CAMPAIGNS : GCI & the Democratic National Committee

" The DNC Canvass Program is finding new supporters and activists that we would not have been able to reach otherwise. We have taken on the mission of building the Democratic Party from the ground up- I could not be more proud of the canvassers and supporters who are helping to build the financial base of the party from the grassroots. "

       -Howard Dean, Chair, Democratic National Committee (pictured with Chicago office staff)

At the time Grassroots Campaigns was founded in December 2003, the Democratic Party was staring uphill at a massive fundraising advantage amassed by the Bush/Cheney campaign and the national GOP. This was nothing new. The Republican Party had two major advantages: a loyal base of conservative small donors built through decades of direct mail fundraising campaigns, and a tightly knit network of deep-pocketed corporate donors. It had become conventional wisdom that Democratic candidates would start out every campaign with fewer resources than their opponent, and would have to hope their message alone would be powerful enough to win an election -- even if fewer voters heard it.

Given the urgency of fighting President Bush, the DNC set out to level the playing field by engaging more rank-and-file Democrats in supporting the party. The DNC enlisted Grassroots Campaigns to develop and manage a face-to-face fundraising program, as a critical piece of its party-building strategy. By May 2004, we had opened local field offices in 40 different cities. By July, over 2,000 Grassroots Campaigns canvassers were knocking on doors and speaking to people all across the country. In the end, the campaign generated millions of additional dollars for the 2004 campaign effort and identified several hundred thousand new grassroots donors – effectively tripling the DNC’s small donor base. After 2004, these donors have continued to support the Democratic Party, and, alongside supporters recruited in other ways, have given the financial resources needed to fund the 50-State Strategy, an innovative organizing plan to build support for the party in every single state. This new approach helped win seats in unexpected places during the 2006 Midterm elections..

As we move into the heart of the 2008 cycle, Democrats everywhere are more engaged than at any time in recent history, and grassroots funding has finally made the party competitive with its opposition. Given the stakes of this year’s elections, now is the time to press forward and get even more new people involved. This year GCI is adding in a more robust volunteer-recruitment component into our proven donor outreach model for DNC. Having millions of Democratic voters investing time and resources into their party is critical way to empower citizens, win campaigns and build for the future.

Find out more about the Democratic National Committee at www.democrats.org.