Canvass Directors needed at the Fund for Public Interest Research

The Sierra Club is battling international timber companies and the mining and development industry to protect endangered species from extinction. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is pitted against oil companies wanting to drill in the Redrock Wilderness of the Colorado Plateau. Americans Against Political Corruption are fighting the wealthiest special interests to get big money out of politics. The State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are facing off against the auto and oil industry to protect our health by getting toxics out of our air.

At the Fund for Public Interest Research, we work with these and other leading progressive groups to help fight for the future of our health, our environment, and our democracy. We are looking for new Canvass Directors and Telephone Outreach Directors to join us.

Responsibilities: Staff Management:

• Recruit and manage a campaign staff of 15-25 activists.
• Train staff in effective canvassing and campaigning techniques.
• Identify the strongest staff and teach them to run local campaigns.

Campaign Tactics:

• Attract media coverage for campaigns. Write news releases, hold news conferences and meet with editorial boards to release research, expose problems and promote solutions.
• Build coalitions of local and state organizations and elected officials.
• Run grassroots lobbying drives to put pressure on state legislators, local government, corporate boards and Congressional representatives. Canvassing/Field Work:
• Reach or exceed your office's fundraising and membership goals. Most offices have goals of $250,000 raised and 10,000 members identified each year.
• Canvass door-to-door or by telephone (depending on the position) 2-3 times each week to train staff, raise money, identify and activate members, and educate the public on the issues.
• Perform administrative responsibilities associated with fundraising, membership identification and development, campaign activity and running the office.

Qualifications: We are looking for smart, motivated, action-oriented college graduates who are interested in politics and have a commitment to public interest issues. To do this work, you need stamina. You need to be able to convey the sense of urgency and passion you feel about these issues. You need to be able and willing to work hard. You need to be resourceful on a shoe-string budget. (In depth training in issues, campaign tactics and skills is provided.)

Locations: We are running campaigns in AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI and Washington, D.C.

Salary/Benefits: First-year staff earn $18,000 - $21,500 depending on position. Benefits include health insurance and college loan assistance.

To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to: The Fund, PO Box 120-271, Boston, MA 02112-0271. Call Abby Graf at: (617) 292-8057 or e-mail at GoodFight1@aol.com

A Typical Day:

• 9:30 - You and the office's other director sit down for your daily meeting. Evaluate yesterday's fundraising and campaign performance. Review plans for the day.
• 10:00 - Interview prospective campaign staff.
• 11:00 - Meet with your field managing staff. Get their ideas on possible "visuals" for the upcoming news conference to expose rates of species extinction. Review plans for a constituent meeting to urge the Congressional representative's support for reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act.
• 12:00 - Finalize and mail notices to the media announcing the news conference.
• 1:00 - Meet the local Endangered Species Coalition spokesperson for lunch.
• 2:00 - Canvassing staff arrive at the office. Run a roleplay session on how to gather petition signatures.
• 2:30 - The Endangered Species Coalition spokesperson briefs the staff on the status of the Endangered Species Act reauthorization and the tactics of our opposition - the timber, mining, ranching and development industries.
• 3:00 - Make daily announcements to the staff about relevant political happenings, new facts and figures on endangered species, and upcoming social and campaign events. Congratulate exemplary staff; welcome newcomers.
• 3:15 - Drive to targeted local community with a group of canvassers, including a new staff person. Use the commuting time to brief the staff on local politics and local angles on the endangered species issue.
• 4:00 - 9:00 - Having arrived at your assigned neighborhood, begin training the new person. Canvass door-to-door, demonstrating techniques. Let the trainee canvass a few houses. Give specific, manageable feedback.
• 9:00 - Pick up the rest of your crew. Drive back to the office.
• 9:30 - Oversee a quick round of paperwork on the day's performance. Debrief with field managers, trainees and new staff. 10:00 - Go out for dinner with the field managers.

Training and Placement:

Staff are required to participate in an intensive 4-week paid training program beginning in July. This initial training includes sections on campaign strategy, basic history of environmental campaigns in the U.S., and hands-on skills development in staff management, canvassing, media, public speaking and grassroots organizing. At the end of this period, trainers will evaluate all staff and assign each trainee to a Director or Assistant Director position and location, based on skill level and experience. Assistant Directors may request to be reevaluated for possible Director placement later in the year. All staff participate in additional regional trainings and staff meetings throughout the year.

Return to main E.S. page

Send message to Swarthmore College Environmental Studies

last updated 2/26/99