Campaign Planning Template

Chapter:                        Date:                

1. Demand

1. Issue - Use this space to describe the problem you are trying to address.
2. Demand

1. State clearly the demand of your campaign - the more specific the better.
2. Is the demand is winnable? Why do you say that?
3. Is it widely and deeply felt - how do you know?
4. If your demand is met, would it transfer power to the working class? How?
5. Will this work help grow your membership and organizing capacity to get further wins? Why?

2. Strategy

1. Overview - Statement of the overall strategy of your campaign.
2. Target

1. What’s the name & title of the person (or specific people) you will be targeting to give in to your demand?
2.  Why do you believe this target is able to give you what you demand?

3. Analysis of Conditions

1. Who is likely to offer support to your demand?

1. What relationship does DSA have with these supporters?
2. What influence do these supporters have on the target?

2. Who is likely to oppose your demand?

1. What relationship does DSA have with these opponents?
2. What influence do these opponents have on the target?
3. What tactics are your opponents likely to use?

3. Who else does your target listen to?

1. Are these parties neutral?
2. Are these parties directly affected by your campaign?

4. Beyond winning your demand, what outcomes do you wish to see as a result of your campaign?

3. Tactics

1. What is the timeline for your campaign?

1. Is there a deadline of filing a petition, ballot initiative, or a set date for a vote or action on your demand?
2. When will you know your campaign is ready to be made public?
3. What level of support will you need to move your demand forward in the process?

2. What roles will leaders play in the campaign?

1. Will this project be housed in a specific working group or committee?
2. What specific roles will need to be filled? What skills will be needed to fill those roles?
3. Will the steering committee need to offer specific support?
4. Who will be the point of contact for the campaign?
5. How can you divide up work on this campaign to create opportunities for new organizers? (For example, dividing your campaign into several different buckets, like social media, member engagement, op-ed and emial writing, etc. creates opportunities for members to step up and lead those projects) How will these different parts of your campaign communicate and coordinate?

3. In what ways can you engage members in the work of the campaign?

1. What skills will you need to engage in your tactics effectively?
2. Who has expressed interest in this issue?
3. Who in your membership is affected directly?

4. How will the tactics you use escalate throughout your campaign? Use this space to write out the tactics you will use in escalating order. For each tactic, answer the following questions:

1. Does this tactic increase pressure on my target in relation to the previous tactic? How?
2. Does this tactic increase the visibility of the campaign? How?
3. Does this tactic increase the number of people involved in the campaign? How?
4. How does this tactic build on the last tactic you used? Or, how can you leverage the gains in power, people, and visibility from your previous tactic to carry out this tactic?