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Tried & True!

© Hunter

In the area of fundraising, we have now discussed direct mail, which is a relative newcomer to the game. So what did our campaigns of years ago do to raise money?

The "House Party" of course . . . and, even today, this type of fundraising is still a great way to "press the flesh" and raise a little money at the same time. This time-tested method of donor development is still the lifeline of most local campaigns. What better way to meet and talk with your neighbors and meet new people of the community than in someone's home? It is a most efficient method of voter contact. Let's face it, if people have a chance to meet you and you give them a good first impression, you probably will have their vote.

Home events should be held continuously throughout your campaign and a goal to set could be one a week. Evenings are good, especially when couples are invited. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are good for pool or backyard parties, weather permitting of course. Try to investigate social calendars, however, so you avoid conflicts with events such as football games or major school activities or other community activities that could hamper the attendance.

The cost of these parties are negligible because the host or hostess are usually asked to underwrite the cost. One thing to remember here, though, is that these amounts must be reported as in-kind contributions from the sponsor.

Here are few suggestions that will enable the host or hostess to ensure a succcessful party.

Send out your invitations well in advance whenever possible . . . at least ten days in advance. Make follow-up calls and when making the calls tell the perspective guest that you want them to meet the candidate. Tell them that their opinion carries weight and that the candidate wants to hear their opinions . . . remember, a little flattery never hurts.

Make your complete guest list. Including yourself and the candidate and spouse, it should be around 30 people.

Compile your guestlist with full names, addresses and telephone numbers and forward it to the campaign headquarters, so the candidate can review the information before he/she arrives at the party. The campaign is then responsible for sending out thank you notes.

The party should last no more than two hours and the invitation time should be set for fifteen minutes in advance of the moment when the candidate is expected to arrive. Make preparations for something to occupy the guest's time, in case the candidate is behind schedule and then the campaign should let you know this.

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