Get the Most Bang for Your Democratic Dollar$
A PSA for Democratic donors
This is for you readers and authors who are looking to get the absolute MOST Democratic benefit for the dollars you’re giving in support of Kamala Harris & Tim Walz, not only to win in November but also to ensure that they have a Blue Tsunami delivering Democratic victory up and down the ballot.
We are all beyond excited about the gazillions of dollars being raised to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Each massive new zoom call is thrilling, and the numbers raised are electrifying. That said, if you have more money to give, there may be better ways to make a difference than simply to send it directly to campaign headquarters— especially if you want to support the broader enterprises of converting undecided voters, getting out their vote, registering NEW Democratic voters, and boosting down ballot races for Blue candidates who will help Kamala Harris WHEN she’s in the White House!
Donors waste millions of dollars each election cycle by throwing money at candidates, PACs, and organizations that don’t need more money OR that don’t use that money efficiently. This includes candidates who are raking in more money than they can use, candidates in districts where they’re guaranteed to win, and candidates who have no chance of winning, no matter how much money they collect.
But there ARE networks that actively vet candidates and organizations by rigorously testing outcomes using controlled studies to make sure they generate the MOST new Democratic votes at the polls for the LOWEST cost per voter. And they have confirmed some of the BEST places for you to direct your political dollars in the weeks to come.
All of the following networks and organizations have passed this rigorous testing. Take a look and, if you have the means, lend them your support!
Oath.vote
If you are looking for the candidates who will make the absolute best use of your money AND whose election will make a huge difference because of their location, many in swing states, go to Oath.vote . Here’s what they do:
We analyze thousands of elections from President to school board to find which candidates need your support the most. We provide our recommendations for free and we don’t sell or share your contact information.
Courier Newsroom
This network is dear to our hearts as writers. We’ve seen a disastrous loss of local independent newspapers in recent years, and the right wing has been filling and causing those gaps through networks like Sinclair media. Well, Courier is the liberal response. Courier Newsroom is a network of pro-democracy media outlets that reach readers and listeners in their online and offline communities with news that connects to their interests and priorities. This fact-based journalism has been proven to drive voters to the polls for moderate and progressive candidates.
Here’s Courier’s mission:
COURIER’s local newsrooms provide Americans with news centered on the people and policies affecting their lives. Our reporting is primarily produced for the social media platforms and online channels our audiences spend their time on, with an emphasis on video, graphics, and skimmable newsletters to inform and engage our audiences in the ways they consume information today.
Movement Labs
I know we all hate the dozens of texts we get every day, but when those texts go out to voters who are NOT political junkies, they can make a real difference… IF the messages are scrupulously tested for effectiveness AND matched to exactly the right voters. That work is done by Movement Labs. Here’s how they get the job done:
We focus on finding new ways to use technology to achieve tangible outcomes in areas like voter registration, candidate recruitment, and elections. We’re able to rapidly incubate ideas, train volunteers, and deploy a team. Our projects focus on experimenting and sharing learnings to help progressives best optimize their growth and communications strategies.
Accelerate Change
How can Dems best penetrate the digital universe to persuade a variety of interest and identity groups to vote for Harris-Walz2024 ? By reaching these groups of voters where they live online and creating social media destinations that they enjoy and trust. This is the amazing work of Accelerate Change. Take a look:
In the last decade, Accelerate Change has evolved from a scrappy incubator for new ventures to a full-fledged media lab that has helped develop some of the largest nonprofit media ventures in the country. We scale and invest in emergent and established cultural media properties, build influencer networks, run a digital media lab, and drive civic engagement campaigns.
Galvanize Action
Women hold up more than half this country and have the greatest stake in this election of any “interest group.” Galvanize Action connects with moderate women to build a broader base for progress and an America that works for everyone.
Here’s their vision and M.O.:
There are millions of women—most living in rural, small town, and suburban communities—who want progress on things like access to healthcare and climate, but whose civic impact does not always reflect those goals. We use research-backed approaches to support this group of women to vote in line with their values and play an active role in promoting social welfare in their communities.
Working America
Working Americans who are not unionized represent another enormous voting bloc. They need to know that Kamala Harris will fight for good jobs, a fair economy, and a truly representative democracy. Reaching these key voters, especially in swing states, has been the mission of Working America since 2003, and they now are 4 million strong.
A big part of their strategy is to truly LISTEN to the needs of these voters, and by listening, to earn their trust:
We conduct large-scale listening projects in key states across the country. Our Front Porch Focus Group reports are the result of thousands of conversations with voters, where we ask about everything from how they voted in 2016 to how they feel about the economic future of their community. Thanks to our unique blend of data analysis and anecdotes from in-person conversations, these reports offer the breadth of polling alongside the depth of a focus group.
 | A guest post by
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Thank you for compiling this invaluable list, Aimee.
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