PROPOSAL NUMBER: 023-03

PROPOSAL SUBJECT: The Green Party of Colorado conduct a campaign titled: the GPCO 20/20/2004 Fundraising/Registration Campaign

PRESENTERS: Bruce Meyer, DNVR Representative, and Brad Klafehn, GPCO Treasurer

TIMELINE EFFECTIVE:
December 1st, 2003 through October 2, 2004.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The GPCO and locals in Colorado have not had specific fundraising and outreach efforts in more than two years. Our fundraising is mostly based on the split we receive from the USGP donations from Colorado donors. We do not currently have a documented fundraising strategy and this campaign hopes to initiate an annual process of party fundraising by a specific campaign.

JUSTIFICATION/GOALS:What is the proposal trying to accomplish? Most importantly we want to raise $20,000 to fund education and registration efforts in 2004. This outreach will include support of candidates, advertising for local chapters, paying for festival booths and travel expenses when needed.
Why should the group consider it now? It is critical that the GPCO strengthen its infrastructure by having a pool of money to allocate to campaigns and outreach efforts in 2004. Come spring of 2004, we need to have the capacity to move forward with a couple of well selected local campaigns which promote the party and educate Green activists to the reality of electoral politics. An infusion of cash will be a catalyst for grassroots efforts throughout the state.

PROS/BENEFITS: This campaign will put a defined face on our efforts to move forward as a state party both in growth (registrations) and infrastructure (money/materials). Many individuals will gain valuable experience in the acquisition and accounting of political funds. We will find the interested individuals on our lists.

CONS/DRAWBACKS: If our lists are so bad as to give no responses, we will make little gain in bank balance. But it is good to know how they stand!!

Alternatives to the proposal (including taking no action): Other routes include concerts and events, though the planning and accounting for these gets sticky. Leaving this to locals doesn't allow for the synergy of many efforts to reach a greater goal.
Doing nothing would mean that the state party would continue to be incapable of assisting local candidates financially; that attendance at national Green Party meetings would continue to be determined primarily by the ability to pay one's own way, continuing a barrier to Green Party members who lack those financial resources; that many party members will continue to receive no communications ever from the state party; that the party will continue to have no state office as a focus for organizing materials or volunteers.

What: We propose the initiation of a fundraising campaign to consist of phone calls and mailings to registered Greens and entries on our contact lists for the purpose of raising $20,000 and attaining 20,000 registered Greens in Colorado. The campaign, titled 20/20/2004 aims to raise $20,000 between the kickoff of the campaign December 1st, 2003 and the GPCO state meeting April 24-25th, 2004, using such funds to reach a total of 20,000 registered Greens by October 2, 2004, the cutoff date for the Nov. 2004 elections. Funds will be used for Party infrastructure: office space, tabling materials, printing, mailing, etc.; enabling individuals to travel to large events to register and contact voters; and campaign support: allocating money to local campaigns to elect Greens to local office.

Who: The Fundraising Committee of the GPCO, created in April 2003 at the GPCO State meeting, will oversee the campaign; text of mailings and phone scripts will be reviewed by the Committee to ensure consistency and legality per state fundraising regulations; the Committee currently consists of Gwynne Stoll, Brad Klafehn, Mike Chamness, and Bruce Meyer. Locals will provide the names of an individual or group of individuals willing to take charge of the campaign in their area. In Denver, Bruce Meyer and Lanny Kness have committed to the project.

Where: Statewide; each local will be in charge of the project in their area; in areas where no local exists, GPCO will be responsible for voter contact via the Fundraising Committee.

When: The fundraising campaign will commence December 1, 2003 and end the April 24-25th weekend, with the meeting of the Green Party of Colorado in Fort Collins, no matter whether the goal of $20,000 has been reached, surpassed, or we fall short.

How: Brad Klafehn will send letters and contribution forms to the list of past donors to USGP from Colorado (about 125 names Brad Klafehn will send a letter and donation form via the Colorado Announce list to still other contacts. The Committee will provide locals with consolidated lists of voters, contributors (from the contributions database), and contacts (from Kent's database), noting which ones have already been contacted by the above means. Locals find phone numbers for individuals listed. Locals contact individuals by phone. A bulk mailing is made to individuals on the lists who are not in a local's area and who have not been contacted by phone by the Committee. Locals send phone numbers, email addresses and results of contact to Kent for addition to either the contacts database or the voter database. Brad Klafehn will send thank-you letters to donors, enter the donor information into the contributions database, and relay information on contributions (and cash) received back to the locals. Locals make follow-up phone calls, if no donations received. Contributions will be sent to the GPCO and when directed, Brad Klafehn will pass on half to the local of choice (if the local handles money). This consolidates the accounting and ensures proper reporting to the Secretary of State. The GPCO web site will also be used extensively in this campaign. Donors will be referred to the web site for forms and information where possible. The 20/20/2004 Campaign will be highlighted on the home page and donation forms and progress indicators will be prominent, as well.