Could your rolodexing list be the key to jumpstarting your fundraising?
Short answer, yes. Your rolodexing list can and should be your first priority when fundraising for your campaign.
Your rolodexing list is, at the most basic level, your network. This includes at least your friends, family, colleagues (past and present), former peers in school, and social media mutuals. These folks know you and you likely already have their contact information. Also, they are probably already expecting you to reach out to them about your campaign if they’ve seen you are running for office.
This is precisely why they are your go-to for jumpstarting your fundraising efforts. Your rolodexing list is a low-stakes, low-pressure list of prospective donors since they know you and will want to support you in your candidacy and see you succeed.
5 Additional Benefits of Rolodexing
Other reasons why you should utilize your rolodex to energize your fundraising include:
Getting comfortable with asking for money: Asking for money is simply a part of campaigns you have to do as a candidate for office (unless you are self-funding your campaign). It’s okay to acknowledge it causes discomfort, but it’s not okay to avoid it because of the discomfort. Calling on your contact list can help you get comfortable with this skill and, hopefully, get good at it.
Practicing your hard ask and call time scripts: These calls are lower stakes than cold calls, so if you stumble while going through your call time script or forget to make the hard ask, these folks are likely to give you more grace than a seasoned political donor might.
You can convert non-political donors into donors to your campaign: This is quite difficult to do on cold calls, however, these people are contributing because they want to see you succeed, even if they are not engaged politically.
Feeling comfortable with rejection: Unfortunately, being comfortable with rejection is a big aspect of running for office: whether that’s rejection from a voter while knocking doors, not getting an endorsement, or a donor saying no when you ask them for a contribution, it’s a regular occurrence. Making fundraising calls on your rolodexing list is a way to soften some of the rejection since it’s coming from someone you know and who knows you as a person, not just a candidate.
Building up a volunteer base: Although this isn’t a guarantee of calling on your contact list, there are often people you may not be able to financially support, but want to support you in talking to voters and doing work in the field to get you elected. The volunteer ask is also one which is easier to make to friends and family than to a total stranger.
If you are looking to jumpstart your political campaign fundraising, do not overlook your rolodexing list. It can be one of the most fruitful ways to begin fundraising and help you get comfortable with asking for money.
Questions? Need some guidance on rolodexing? Sign up for a time slot to speak with our finance team about taking you through a guided rolodexing exercise.