Innovation and Money in Politics

Innovation and Money in Politics

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Innovation and Money in Politics
Innovation and Money in Politics
Political fundraisers are broken

Political fundraisers are broken

What if they were optimized for the attendees?

David Slifka
Apr 25, 2021

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Innovation and Money in Politics
Innovation and Money in Politics
Political fundraisers are broken
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I’m realizing how limited political fundraising events are. Whether online or in-person, they have a rigid user experience with no opportunities for deeper engagement. Guests show up, hear remarks and Q&A, and then leave.

That’s probably because they are optimized for immediate fundraising to the presenting candidate or organization.

What if instead we designed a fundraising event that’s optimized as a step on attendees’ journey up a ladder of engagement? What would be different?

If events were optimized as parts of a larger journey, here are some examples of what attendees might be able to do:

Before the event

  • Access background materials specific to the event

  • Discuss the event topic with presenting organizations/campaigns

  • Share questions with the presenters

During the event

  • Have side conversations about the presentation (e.g. questions, comments, or critiques)

After the event

  • Discuss the presentation with other attendees

  • Freely ask follow-up questions about the presentation or its topic

  • Browse deeper resources about the presentation topic

  • Find other groups doing similar work


Let’s fix events

Have you experimented with more engaging event formats? Are you curious to try? Or are you just frustrated with political fundraisers? Whichever it is, please reach out.


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By David Slifka · Launched 5 years ago
Details of how political innovation, funding, and fundraising really works (or doesn't).

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Political fundraisers are broken
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