How to set up War Rooms A, B, C & D
These war rooms can be set up on a daily, weekly, monthly, or longer basis. Potential venues include hotel suites and conference rooms, coworking spaces, more traditional offices, and coffee shops.
War Room A: Early Money HQ
The goal of War Room A is to help new PACs raise $50,000 fast.
Step #1:
Secure a War Room venue with two blank walls that giant sticky notes and painter's tape can stick to.
Step #2:
Purchase the following items:
Two rolls of painter's tape
250 sheets of 110 lb. white cardstock paper
Three pairs of scissors
Four packs of 10 Broad Line Crayola markers
Two pads of giant (25"x30") sticky notes
Step #3:
On Wall 1, create eight giant sticky notes:
Rule #1:
Only accept donations of $1, $500, $1k, $2.5k, $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $250k, and $500k.
Rule #2:
Ask for pledges first. Don’t collect pledged money until a project reaches $50,000 pledged.
Rule #3:
The maximum donation amount via credit card is $1.
Rule #4:
The maximum a single project can raise is $50 million.
Rule #5:
All projects must make creating $50/hour jobs in swing states their #1 spending priority.
Rule #6:
All projects must appeal to swing-state swing voters (and even Republicans) without turning off Democrats.
Rule #7:
No lying allowed.
Today’s Goal:
[Draw a thermometer with a goal of at least $1,000 per participant, ideally more]
Step #4:
On Wall 2, divide the wall into five sections using painter’s tape:
$0 pledged
$1+ pledged
$500+ pledged
$5,000+ pledged
$50,000+ pledged
Note: At $50,000+, a project “graduates” from War Room A and qualifies for a 30-Day Fundraising Retreat, where the goal is to raise $500,000 in 30 days. Recruitment for 30-Day Fundraising Retreats happens in War Room B.
Step #5:
Create icons for the projects you are raising money for and tape them to Wall 2.
Alternative setup: If the above setup is not feasible, War Room A may instead use the same content written on 8.5x11 paper or even notecards, which may or may not be attached to walls. Review the materials at the start of the day and again as necessary.
War Room B: Recruitment HQ
The goal of War Room B is to assemble teams for 30-Day Fundraising Retreats.
Step #1:
Secure a War Room venue with two blank walls that giant sticky notes and painter's tape can stick to.
Step #2:
Purchase the following items:
Two rolls of painter's tape
250 sheets of 110 lb. white cardstock paper
Three pairs of scissors
Four packs of 10 Broad Line Crayola markers
Two pads of giant (25"x30") sticky notes
Step #3:
On Wall 1, create one giant sticky note for each project you are assembling a 30-Day Fundraising Retreat for, with the project name at the top and the following down the left side of the sticky note:
Chair:
Fundraiser:
Press secretary:
Creative fellows:
Fundraising fellows:
Start and end dates:
Travel plan:
Step #4:
On Wall 2, create five giant sticky notes with the following written at the top:
Chair prospects:
Fundraiser prospects:
Press secretary prospects:
Creative fellow prospects:
Fundraising fellow prospects:
Feel free to use additional sticky notes for each category of recruit.
Alternative setup: If the above setup is not feasible, War Room B may instead use the same content written on 8.5x11 paper or even notecards, which may or may not be attached to walls. Review the materials at the start of the day and again as necessary.
War Room C: Creative Lounge
The goal of War Room C is to support the efforts of War Rooms A and B by creating digital content that makes politics fun.
Step #1:
Find a coffee shop or similar venue within walking distance of War Rooms A and B.
Step #2:
Use the coffee shop as a temporary venue, or work from inside War Room A or B.
Step #3:
Create an actual creative lounge later.
War Room D: Press Lounge
The goal of War Room D is to convince journalists to crack a smile.
Step #1:
Find a coffee shop or similar venue within walking distance of War Rooms A and B.
Step #2:
Meet journalists there, buy them a coffee, and then show them War Rooms A and B.
Step #3:
Create an actual press lounge later.