PGI's Fives & Tens
Top Ten: Mistakes made at political fundraisers
In Canada, money doesn’t drive public policy, relationships do. But money is still important to politicians. If you are appropriately involved in your community, you will be asked to attend fundraising events. Even if it’s just a $50 ticket to a banquet – too many people waste the opportunity.
So here’s PGI’s list of the top ten mistakes people make:
- Believing this is a social occasion. You aren’t really taking your spouse out for banquet food, are you? All political fundraisers attract the public policy and business community. It’s a power ‘schmooze event’. Use it as such.
- Assuming people will notice you are there. You need to work the room, shake hands and generally make your presence felt.
- Not thanking the host. It’s your reputation; to create future influence the recipient of your hard earned $50 needs to know how you spent it.
- Hanging out with your friends. The point of a community fundraiser is to meet new people and make new contacts. Get out of that golf cart, talk to the foursome on the next tee, and don’t sit together with your foursome afterwards if you can help it.
- Not making use of your dinner table. If you are asked to “buy a table”, say “yes” if you can fill it with prospects and customers, not with your curling buddies. Say ‘no” if you are prospecting yourself and just buy a single seat.
- Not seeking out politicians. Political fundraisers attract other politicians. Find them. Make sure you make the connection.
- Criticism. So the greens weren’t perfect, the prizes weren’t great and the speaker wasn’t top notch. Save the criticism for later. Negativity spreads quickly through a room. Treat a fundraiser like dinner at your mother in law’s.
- Expecting a commitment. You have priorities and issues, or you wouldn’t be there (unless you really do like chicken). Fundraisers are not the time to do hard business. The best you should ask for from a politician on such an occasion is a time to talk later. Contact the office the next day and describe the commitment.
- Not being prepared with an ‘elevator speech’. You will have about 30 seconds to tell someone who you are and what’s important to you. It will be noisy in the room. Make the 30 seconds count and raise your issue. Politicians know you are there to talk to them.
- And the number one mistake made at a political fund-raiser . . . Forgetting your business cards. No further explanation is necessary.
Top Ten: Things to think about before you write a Political Cheque
- Campaigns run on money; of that there is no doubt. But too often stakeholders have expectations differing from what they believe monetary support to a politician or a party can deliver. Here are the top ten things for stakeholders to consider.
- Campaign donations to official parties and official candidates are tax deductible. Contributions to those seeking nominations for a political office (including leadership candidates) are not.
- Canadian politics is different!! Unlike the Hollywood version people may have seen, our system is set up to ensure money does not buy favour. Campaign contribution limits are small and insignificant when compared to the cost of a campaign.
- Supporting a particular party ensures you get the “kind” of government that may be amenable to your priorities, but does not ensure your priorities will be met.
- Most often, larger campaign donations are public. Alberta election rules say anything over $375 will be made public, and there are strict rules on how much a person or corporation can give, in total, to any political party or their candidates in a given year.
- Stakeholders need to consider what they want from their political donation. Attending fund-raising dinners/golf tournaments/events helps you with your profile with a local candidate or elected official, and in a related vein,
- Politicians don’t look at their donation cheques, and particularly do not pay attention to donations at the “party” level.
- A wise politician makes “no deals” with donors.
- Many donations are not allowed. For example, organizations funded in whole by the provincial government may not donate to political campaigns (e.g. municipalities, certain service providers). Some parties will not accept donations from corporate interests (e.g. New Democratic Party). Donations should be targeted to meet your organizations needs over time. Splitting donations amongst political parties, for example, may be desirable.
- And the number one thing to think about before you write a political cheque is.... Call PGI for advice. www.elections.ab.ca is also a great resource and includes detail on the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act.
Top Five Reasons to Become a Political Volunteer
Our clients and friends will often hear us recommend that they get involved in the political process. For sure people should vote – you can’t complain if you don’t make a choice. But there are lots of other opportunities these days to become involved. Here are our top five reasons for doing so:
- Expand your network of contacts in new directions.
- You know one of the candidates and it can’t hurt to have “friends in high places”, no matter the political philosophy.
- You have a position on an important policy that you either support or oppose and getting involved will definitely help to solidify things, or change things.
- Politics isn’t about small policies, issues or problems – it comes down to the type of government you believe in. A strong philosophical leaning should be enough to get you involved and make a real difference.
- And from our perspective as lobbyists, the number one reason for getting involved is to position yourself or your organization to become a public policy voice after an election or a leadership race. Politicians say they listen to the “grass-roots”. Here at PGI, we know they actually listen to the “grass-tops”, the people in their communities who help them do their jobs. One of the easiest says of having your organization viewed as a grass-tops organization is to get involved in the political process.