Organizing

New to the movement? This primer breaks down what community organizing actually is, how it differs from activism, and why building power through relationships is the most effective long-term strategy for change.

• The difference between organizing, advocacy, and activism
• How power is built through one-on-one relationships
• The organizing cycle: listen, plan, act, evaluate
• Why showing up consistently matters more than going viral
• How to find your role in a larger movement

The full Resist & Revolt organizing manual. A comprehensive reference covering movement theory, field tactics, coalition building, and how to sustain a chapter over the long haul.

• Movement theory and the roots of community power
• Building and sustaining a local chapter
• Coalition building across issues and communities
• Field tactics from door-knocking to direct action
• Long-term strategy and campaign planning

New to organizing? This handbook is your starting point. It covers the basics of showing up, what to expect at your first action or phone bank, how to work with your team, and how to grow from a first-time volunteer into a community leader.

• What to expect at your first organizing event
• How to work with a team and follow your organizer's lead
• Phone banking, text banking, and digital outreach basics
• How to move from volunteer to leader in your chapter
• Taking care of yourself while doing hard work

Growing your team is the foundation of any successful campaign. This guide covers how to identify, approach, and bring in new organizers who are ready to show up and do the work.

• How to identify potential organizers in your community
• Starting the conversation without a hard sell
• What to say when someone asks what you do
• Following up and keeping new recruits engaged
• Turning a one-time volunteer into a committed comrade

Your existing network is your first organizing resource. This worksheet helps you map the people already in your life — friends, family, coworkers, neighbors — and identify who might be ready to get involved.

• Mapping your existing relationships by sector
• Identifying allies, potential recruits, and connectors
• How to have the first organizing conversation with someone you know
• Prioritizing outreach based on capacity and interest
• Using your network to expand beyond your immediate circle

The most powerful organizing tool you have is your own story. This guide walks you through how to craft a personal narrative that connects your lived experience to a shared call to action — and moves people from sympathy to solidarity.

• The three-part story structure used by organizers worldwide
• How to identify the moment that changed you
• Connecting your story to the values of your audience
• Practicing out loud: tips for delivery and presence
• When and how to use your story in different contexts

A fill-in worksheet to help you build your story step by step. Work through it alone, with a partner, or in a group training. By the end you'll have a draft narrative ready to use at your next action, meeting, or door.

• Guided prompts for each part of your story
• Space to draft, revise, and refine
• Reflection questions to deepen your narrative
• Tips for sharing with a partner for feedback

Everything you need to knock doors with confidence. This guide covers how to approach a conversation, handle objections, stay safe in the field, and leave every door feeling like a win — even when no one answers.

• Opening scripts that don't sound like scripts
• How to handle hostile or skeptical voters
• Tracking your turf and reporting back to your team
• Safety tips for solo and team canvassing
• How to close a conversation and leave a strong impression

Phone banking is one of the highest-impact tools in a field organizer's kit. This guide covers everything from your opening line to how to handle a hang-up — and how to keep your energy up through a long shift.

• Setting up your workspace for a productive shift
• Opening scripts that get people to stay on the line
• How to handle common objections and hostile responses
• Logging results accurately in your dialer or VAN
• Staying motivated and supporting your fellow callers

A facilitator guide for running phone banks focused on recruiting new volunteers and organizers. Covers how to train callers, set goals, and convert a phone conversation into a committed new team member.

• How recruitment phone banking differs from voter contact
• Training callers on the recruitment ask
• Setting shift goals and tracking conversion rates
• Scripts for inviting people to their first event
• Following up after the call to lock in attendance

A practical guide to planning and executing community events that actually turn people out. From logistics to follow-up, this resource walks you through every stage of a successful organizing event.

• Setting a clear goal and target audience for your event
• Promotion strategies that reach beyond your base
• Day-of logistics: setup, flow, and troubleshooting
• How to capture contact info and follow up with attendees
• Evaluating what worked and what to improve next time

Start with your goal and work backward. This planning framework helps organizers map every task, deadline, and responsibility from event day back to today — so nothing falls through the cracks.

• How to define a measurable event goal
• Building a reverse timeline from event day
• Assigning roles and accountability to your team
• Identifying dependencies and potential bottlenecks
• Using the template for recurring events and campaigns

A clean, printable sign-in sheet for capturing volunteer and attendee contact information at events, phone banks, canvasses, and community meetings. Build your list every time you show up.

• Fields for name, phone, email, and zip code
• Space for notes and follow-up flags
• Print-ready format — works at any size event
• Use alongside your CRM or spreadsheet for data entry

Everything you need to run a clean, effective voter registration drive. From approaching potential registrants to handling paperwork correctly, this guide keeps your program compliant and your data solid.

• Who is eligible and how to explain the process clearly
• How to approach people without being pushy
• Filling out forms correctly to avoid rejections
• Deadlines, submission requirements, and follow-up
• Keeping your registration data organized and secure

A plain-language overview of the legal framework around voter registration drives. Know your rights and responsibilities as a registration organizer so your program stays above board.

• Federal and state laws governing voter registration
• What organizers can and cannot do under the law
• Handling incomplete or rejected applications
• Record-keeping requirements for your organization
• Where to get legal support if issues arise

A strategic brainstorm tool for identifying the best locations to set up voter registration tables in your community. Think beyond the obvious and find the spots where your neighbors actually are.

• High-traffic community locations by neighborhood type
• Events and gatherings that draw unregistered voters
• How to get permission to table at a location
• Pairing registration with services people already use
• Tracking which locations produce the most registrations

A facilitator guide to training volunteers on the Voter Activation Network (VAN). Covers the basics of navigating the system, logging contacts, and using data to run smarter field programs.

• Logging into VAN and navigating the dashboard
• Finding and updating voter contact records
• Marking results after canvassing or phone banking
• Running lists and pulling turf for your team
• Best practices for data hygiene and accuracy

A quick-reference guide for finding voters fast in VAN. Perfect for phone banks, canvasses, and event check-ins where you need to pull up a record and log a result in seconds.

• How to search by name, address, or phone number
• Reading a voter contact history at a glance
• Logging a quick result without navigating the full record
• Troubleshooting common search issues
• When to escalate a data problem to your data manager

Everything a precinct captain needs to know to organize their neighborhood. This resource covers your role, your responsibilities, and how to build lasting relationships with voters in your turf.

• What a precinct captain does and why it matters
• How to map and prioritize your precinct
• Building a neighbor-to-neighbor contact program
• Coordinating with your broader organizing team
• Tracking progress and reporting results