Objective: Get as many people as possible to email targeted leaders in support of a bill or program.
Tactic: Email groups asking them to forward the info to their members.
Steps
1a. (US team) We are always in need of people contacting Congress in support of the International Affairs Budget. The link for contacting Congress is located here.
- The International Affairs Budget
1b. (UK team) – In support of the Official Development Assistance (ODA). For more information on the ODA, please take a look here
2. Draft an email template (examples below).
3. Research and start contacting groups, churches, professors, frats/sororities and just about anyone who can forward your email to a group of people. Don’t email multiple people at once. Only email one person at a time to make sure the email is personalized (Mr. Jones instead of To whom it may concern). Check your sent folder to make sure the email doesn’t have formatting issues occurring (different sized text).
(US Team) Email Template: International Affairs Budget
Mr. Thomas,
I’m writing on behalf of The Borgen Project, a nonprofit that is working to bring political attention to severe poverty. I’m hoping you can forward this to members of Scranton Habitat for Humanity. We’re trying to build support for programs that impact the world’s poor. The details are below and I appreciate your consideration.
The need: 45 emails in support of the International Affairs Budget sent to each Congressional leader in Louisiana.
Why this matters: Political offices tally how many calls, letters and emails they receive in support of each bill or program. Leaders and their staff use this info to determine how the leader should vote.
2 quick and easy ways to help: We need you… and we’ve made it incredibly simple for you to have an impact today.
- Visit this link and enter your address. Our system will automatically send the email to the Congressional leaders representing you. This only takes 30-seconds to do and has a huge impact.
- Mobilize friends and family to do likewise. Forward this email to anyone you think who you think cares enough to take action.
That’s all there is to it! If you’re looking to get involved with The Borgen Project, information on national volunteer opportunities (writers and political team) is listed here and internships are listed here.
Thank you!
Sally Smith
(UK Team) Email Template: Official Development Assistance
Write to your university societies, local community centre and/or Church:
Dear [Society name, Community Centre, Church name],
As a Borgen Project Ambassador, I am writing to you regarding global poverty and what each one of us can do to fight it!
We are a non-profit that is working to bring political attention to severe poverty. I’m hoping you can forward this to members of your society. We are building support for programmes that impact the world’s poor. The details are below, and I appreciate your consideration.
The Issue: As part of the newly formed UK Chapter of the organisation, our primary focus is the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) foreign aid. The four objectives of this are to strengthen global peace, security and governance, resilience and response to crises, promote global prosperity, and tackle extreme poverty and help the world’s most vulnerable.
What we can do about it: Contact your MP to support the UK’s spending on ODA back to 0.7%.
Why this matters: Political offices tally how many letters and emails they receive in support of each matter. Leaders and their staff use this information to determine how the leader should vote.
2 quick and easy ways to help: We need you… and we’ve made it incredibly simple for you to have an impact today.
- Click this link and enter your postcode to discover who your MP is. Write an email or letter in support of the ODA. You can find useful templates here.
- Mobilise friends and family to do the same. Forward this information to anyone you think will act and support the cause.
That’s all there is to it! If you’re looking to get involved with The Borgen Project, information on our programmes can be found here.
Remember: We All Do Better When We All Do Better!
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
