ACTION PLAYBOOK
Fundraise for Climate
Candidates & Organizations
Fundraising is a powerful way for climate advocates to work together to support climate champions. This playbook walks through how to activate your network to raise funds for candidates and/or local grassroots organizations working on voter engagement.
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Make it easy for people in your network to pitch in; generate financial support for climate candidates and grassroots organizations.
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Pick your priorities and grab your fundraising link(s)
Choose your audience and platform
Write your messages
Post or send
Follow up
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Candidates need funds to spread their message to voters effectively. Local grassroots organizations need funds to help get out the vote and build lasting infrastructure to outlive each election cycle.
By raising funds, we can help with these efforts and give people in our networks an easy way to pitch in.
Personalized requests for support can be powerful and stand out among mass calls to action from campaigns and PACs. Not only can your passion inspire your personal contacts to donate, it may inspire them to feel more connected and get more involved beyond donating.Because we’re simultaneously raising awareness as we raise funds, success can be measured in total funds raised, but also in the number of unique donors. Many small donations matter (and surely add up).
The future of our planet is at stake, so while it’s important to be sensitive to the fact that people have different financial situations, don’t worry that you’re asking people for too much!
1. Choose a fundraising priority
To raise funds, we need a clear priority and a dedicated fundraising link. You can raise funds for candidates, grassroots voter mobilization organizations, or both. Want to choose one priority and move on? Choose any one of the links above. All of these are key priorities that represent a strategic investment!
Choose your priority(ies) and copy the URL link(s).
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Climate Changemakers does not make endorsements, but we focus on climate candidates in highly competitive races, and we love our Venn diagrams. In all cases, we identify candidates who are in highly competitive races per the Cook Political Report and endorsed by LCV Action Fund and NRDC Action Fund (the criteria for inclusion on the GiveGreen platform).
You know the Presidential race is going to be close, that's a no-brainer.
For reassurance that the Senate candidates in our slate are all in highly competitive races, check in on the latest Senate race ratings from the Cook Political Report. Note that the "All Toss-Up Senate" slate represents the Venn diagram overlap between candidates in Toss-Up and Lean Senate races (per Cook Political Report) who are also on the GiveGreen platform (a climate candidate).
For reassurance that the House candidates in our slate are all in highly competitive races, check in on the latest House race ratings from the Cook Political Report. Note that the "All Toss-Up House" slate represents the Venn diagram overlap between candidates in Toss-Up House races (per Cook Political Report) who are also on the GiveGreen platform (a climate candidate).
Our Priority House & Senate slate represents the Venn diagram overlap between candidates who are 1) in Toss-Up races 2) also on the GiveGreen platform (a climate candidate) and 3) in a nested race such that at least two Toss-Up races overlap across the Electoral College, Senate, and House.
How about the down-ballot races? Our key down-ballot races link passes through to Climate Cabinet, specifically their 6 "Top Priority" races nationwide: the top climate champions with an opportunity to have an outsized influence over future climate policy.
And the grassroots organizations?
Our grassroots organizations link passes through to Movement Voter Project PAC. They thoroughly and strategically vet grassroots organizations for effectiveness. -
Candidates need funds to effectively spread their message to voters, while local grassroots groups do critical get-out-the-vote work that builds long-lasting infrastructure to outlive any one election cycle.
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GiveGreen is the largest fundraising platform for climate action in the U.S. They identify races up and down the ballot where contributions can have the greatest impact. Contributions go directly to the candidates, and the GiveGreen portal “stamps” the funds as a climate donation, sending a strong message that the public is invested in climate leadership and climate action needs to be a top priority.
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Want to track the donations yourself? If you’d like to set up a candidate fundraiser where you have the capability to track the donations, GiveGreen allows you to create your own slates and monitor the donations (you’ll need to create an account). If you’d like to set up a fundraiser to support vetted and effective local grassroots organizations, Movement Voter Project makes that easy.
Got your URL(s)? Move on to step 2!
2. Determine who might want to support climate action by making a donation
When it comes to fundraising, one-on-one, personalized asks go so much further than a non-specific blast to your whole network. Two good methods: 1) do all 1:1 outreach from the get-go, or 2) send a message to a wider group (e.g. group email, post on social media, etc). Then follow up with individual, personal notes.
Who might be looking for a way to contribute to the outcomes of this election?
Who do you talk about climate with? U.S. politics with?
Who has expressed a desire for climate solutions like better public transit? More EV infrastructure?
Who likes to support you in the various things you do?
Make a list of a few people in your network, then move to step 3!
3. Write your messages
Decide which platforms you’ll use to connect with members of your network. Email, text, Slack, social media? You decide!
3 important things to consider:
✅ Start by setting the example and walk the talk: We're much more effective asking others to support a climate candidate when we're already willing to put our own money to work as well. Consider making a contribution yourself first, whether it's coffee money or a more substantial amount. That way, you can say, “Join me in supporting…” and really mean it. You could even make a donation and ask people to match.
Match message example: “I’m donating $25 to [organization] doing awesome work to register voters! Thought you might want to match me and double our impact? :) My Venmo is @handle – I’m pooling donations this week and will share total dollars raised by our crew on Friday!“
📈 Remember: the number of unique donors matters and small donations add up: Really! Campaigns treat the number of unique small donations as a source of pride and credibility. Same goes for local grassroots organizations. No donation is too small to be helpful. This is key: we are raising awareness as we raise funds.
🔂 Repeat your request and don’t be shy: Fundraising is really essential work, and it might not feel easy. Remember that you’re doing meaningful advocacy that will contribute to future-informing election outcomes. Broadcast your messages far and wide! People all around you are wondering where they can pitch in, and they want to support what you support. And repeat your request—90% of fundraising (and advocacy) success is repetition. Humans consume a ton of messaging every day and typically need to see something 2-5x before we decide to act on it. So don’t be discouraged if engagement is low when you start sending messages – repetition is just how this works!
Quick Tips:
Keep your request brief and stick to one message. Simplicity is the goal.
Tag the appropriate stakeholders (candidates, organizations etc. and @theclimatevote, of course!) in social media posts! This will instantly increase your post’s reach and visibility.
Consider avoiding partisan language. Nature is not partisan, and there are different ways to frame climate action that everyone can get behind. Climate Changemakers is nonpartisan, which means that we support candidates because of their climate leadership, not their party affiliation.
Include your fundraising links! Very important.
4. Post or send your messages!
Do it! You’re ready.
5. Set personal reminders to follow up
Remember, 90% of success in fundraising (and advocacy) is repetition. Set reminders in your reminder app or calendar to follow up with broad messaging and 1:1 notes to your network.
Use your best judgment based on the folks you’re messaging, but generally, a good cadence is something like:
Day 0: Send/Post your initial invitation to donate
Day 0: If you sent a broad message, follow up 1:1 with folks immediately
In 2-3 days, send a friendly follow-up that “this fundraising effort is ON” and you’d love their support. Perhaps give an update or share a fun fact/story about the candidates or organization.
The next week, do the same! Switch up the messaging, sharing unique reasons to support climate champions, recent quotes from the candidates, local stories that show the impact of climate leadership (this one-pager has a ton of local climate stories, along with IRA facts).
Continue fundraising for 2-4 weeks, or as long as it feels like people are responsive and you’re having fun with it!
Of course, thank those who respond (either by making a donation or by explaining why they can’t). Your enthusiasm and personal relationship-building will go a really long way – and have lasting effects. Elections happen nearly every year, and you’re now the changemaker on the block!
PS. Have a great moment fundraising? 🎉 Share it in the Climate Changemakers Slack #wins-shoutouts channel! It’s the best corner of the internet, filled with good news and advocacy wins from changemakers like you.
And that’s it, playbook complete! Feel accomplished.
Thank you for taking action.
🎉 CUE CONFETTI by clicking COMPLETE! 🎉
Want more action?
Go to the current Action Plan
© 2023 Climate Changemakers