Your Campaign Team
You’re going to need some help!
Get your friends, relatives and neighbors involved, particularly if any of them have political experience. Ideally, you can identify people to handle the following positions on your campaign team:
● Campaign Manager (your primary campaign organizer, event coordinator & cheerleader
● Finance Director (in charge of fundraising)
● Treasurer (for your PAC / campaign)
● Communications director
● Volunteer coordinator
● Scheduler
The higher the office sought, the more people you’ll want involved. Fundraising for state office, for example, requires raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, while School Board or Supervisor positions may not require more than a few hundred dollars (or a good pair of shoes, if you’re running a grassroots on the ground campaign). For some positions, knocking on every door in the district may be the way to win; in others this is clearly not practical. Generally, the more help you can get, the better your chances of winning.
The Key Roles Needed to Run a Campaign
Oversees all aspects of the campaign including day-to-day operations, hiring and management of staff, coordination and implementation of the fundraising operations and ongoing coordination with the candidate. Also responsible for creating and managing the campaign budget.
Campaign Manager
Raises the money that will allow the campaign to accomplish its goals. Works closely with the candidate, campaign manager and a finance committee to meet the financial goals of the campaign. Keeps the candidate on track with fundraising, preparing for and staffing call time, and oversees all fundraising events.
Finance Director/Fundraiser
Oversees the financial and accounting aspects of the campaign. Monitors all contributions and maintains financial records. Responsible for compliance with the relevant election board. On smaller campaigns treasurers may approve expenditures and assist in the preparation and monitoring of the budget.
Treasurer
In charge of all of the campaign’s media interactions. Builds relationships with the press, communicates with the media as the key spokesperson, sets up interviews and identifies media opportunities. Helps write and develop campaign literature, draft speeches, write copy for the website and manages social media posts.
Communications Director
Identifies, recruits, manages and motivates volunteers to help with various campaign activities such as canvassing, phone banking, events and GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts.
Volunteer Coordinator
Scheduler
Keeps your campaign calendar and makes sure you get where you need to go.
Links to explore:
Election Cycle- See what offices are up for re-election and when.
Run for Office
Getting on the Ballot
Finance Basis