Every organization needs its ‘chief volunteers’ and board members-- actively fundraising. In this interactive workshop learn how to use board-staff partnerships to refresh the vision, encouragement and follow-up which are the foundations of successful fundraising. Learn post-Newtonian tricks for bending time: fitting board work into tight work/life schedules. Participants will learn and exchange tips and leave the session with a draft Board Fundraising Action Plan.
Leading fundraising is less about doing all the work yourself and more about how we create a culture of fundraising in our groups and organizations. In this interactive session, we will experience a wide range of strategies for engaging members, staff, board and volunteers in fundraising.
Everyone and their mother is on facebook nowadays. Organizers in all settings are expected to use facebook to create groups, promote events, and advocate for campaigns. This is the time for beginners to learn the most important ways to use facebook for organizing and get their questions answered.
NationBuilder is a unique nonpartisan community organizing system that brings together a comprehensive suite of tools that today's leaders and creators need to gather their tribes. Learn why Nationbuilder can make your campaigns a success and how you can get started.
Don't have a Twitter account? Don't think there's much you could possibly say in 140 characters? Not sure how to best use Twitter without getting overwhelmed with information? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this training is for you. We'll walk you thru creating a Twitter account, show you around Twitter and share some best practices to get the most out of using Twitter without letting it turn into a time suck.
Constant appeals to supporters for activism and donations, coupled
with the ongoing recession, have many nonprofits concerned about
supporter fatigue. Can humor really make your campaign stand out and
drive your supporters to act? Yes. Is it appropriate when your issue
is so serious and so critical? Yes. How can you convince your
organization to use humor as a tool of engagement? Easy. Join us for a
fun, insightful training session showing on how to use humor to
attract new supporters, re-energize your existing base, and avoid
falling victim to supporter fatigue...and how you can convince your
boss to do it.
"Just Do It" may be a great guide to athletes, but the slogan for successful fundraising should be: "Plan Ahead"! When we needed the money yesterday, how to we approach fundraising in a mindful, organized way, setting goals and strategies and organizing the time and resources of our team so as to meet those goals? In this session you will learn how to set and reach realistic goals by creating a blueprint with elements including: Goals, sectors, markets, prospects, strategics, personnel, calendar, prioritized time-based task lists, budget, evaluation/ monitoring. Plan to join us!
This workshop will give an overview of online fundraising, including donation pages, crowd-funding, peer-to-peer fundraising, social fundraising and more. And, we'll cover the basics of the digital communications involved in this work, including email marketing, online marketing and social media, as well as the importance of photos, videos and stories in you efforts. If we have time, we'll also touch on how to incorporate mobile and in-person events into your strategy. Bring ideas you've been wanting to try out, your prior experiences and/or your questions -- we'll use workshop participants' examples to help guide the discussion.
You are on facebook and you are looking at cute pictures of cats. So now what? You can use Facebook to build engagement for your organization in a meanigful way. Learn how to get people interacting on your page, raise your numbers, and ways to make sure that your facebook engagement translates into meetig your organization's goals.
It's the choice no one wants to make but your data and online presence depend on it. Learn how to pick tools that fit your needs, skill level, and budget.
In this session we will discuss real-life case studies of situations where local campaigns were able to tap into non-local or national networks. This session will help you sharpen your power-mapping, national messaging, and remote volunteer management skills. In an increasingly connected world, these skills become ever more important to success.
This session is an overview of state politics -- a look behind the scenes at how "3 (now 4?) men in a room" impact our work. We'll be sharing insights about the culture and dynamics in Albany and using visual aids to clarify the differences between the Assembly, Senate, and Executive. You'll leave the session with a better sense of who the key players in Albany are, how they relate to each other, and what you need to do to be more effective with staff and elected officials. Topics covered include: dynamics between the Legislature and the Executive, the importance of grassroots pressure, and where and how to exert influence in Albany. This session is relevant for folks just beginning to work in Albany, seasoned advocates, and everyone in between.
Learn when, how and why to have an event, and the steps to make it successful. There are many ways to raise money from events besides ticket prices. Turn those fund-losers into FUNdraisers!
Walk-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, dance-a-thons, oh my! A-thons are popular and effective fundraising events, because they bring in hundreds of small gifts by reaching lots of different social networks and circles. Come to this workshop to learn about the core elements of A-thon organizing and best practices and lessons learned from the field.
Find out how your website is being used and track your progress with Google Analytics.
The 501(c)3 organization you work at is increasingly involved in legislative advocacy and your considering starting a related 501(c)4 to take advantage of the unlimited lobbying. What do you need to consider in making this decision? After years of legislative advocacy, you're realizing that you want to discuss elections and endorse candidates to your members (and maybe even to the broader public). What organizational structure do you need to support this activity? You have a clear sense of what you cannot do as someone operating a 501(c)3 and you keep hearing about 501(c)4s and PACs and the options they provide. You know no one entity is a silver bullet, but you want to understand the pros and cons of each option. You're starting a new organization and you're considering starting a 501(c)4 instead of or before starting a 501(c)3 but you have some concerns about the fundraising for a 501(c)4.
If any of these scenarios apply to you, please join us to discuss what's possible with 501(c)3s and 501(c)4s. We’ll also briefly discuss political action committees. All levels welcome.
How do we ensure that our movements engage in resource-building and fundraising that doesn't replicate the systems of oppression we fight against? Participants will share common experiences and engage in popular education-based activities that address the racism, ageism, and class oppression we face.
Our fundraising strategies often include organizing a base of allies as donors who do not reflect or come from the community most impacted by an organization. Aligning both constituent and ally organizing strategies with racial justice vision means getting real about power, privilege, accountability and partnership. White People and Fundraising will work on whiteness showing up in resource organizing for social, economic and environmental justice movements. In this workshop for white people (concurrent with a People of Color and Fundraising workshop) we will talk about our fundraising challenges and joys with race, racism and racial justice as connectors. We will share our stories together and explore opportunities to take next the step in our individual and collective efforts towards liberation. (this session is for white people)
Learn how to use this popular Constituent Relationship Management platform used by many unions, nonprofits and campaigns. (Also known as the thingy that sends targeted email blasts to your list.) If you have never used Salsa before or have minimal experience this is the session for you.
The 501(c)3 organization you work at is increasingly involved in legislative advocacy and your considering starting a related 501(c)4 to take advantage of the unlimited lobbying. What do you need to consider in making this decision? After years of legislative advocacy, you're realizing that you want to discuss elections and endorse candidates to your members (and maybe even to the broader public). What organizational structure do you need to support this activity? You have a clear sense of what you cannot do as someone operating a 501(c)3 and you keep hearing about 501(c)4s and PACs and the options they provide. You know no one entity is a silver bullet, but you want to understand the pros and cons of each option. You're starting a new organization and you're considering starting a 501(c)4 instead of or before starting a 501(c)3 but you have some concerns about the fundraising for a 501(c)4.
If any of these scenarios apply to you, please join us to discuss what's possible with 501(c)3s and 501(c)4s. We’ll also briefly discuss political action committees. All levels welcome.
Special events are a big investment of time, money and other resources. They also provide abundant opportunities to grow your organization’s capacity to raise funds, friends and advocates. Learn to squeeze every drop from each of your special events – and help you build a more sustainable fundraising effort that you can build on over time.
How Do I Start Asking For Money? Learn where money comes from and how to activate your grassroots fundraising. We'll learn the fundamentals of identifying prospective donors and crafting your 'ask' - and then we'll practice with the group! This workshop is great for folks just starting out as well as those wanting a reminder of the basics.
As companies turn their attention to social media to increase their profits, those of us interested in defending the public good have new opportunities for holding them accountable. Online petitions, Twitter, and Facebook have become staples of online organizing campaigns against corporations. In this conversation, we will discuss examples of creative online actions that had a significant impact on elections, workers rights, and the environment.
2013 presents a unique opportunity to transform the political landscape in NYC. That's why a group of Council Members have formed ProgressiveNYC, an effort to help elect more progressive candidates to the New York City Council.
On Friday, March 22, meet progressive Council Members (current and future!), share a drink with other activists fighting to improve our city, and learn how you can help build a more progressive NYC this year!
The first 100 Organizing 2.0 conference attendees at the event get a free drink ticket - plus noshes for all!
So you or your org have a Facebook Page, a Twitter Account, a Pinterest Account- and you've used them a bit, now what? This session will teach you an approach to the use of social media that makes the most of your time while maximizing your returns...in others words we'll talk about how to use social media strategically. If you don't know what a Share or a Hashtag are, this isn't the training for you as we're going to dive down into the weeds and talk about the details. (There is a seperate session called Twitter for Absolute Beginners available).
As organizers we are presented with an amazing variety of digital tools and ways to use them. How do they fit together? How do they connect to our broader organizational strategies? This introductory session will shed light on the process of strategizing for optimum use of technology to advance your goals.
In this session you will learn strategies for successfully leveraging power in such a way that running against a "machine" becomes a strength instead of a weakness. Field, relational power-mapping and messaging are some of the topics that we will delve into.
Succesful fundraising teams include many players. Volunteers, Board and Staff all have their role in maximizing your reach and exceeding goals. Explore how to build a team that represents the diversity, skill, and focus of your organization, group or campaign.
WARNING: The Following Presenation Contains Sarcasm:
Set unrealistic deadlines! Don’t define your intended audience! Refuse to make decisions! Many of the ways you can mess up your new website or redesign are identical to the ways people fumble any endeavor. Other mistakes are unique responses to the age old demand—“Hey, overextended staffer! Create a cutting edge website for free, stat, with whatever the latest gizmo thingy I don’t understand is!” After years of working with a diverse range of organizations and campaigns we’re here to enthusiastically report on the classic mistakes even the best organizers and communicators make when overseeing major website development (or redevelopment). We’ll hold your sweaty, fearful hand as we walk you through the entire life cycle of website development, ensuring that the end result is as expensive and ineffective as possible.
Join us for ioby's signature workshop on how to combine grassroots fundraising, crowd-funding and resource organizing into what we call "crowd-resourcing". We'll provide a primer on on grassroots fundraising techniques, basic and advanced, and share the best practices for applying those same skills to online fundraising and communications during the course of targeted online campaign. Learn how leaders just like you have raised thousands of dollars and strengthened their base with campaigns on ioby, the crowd-resourcing platform for all kinds of projects that build stronger, more sustainable neighborhoods, block by block.
Learn how to use this popular Constituent Relationship Management platform used by many unions, nonprofits and campaigns. (Also known as the thingy that sends targeted email blasts to your list.) If you have never used Salsa before or have minimal experience this is the session for you.
Did you know that moving a button on your website a few pixels or putting your form labels in a different place can increase the number of times users sign petitions, join your email list or donate on your site by 25 or even 50%? Learn about quick fixes for your organization's website that will make sure your site's design is amplifying your message rather than getting in the way. This session will also include an introduction to user experience design and usability testing methodology-- proven means for making your site more visitor friendly.
Have you ever talked to a reporter, then been frustrated later with the quote that wound up in the story? Not sure how to handle less-than-friendly media outlets? Anyone can learn to be an effective spokesperson with a little bit of information and a lot of practice.
We'll cover the basics about how to have your encounters with reporters go better including:
Our session will include a brief practice session where people can role-play being interviewed and employ the skills we cover.
Everyone loves a good party, it puts people in a good mood and when people are in a good mood they are more likely to donate more money to the important work that you and your organizations are doing. But what are the elements that go into good fundraising parties? Are parties only for young people, what if you have an aging donor base? In this workshop, based off of the work at the Brecht Forum in New York City, we will explore some different strategies that go into party planning and show how organizing a good party is a fundamental component of any grassroots fundraising plan!
A group conversation of union members, union staff and union supporters interested in promoting digital strategy within the labor movement.
How candidates build their support now, and the radical difference between state campaigns today and post-Fair Elections. With Jesse Laymon, Citizen Action of New York and a 2013 candidate.
Fundraising alone can do a lot for an organization, but for grassroots social justice groups it is even more meaningful when it connects and reflects the values and mission of the organization and communities we work in. This workshop frames fundraising as an interconnected part of community organizing and will share models of member-led fundraising that illustrate principles of community organizing, participation, empowerment, and anti-oppression. It will also provide participants practical tools to create opportunities within their organizations for member-driven fundraising. We will explore how we are or could approach fundraising from a leadership development perspective to help achieve our political goals and raise the resources we need.
Learn about how to reach people where they are at - their mobile phones. Texting has become the primary form of communication for many. How do we use this to our organizing advantage? Learn about new tools for organizing and how to make it happen.
A panel about how New York City campaigns are reaching voters online. Panelists will discuss the way that campaign strategy is evolving as new technology becomes available. How do online tools help reach more voters? What mistakes have campaigns and organizations made in integrating online strategies? We will focus on New York City politics and its unique flavor.
Online Organizing is growng in New York's Puerto Rican and Dominican American communities. Hear what key organizations, elected officials and individual activsts are doing and what their goals are for the future of online organizing. There have been many discussions about online organizing in latin@ communities but this may be the first session to focus on people of Puerto Rican or Dominican heritage specifically.
If you've used Salsa but want to get really good join us for this session with expert trainers. Have a Salsa problem that's vexing you? Get thoughts and ideas for how to solve it.
In this session we will explore strategies and tactics that are especially important for winning low-turnout elections. We will primarily focus on ways to optimize your effectiveness in voter or constituency outreach so that you can "win in the field". We will cover both online and offline tactics in this session.
Join Marjorie Fine, noted grantmaker and fundraiser and your fellow and sister activists/organizers for this two part workshop. We will learn, share, discuss and cheer-lead each other on in finding the pleasure and excitement in fundraising- even and especially in tough economic times. Whether you are a new or seasoned fundraiser, paid staff or volunteer, comfortable or nervous about asking for money – this session is for you. We will explore attitude adjustments about money, getting over the fear of asking for a significant gift, what goes into a donor campaign, how to build relations and practice making the ask. Come with your questions, come ready to laugh, come ready to share and let your hair down but most of all…come!
How can we tell our stories in a way that resonates beyond traditional social justice audiences? This panel provides ideas for producing campaign videos using compelling visuals, emotion, and humor.
Is your organization resistant to building an online program? Have you suggested delving into online organizing only to be met with a chorus “Our members aren’t on Facebook,” or “Our folks don’t use email?” Then you’re in good company! Pretty much every organization that uses the internet as a tool for organizing low income communities of color had to overcome the myth of the digital divide at some point. Join experienced organizers for a spirited panel discussion. One part strategy session, one part group therapy; if your ushering the internet age into your organization, than this is the training for you.
New toys! Enjoy presentations about the latest innovations in organizing technology. Find magical gadgets to make all your work go faster, reach further, and make a greater impact on the world. Brief presentations about each new tool will focus on how they can be most useful to you.
An introduction to experiment-informed programs, program-efficacy, and A/B testing. An overview of what we know, what we don't know and what questions need to be tested next.
Join Marjorie Fine, noted grantmaker and fundraiser and your fellow and sister activists/organizers for this two part workshop. We will learn, share, discuss and cheer-lead each other on in finding the pleasure and excitement in fundraising- even and especially in tough economic times. Whether you are a new or seasoned fundraiser, paid staff or volunteer, comfortable or nervous about asking for money – this session is for you. We will explore attitude adjustments about money, getting over the fear of asking for a significant gift, what goes into a donor campaign, how to build relations and practice making the ask. Come with your questions, come ready to laugh, come ready to share and let your hair down but most of all…come!
Social media gives many people in your group the freedom to participate and the power to reach thousands. It can be a challenge to keep everyone on message and working according to your overall strategy. Discuss best practices in pulling this off and getting everyone involved.
So you know you need to do online advertising to spread the word about your cause or campaign. But you have low-to-no budget! We've got ideas and we can help. We'll briefly talk about the basics of online advertising, and then dive into strategies for when budgets are tight."
Join us after an inspiring and informative Day #2 of the Organizing NY conference for a reception to celebrate local politics. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/561398590550883/
Mingle with conference presenters from New York and beyond. Get to know other NY progressive organizers. Help amplify the skills we've learned by growing our connections and coalitions towards a more progressive New York.
Organizing New York and our friends in the progressive grassroots are encouraging participation in the upcoming NYC City Council elections - suggested donation at the door will be a donation towards any of the local City Council campaigns (ONY doesn't endorse candidates... your choice!).
Party will take place on the 2nd Floor of the UFT building where the Organizing New York conference is being held March 22-24. All are welcome!
Co-Hosted by
Drinking Liberally
Greater NYC For Change
Voterbook
and
more to come!
How to mobalize large groups of people for direct actions and disaster relief with examples from occupy.
Hear from this expert panel on how to create and maintain relationships with the bloggers. This session will give insight into the most influencial bloggers and how you can get them to bring attention to your campaigns, organizations and causes.
How do we make online petitions truly meaningful?
Occupy Wall Street’s success was due in part to great video activism. What can we learn from that? Join us to explore occupying online video in social media, creating content in high-stress situations, livestreaming, TV content, and more.
Democratic Clubs are a tradition of our political system in New York. Find out how they work, what's new, and where you might fit in.
Discussion about how stopping Climate Change can connect to all kinds of campaigns and struggles.
Many organizers are inspired by faith. Faith communities are a natural part of our movements and issue advocacy. Join this discussion about experiences and best practices in organizing with these communities.
