and connecting with voters through personal stories and shared values. Rust Belt Rising works with hundreds of leaders across the Midwest. Rising helps Democrats be the party of working people by training campaigns to better connect with our region’s voters, win seats, and deliver change.
Messaging Beyond Our Base with Rust Belt Rising Pt. 2
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Paul Kendrick of Rust Belt Rising on part two of how to improve messaging when talking to voters outside the Democratic base. We’ll discuss the importance of messaging and connecting with voters through personal stories and shared values. Rust Belt Rising works with hundreds of leaders across the Midwest. Rising helps Democrats be the party of working people by training campaigns to better connect with our region’s voters, win seats, and deliver change.
Direct Mail 101 Training with AGENCY Strategies
Join our Direct Mail 101 training with Gillian Rosenberg Armour of AGENCY Strategies, a full-service direct mail firm covering everything from design to production, strategy and account service: https://tinyurl.com/wf8233td
We’ll cover the basics of direct mail, all paid mail, GOTV and the timeline for putting a mail plan together. This training is for candidates, county chairs, township chairs and campaign staff!
Choice on the Line: A Repro Messaging Training
Join Personal PAC and the Second Congressional Democrats On the Move (IL-02) for a training workshop on reproductive rights discussion best practices! During the training, we will equip participants with the skills and tools necessary to conduct successful regional persuasion campaigns on reproductive healthcare with a variety of voters!
Setting the Record Straight: Let’s Tout Democratic Wins with Treasurer Frerichs
As Illinois Democrats, we have a record to be proud of when it comes to putting our state on sound financial footing. Join State Treasurer Mike Frerichs as we talk combating Republican talking points on Illinois finances, and how to best communicate to voters that we are the party of fiscal responsibility. During the training, we’ll equip participants with strategies to effectively champion our legislative achievements and counter misinformation.
Polling and Messaging for Reproductive Rights with Planned Parenthood IL Action
Join the IL Dems and Planned Parenthood Illinois Action for a conversation on building a winning communications strategy based on the most up-to-date polling information on abortion. In this seminar, you’ll learn how to engage community validators in your campaign, interpret polling data to make informed communications decisions, and educate your volunteers on how to talk about abortion on the campaign trail.
Data
Videos
Training Series: VoteBuilder 101
Join Alex Lineberry, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) Voter File Manager for an introductory overview of VoteBuilder and how campaigns can take advantage of the tool. We will also cover how candidates can work with the DPI Data Team, other available data resources, and share best practices. VoteBuilder and data are essential to running an effective campaign and making informed decisions — this is one of several trainings on the tool so candidates and local parties can build up their skillset.
VoteBuilder Basics 102
Learn the basics of being a VoteBuilder admin with Alex Lineberry, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) Voter File Manager. We will cover adding and removing users, each step of setting up a MiniVAN campaign for canvassers, and how to commit MiniVAN data at the end of the canvass.
Contact Information
For additional questions or for our office hours, please email [email protected]
Digital
Digital Content Calendar
This is a document that is designed to help plan out, in a timely manner, a campaign’s social media activity.
Videos
Digital and Design for Campaigns with Winnable
Join AJ Kahle, co-founder of Winnable, for a hands-on training where we will discuss the importance of having a virtual presence on campaigns. Learn about setting up a website with quality visual branding and content, how to promote your site on social media, and using digital ads to drive donations, signups, and connections with voters.
Field
Basics of Voter Contact
This is a training on what to consider when conducting direct voter contact, including creating universes, scripts, and GOTV.
Canvass Confirm Email Template
Example email template for confirming a canvasser for their upcoming shift.
Canvassing 101
This document provides the basics for canvassers on how to canvass door-to-door.
Confirm Phonebank Script
This document is a generic confirmation script to reduce “no show” volunteers and increase volunteer capacity.
DVC Phonebank Script
This document is a generic phonebanking script for making calls to voters.
How to Use Minivan
Step-by-step guide for using MiniVAN as a canvasser.
HTC/Tabling Sign-In Sheet
Sign-in sheet template for tabling events with high-traffic.
MiniVAN List Tracker
DPI template for tracking the status of canvassing packets/lists.
Office Opening Checklist
This document is a checklist that should be referenced when opening an office.
Petition Scrubber
This document is for reviewing and verifying signatures on a petition to ensure compliance with electoral regulations and to eliminate any invalid or duplicate signatures.
Phonebank Confirm Email Template
This document has a script for contacting volunteers who signed up for a phone banking event.
Phonebanking 101
This document provides the basics for phonebankers on how to make calls using OpenVPB.
Volunteer Debrief Sheet
This document should be used to debrief volunteers after an event.
Volunteer Recruitment Email Template
This document provides a general format for a campaign to send out to help recruit volunteer support.
Voter Contact Methods
This is a training on how to effectively use direct mail and digital ads on campaigns.
Guides
For The Win, a County Wide Get Out The Vote Guide
Author: Tom Sullivan
All donations/gifts to Tom Sullivan are tax deductible and go towards digital and mail tools from the author. Feel free to contribute to support his work through the PayPal link above.
Videos
Virtual Training Series - Petitions & Ballot Access
This training covers the details on how to fill out your petitions for candidates and ballot access.
Election Judge / Poll Watcher Training with IDCCA
This session we will focus on Election Judge & Poll Watcher Training. The training will be conducted by former Madison County Democratic Party Chair, former Madison County Clerk, & current Madison County Circuit Clerk Mark Von Nida.
Outreach 101: Learning Your District As A First-Time Candidate
As a first-time candidate, building name ID and a strong base of support are essential. This training will cover best practices for mapping out stakeholders in your community, identifying key constituency issues and prioritizing your outreach accordingly. We’ll cover these topics and more with State Representatives Lindsey LaPointe and Nabeela Syed — two experienced legislators who got their start in community organizing.
Building a Campaign Field Plan
Join DPI’s Field Director, Jarae Hines, as we dive into the intricacies of grassroots organizing, data-driven outreach, and community engagement strategies. Participants will gain invaluable insights into building a robust campaign field plan, equipping them with the tools to mobilize supporters, connect with voters, and run successful campaigns.
Upping Your 2024 GOTV Game
Join us for a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) training session designed specifically for county and township chairs! Led by Tom Sullivan, author of For The Win, a county party GOTV manual. This training will equip you with actionable strategies to run a seamless GOTV operation – covering everything from; running a poll passing schedule; assembling a sample ballot; and organizing rides to the polls. Tom brings over two decades of experience having worked around the country on countless campaigns and trained local county parties.
Fundraising
Act Blue Webinar Series
This three-part summer webinar series breaks down the building blocks you need to level up your fundraising program. Whether you’re new to digital fundraising or just need a refresher, check out the trainings below to hear from our team!
Campaign Budget Template
This is a sample budget, with numbers for both realistic, ideal, and uh-oh budgets. Each budget is broken down by month and category. Use this as a reference example when budgeting a campaign. To learn more about budgeting, check out our course on Budgeting & Financial Compliance.
Campaign Cash Tracker
Throughout the campaign, having an accurate understanding of your finances is critical. Every day there are more decisions to make, and each has its budget implications. Money is moving into and out of the campaign quickly.
The cash tracker template is an easy-to-use tool to keep track of checks and invoices before they are deposited or paid.
Having an accurate, up-to-the-minute look at your cash on hand will help you make decisions quickly without second-guessing your available funds.
Campaign Rolodex
A campaign rolodex is a repository of your personal and political network. To start building your rolodex, you’re going to Rolodex yourself: put all of your information about your personal contacts into this template. Then, you’ll start to expand your rolodex starting from the personal relationships you already have.
Digital Fundraising Best Practices
Here are some tips for running a strong digital fundraising program and getting the most out of ActBlue.
Email Fundraising Best Practices
Here are some tips to take your strategy, fundraising, and messaging to the next level!
Fundraising Email (Prospective Donors)
This template is for mass eBlasts, not individual fundraising emails and should be sent through a platform like NGPVAN Targeted Email or Mailchimp.
Fundraising Plan Template
Campaigns cost money, and raising money requires time and planning. This template will help you examine the revenue streams your campaign can focus on, complete some research to help you set goals, and draft of your fundraising plan.
Pledge & Contribution Tracker
This spreadsheet can be used by campaigns or political organizations to track incoming pledges and contributions. It also includes useful tabs for tracking donor information as well as thank-yous and other follow-up activities. Campaigns and political organizations should track every single pledge and contribution they receive, starting on day one.
Videos
Illinois Campaign Finance Law with IDCCA
This session we will be reviewing Campaign Finance in Illinois. The update and training will be led by Ed Mullen. Ed is an experienced litigator who has represented clients from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Ed has advised non-profits and political organizations on formation and legal governance issues.
How to write an End of the Year fundraising appeal with IDCCA
This session we will be learning how to write an End of Year fundraising appeal. This session will be lead by Nancy Kohn of Nancy Kohn Consulting and Tom Bowen of New Chicago Consulting.
Campaign Compliance 101 with Emily Wurth
Join our comprehensive campaign compliance training with Emily Wurth, of Nelson Wurth Consulting, designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed for a seamless and legally sound political campaign. We’ll cover the basics of financial regulations, disclosure requirements, and ethical considerations to ensure your campaign adheres to legal standards. Participants will walk away with compliance best practices to confidently navigate the regulatory landscape and build a campaign that stands up to scrutiny.
Labor
Videos
History of Organized Labor in Illinois
This session we will focus on the history of Organized Labor, especially in Illinois. The training will be conducted by Illinois Labor History Society Vice President Mike Matejka. Mike retired from the Great Plains Laborers District Council staff and a LIUNA Local 362 member. For 40 years he edited the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly’s Grand Prairie Union News. He is a McLean County Historical Society Board Member and has been guest curator for five exhibits at this nationally accredited museum, most recently Challenges, Choices & Change: Working for a Living. He is the author of Fiery Struggle, (2000) documenting Illinois firefighter unionization.
Labor In Illinois with The Illinois AFL-CIO
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Bill Looby, Political Director for the Illinois AFL-CIO. This training will cover the structure and network of labor organizations in Illinois, endorsements, how to build relationships with your central labor councils, and the broader relationship between labor in Illinois and the Democratic Party.
Planning
Community Events Tracker Template
This is a document designed to help candidates and staff better manage and prioritize events in the community when developing a presence.
Developing a Campaign Plan
A campaign plan maps out your campaign’s goals and how to achieve them. It organizes priorities, funding, and staff, and keeps everyone focused on getting your message out to voters.
Your campaign plan is a written agenda that coordinates the whole campaign, as well as the four sub-plans, or departments, within the campaign: communications, digital, fundraising, and field.
Hiring a Team
This is a training of things to consider when hiring a team for a campaign.
Local Party GOTV Planning Manual
This is a step by step guide on what local parties should be doing in preparation for GOTV.
Planning Calendar Template
Calendar planning tool for candidates/staff to plan out their week to week schedules.
Visibility Event Checklist
This document should be utlizied before, during, and after an event.
Writing Your Campaign Plan
The Campaign Plan Template will help you work out strategies for messaging, organizing, communications, staffing, scheduling, and data and begin to understand how all of these elements fit together.
Videos
Running for Office 101
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Michelle Thimios of Run for Something and Paul Jones, President of the Young Democrats of Illinois on the ins and outs of running for office.
Training Series: How to Build Your Team
Join the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association and the Democratic Party of Illinois as we talk with Dan Pittman of Illinois Veterans for Change about how to build a winning campaign team. We’ll break down roles and responsibilities of the campaign staff, discuss team building and cohesion, as well as values and accountability mechanisms.
Campaign Management 101 with The Best Practices Institute
Join us for a conversation with The Best Practice Institute (BPI) on all things related to managing a campaign. This training will offer valuable insights into building a campaign plan and crafting a winning strategy for success. The Best Practices Institute (BPI) is the shared training department of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the ASDC. The BPI delivers trainings to activists and volunteers, Party leaders and staff, students and youth organizers, candidates and campaign staff, constituency caucus members and community leaders, and so many more!
Campaign Safety with Run for Something
Join us for a conversation with Michelle Thimios of Run for Something to discuss some best practices for ensuring your own personal safety and the safety of those around you while you run for office. We’ll start by reviewing some of the current safety issues that candidates are facing, then we’ll jump into best practices developed by security professionals and our RFS staff who have years of campaign experience under their belts. Candidates will also be given a campaign safety checklist. Run for Something is a national PAC that encourages young people to run for local and state legislative office.
Opposition Research: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
Join us for a conversation with Dennis Gragert, a veteran political opposition researcher in Illinois and the founder of Gragert Research. We will discuss the essentials of campaign research and its importance in strategic planning for any political race. This workshop is designed for candidates who want to gain a comprehensive understanding on how to effectively research both themselves and their opponents. Participants will learn how to uncover vital information, identify potential vulnerabilities, and craft compelling narratives to strengthen their campaigns.
