FALL TERM 2024
Interviews will be conducted in mid July 2024 for a 13-week term beginning August 5 and ending November 8. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we encourage you to apply early.
“I am currently a Political Science and Sociology major and plan to go into campaign work in the future. This fellowship has been the perfect opportunity to take my first steps in and really solidify my passion for progressive politics.”
– Ava Beggs, Organizing Fellow 2023
GENERAL SUMMARY
This is a 13 week training internship/fellowship. At 12 hours per week over 13 weeks, Fellows will be trained to and then assist Organizing Department staff in supporting capacity development and volunteer recruitment for Sister District teams nationwide. Fellows will learn and hone vital organizing skills with the support of seasoned campaign operatives experienced in electoral organizing. All work is performed via remote communication using Google Suite, phone, Zoom conference calls, Slack, email, and text. The specific work schedule is flexible. This fellowship is unpaid and provides a cost of living stipend in the amount of $3,120.
BACKGROUND
Sister District’s 70+ volunteer teams provide grassroots field and fundraising support to progressive state legislative candidates to build Democratic majorities at the state level. We continue to build robust and effective teams to maximally help elect candidates in 2024. Fellows have a significant role to play.
RESPONSIBILITIES
In collaboration with Organizing Department staff, Fellows will:
Learn and carry out field-proven best practices for volunteer recruitment and team-building
Learn how to develop, and then practice developing organizing strategy, goals, and tactics with a focus on creativity and continuous improvement to meet Sister District goals
Learn to and then practice drafting and editing effective recruitment scripts for phone, text, and email
Learn to and then practice making volunteer recruitment calls to find new team leaders and assist with capacity projects for existing teams
Learn best practices for phonebanking and practice those new skills by supporting team and national phonebanking efforts to maximize effective direct voter contact in critical state legislative districts
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
All cohort calls will be scheduled using a Doodle poll to accommodate fellow availability:
First two weeks: Group training and orientation sessions led by Organizing Department staff. Goals: learn and practice essential organizing and phonebanking skills; understand Sister District’s systems and structures.
Organizing weeks: 4 hours a week drafting/editing/executing project plans with a heavy focus on volunteer recruitment; 5 hours a week of attending, supporting, and co-hosting Sister District phonebanks plus follow up/recruitment with attendees; 1.75 hours of cohort meetings, to include a weekly hour-long group strategy/update call and a weekly 45-minute training workshop; weekly 30-minute 1:1 call with staff cohort leader. Total: 12 hours a week.
Final week: project wrap-up and handoff, progress-to-goal review, program evaluations and exit interviews.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
This fellowship is focused on training aspiring organizers in voter contact and volunteer capacity-building through personal connection and conversation, and specific campaign experience is not required. If you are a people person who wants to become an organizer, or an organizer who wants to hone your skill set, please apply! We are seeking applicants who are strong writers, good listeners, enjoy meeting new people, thrive in a team setting, and do well speaking on the phone. Applicants should be patient, diligent, and flexible, able to build and nourish personal connections, and ready to deliver compelling messages that are tailored to each volunteer. Must be fluent in Google Suite (e.g., Google Sheets, Google Docs).
REQUIREMENTS:
Strong passion for electing Democrats to state legislatures
Energetic about engaging, appreciating, and building relationships with volunteers
Good communication skills, including ability to present a training effectively and accurately in front of audiences of various sizes and skill levels
Ability to troubleshoot basic phonebank tech issues, or willingness to learn
Patient and detail-oriented approach, particularly in working with volunteers of all ages and abilities
Experience with volunteer recruitment or management a plus, but not required
Campaign experience not required
Experience with OpenVPB a plus, but not required
TIME COMMITMENT & LOGISTICS
Start Date: August 5, 2024
End Date: November 8, 2024
12 hours per week – specific hours are flexible. Standing weekly meetings and phonebanks will be scheduled/assigned according to Fellow availability
Work remotely
Attend weekly hour-long call with cohort and staff cohort leader
Attend weekly 45 minute training workshop with Organizing Staff
Attend weekly 30-minute call with staff cohort leader
Attend 2 weekly Sister District phonebanks, totaling 4 hours
Must have reliable, stable internet connection for Zoom + phonebank web interface
Must have personal computer and phone for calls and texts
We use Google Suite to track our work and Slack to communicate
$3,120 cost of living stipend, disbursed in three equal payments over the term (September 9, October 14, and November 11).
For other opportunities for groups and individuals, check out Sister District Affiliates, Student Opportunities, and our State Bridges program.
For nonpartisan research-based opportunities, please check out the Sister District Action Network!
Sister District values a multicultural, diverse working environment. Our Racial Equity statement is available on our About Us page at https://sisterdistrict.com/about-us. Applicants of diverse backgrounds and marginalized identities are welcomed and encouraged to apply.
THE ORGANIZATION
Since launching in the wake of the 2016 election, Sister District has grown to nearly 70,000 volunteers across the country. We have endorsed candidates in 167 races across 18 states, 107 of whom won and have gone on to fight for progressive issues in their state legislatures. We have raised more than $5.3 million in small-dollar donations directly for our candidates and State bridges organizations. Our organizing efforts have reached out to more than 4.1 million voters through phones, texts, postcards, and door knocks. We also partner deeply with our campaigns to provide professional training, advice, and guidance to help candidates and staff build winning campaigns.
Sister District not only helps to win urgent elections each year, but also builds Democratic infrastructure for the long term. We do this by training newly elected legislators and former candidates, conducting academic-quality civic research, supporting community-based organizations, and more.
We are open to volunteers and candidates of all genders, and we are proud to be an organization founded and led by women, including women of color.