�Country Committee�Fundraising

Democrats Abroad �2026

Democrats Abroad 2026 Fundraising Framework

The Democrats Abroad 2026 fundraising strategy is �impact driven and donor focused. ��We reach out to potential donors with campaigns that give donors clear opportunities for maximizing their help to DA in areas where they care the most.

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Agenda for Training

• Prepare Your Budget
• Create Your Campaigns
• Outreach Tips
• Emails
• Calls
• Events
• Swag sales
• Finance Overview

Budget

Prepare Your Budget

• Identify needs
• Review existing assets
• Consider donations in kind
• Determine what you still need and…

Set your fundraising goal

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Example Budget�for a CC

Link to budget template

Campaign Creation

Consider Our Donors

1. What motivates, or demotivates your donors? Who do they trust?
2. What impact do different donors want to make?
3. What messaging will persuade different donors?
4. What channels will best reach different donors?
5. What “gives” can we provide through these channels?
6. What “asks”?
7. Who do we want to start with? (Biggest bang, current opp, etc)

Packages are great “gives”!

What Motivates or Demotivates our Donors - �Who Do They Trust?

Donor Impact Mapping

Democratic donors abroad largely have three areas of impact they're interested in influencing: �GOTV, Issues and Candidates.���Understanding your donors, their impact interests, and how your campaign will map against those interests is the first step in building your fundraising campaign.

We’ve added subgroups below each of these three areas, add your ideas too!

Donor Impact Messaging

Next consider key messaging that appeals to donors interested in specific impacts.��Here are some examples developed for these three interest groups. As we build our campaigns we'd love to hear more examples.

Donor Messaging Channels

Messaging channels vary depending upon the donor demographic. Here are some samples at the global level. ��Consider reaching out to communications experts in your country to find out what is working best in country for outreach this year.

Donor Gives & Asks

Gives

Asks

Give ENERGY & HOPE!

Remember the fundraising motto: �Give, Give, Ask.

What are you giving your donors today?

What else, besides donations, can you ask from your donors? ��Sometimes an “ask” can be considered a “give” for a donor, for example being asked for advice.

Consider Your �Timing & Prioritize

Where are we in the calendar?

What is the cost benefit?

1. Do we have material already created?
2. How big is the donor pool?
3. How much might we raise?
4. Are there other benefits that are not quantified?

Your raise should aim to be at least double your spend

Brainstorm Template

Give Trump the Boot!�Donor pool�DA Italy members, FB ad responders�DA Italy channel to donors�Email, fb ads - Simon Rosenberg is speaking�Messaging Give Trump the Boot!�$ for Phone banking campaign�$ for Student outreach�$ for Ads (digital and print?)�Gives�Energy, humor, hope, empowerment, access to Rosenberg�Asks �Host committee; $15, $24 �Timing ASAP for Italy AGM

Global example

Country committee example

Brainstorm Sheet

Metro Ads in Vienna�Donor pool�Sustaining donors, bigger donors�Goal $5000 for ads�Timing January 2026 for funds collected�DA (country) channel and materials for donors�+ Phone calling and email �+ One pager or post�Messaging�+ Let’s make ourselves seen! Reach the Americans we’ve not yet met�Asks �+ Different tiered packages �+ Consider adding hosts�Gives�+ Event - walk through vineyards

Campaign Title�Donor pool�Add your details�Goal Add your goals�Timing Add timing �DA CC channel to donors�Add your channel�Messaging�Add your messaging�Asks �Add your asks�Gives�Add your gives

Brainstorm Sheet

October 18 - No Tyrants Day / No Kings Day�Donors: New (and old) members hearing about the protests�Goal Introduce members to donating to DA, Raise to cover protest cost : $500�Timing Now through Oct 18�DA (country) channel and materials for donors�+ Email / Social�+ Pledges during event�+ Press�Messaging�+ Freedom is not free, Hands off our Votes and Voices - help us fight back �Asks �+ $5 �Gives�+ Hope and energy + Dinner with chair after protest

Campaign Title�Donor pool�Add your details�Goal Add your goals�Timing Add timing �DA CC channel to donors�Add your channel�Messaging�Add your messaging�Asks �Add your asks�Gives�Add your gives

Thank Your Donors

Make thanks personal �Email, notecard, calls (for large amounts)

Make thanks public �Events/emails: Publicly acknowledge donors at events or in emails (with permission) �Social channels: Thank, carefully, on social channels (with permission)� Example: Thank you @Susan Smith for hosting [event] & supporting our outreach this year!

Be a good steward �Once they’ve successfully donated, people are much more likely to donate again. Consider ways to steward your donors following your initial recognition/thanks and continue developing your relationship.

Track Your Impact

• How many people received your messaging
• How many people clicked / saw / heard it
• How many responded
• How much did you raise
• Where were donors located, their age, amount etc

Joint Fundraising with Global

DA Global is ready to work with your committee to create a joint fundraiser!�We can help you:

• Facilitate brainstorming
• Develop a project plan and budget
• Create messaging and images
• Work on outreach
• Organize speakers
• Organize the event

Outreach Tips

Fundraising Email Content

• Make sure your email covers
• "Why should I care? How will my donation help? What’s my next step?"
• Make the ask in the first few paragraphs of the email body - people don’t read full email
• Subheads with active verbs and vivid nouns help engage readers and navigate them through email
• Make one call to action; make it urgent
• Multiple calls to action distract readers
• Link the donation amounts to specific outcomes/results - check your budget for ideas
• Ex1: $25 covers 25 calls, etc
• Ex2: $100 buys 1 month of ads in local English language online media
• Ex3: $300 buys a month of an ad at the busiest intersection in X city
• Suggest sustaining donor opportunity
• Close with a strong and affirming statement that emphasizes the impact their donation will make

Make call to action urgent and easy to do

Fundraising Email Formatting Tips

• Individualize your emails by placing your name in the "from"
• Subject lines matter
• Keep short - up to 20 characters
• Add sense of urgency; Avoid "Help", "Reminder"
• Starting a paragraph with a "Donate today" link generates more clicks than putting the donation link in the middle of a text block.
• Email length
• Keep short - 4 to 5 short paragraphs.
• Catch mistakes
• Review on both computer and mobile
• Review preview snippet before it goes out (subject and preview are THE most important text in the email)

Fundraising Email Sample #1

Subj: Protect overseas votes against Trump's threats - donate today!

Dear [Friend],

Donald Trump just rage posted about our hard work getting out the vote abroad. He falsely claims that the millions of Americans living abroad are cheating when we vote. We know he is once again spreading lies and misinformation. We also know it’s imperative we win this November.

Donate now to get out the vote abroad, and protect your right to vote.

Thank you for your support. With your help we’re reaching out to Americans who have never voted before, helping make sure they are enfranchised and can send their votes back to the U.S. in time to be counted.��And remember, federal law protects our right to vote. For now. Help make sure we keep our rights, and our democracy!��Sincerely yours,

Martha McDevitt-Pugh�International Chair�Democrats Abroad

“Rage posted” adds humor / spirit

Clear, easy to find donation link with call to action

Sense of urgency throughout SHORT email

Clear subject line, establishes audience, and ask

Specifically from our Chair, not from an anonymous group

Raised ~$10,000 in Sept 2024

Fundraising Email Sample #2

Raised ~$6000 in Aug 2025

Subj: Texas Hold 'Em: Let's Help the TX Legislators Hold the Line

Hi [Friend],

Texas Democrats have left the state to stop Trump’s allies from rigging the Congressional map. This is a bold, high-stakes move to protect voting rights and block Republican control of the House. We're proud of their strong action, and we're proud to be supporting them!

If you're proud too, and are able to help support their strong stand, please join us and donate today!

Your donation will be split between Texas and Democrats Abroad’s legal efforts. It will power legal pushback and on-the-ground action, helping Texas legislators hold the line by helping cover their fines and other costs, and helping Democrats Abroad fight back with our own legal efforts to protect the abroad vote.

Texas is the first state to have its districts attacked, but it won’t be the last if we fold. Let’s make sure this fight ends where it started, and keep the Democrats standing strong with our support.

In solidarity,��Martha McDevitt-Pugh�International Chair, Democrats Abroad

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High energy

Clear, easy to find donation link with call to action

Explains what money will be used for

Word play, also very timely subject

Reminder of what is at stake

Calls to Raise

• Phone banking calls
• Raise funds while raising GOTV awareness - include a pitch in your GOTV script
• Personal calls to past donors
• Thank for past support
• Make the case for current request
• Talk through what you are raising for (GOTV costs, outreach beyond membership, importance of making sure Americans in your cc know they can participate)
• Use your fundraising campaign material to help you shape your ask
• Listen and be flexible
• Listen to their ideas and to their critiques
• If they hesitate about donating, suggest other ways to support and thank them for it
• Thank them for their time, follow up with your one pager or other details

Practice your pitch

Local Events (Online and In Person)

Online

• Taxation events that cover local and U.S. taxation
• The Taxation Task Force can help, get in touch!
• Estate planning events that cover local and U.S. issues
• Advertise beyond membership (we’ll provide sample assets)
• Special speakers

In Person

• 4th of July
• 50 State Dinner (potluck, everyone brings food, everyone raises)
• Comedy Night/Lounge singing/Theater
• Special speakers

Event Fundraising Tips

• Event donations are much more likely BEFORE an event than after
• Consider tiers of donations
• Reduced price tier (students/retirees/unwaged etc), mid and higher
• Consider named host committees
• Contact potential hosts about opportunity
• Recognize hosts (with permission)
• Match potential hosts by interests to event
• Mobilize the energy of in-person events
• Raise through raffles (where permitted, check your country’s laws)
• Raise by passing a hat (in lieu of cash, scrips/pledges with name and amount)
• Don’t forget to make your pitch during the event!

Sample project plan, budget, and volunteer roles (covers evening and weekend events)

Make the Pitch!!

In a phone bank call: We really appreciate your time today and your interest in voting. We are passionate about voting too! Democrats Abroad is an all volunteer organization, and pays for these calls out of our own pockets. If you'd be interested in supporting our calling, consider going to democratsabroad.org/donate to donate today!

In person: It’s been amazing to meet you today, and I’m thrilled you’re interested in what we do. We are passionate about it too! Democrats Abroad is an all volunteer organization, but our outreach is not free. If you'd be interested in supporting our [insert campaign or outreach effort], consider going to democratsabroad.org/donateyourcc to donate today!

Build a One Pager with Impact

One pagers can be amazing ways to help you promote a fundraising campaign. We suggest including:

• Campaign title
• Summary
• Goals
• Impact (local and in the U.S.)
• Details interesting specs about the outreach
• Contact info (include the top channel(s) for your committee)
• How to donate - include a QR code for easy access!

Link to one pager template

Swag (and other) Sales

Every event can include a swag or bake sale of some sort

• Great for volunteer engagement
• Homemade Dems swag can be super popular
• Homemade brownies/cookies are favorites worldwide
• Old swag becomes “vintage” after a few cycles
• Payment
• Print QR codes to your donation page
• Scrips/pledges can also be an option
• Cash under $100 is an option (see this slide)

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Keeping Track of Your Donations

To help keep track of your donations, the Treasury and IT teams have created finance reports that are available for Chairs, Treasurers, and their designees. ��Link to more info: https://democratsabroad.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/Finance/overview

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Finances

Purchases

• Purchases must be paid for either by:
• In-kind donations (donated or to be reimbursed)
• Global payment directly to vendor
• Big purchases cannot be paid for by:
• Petty cash fund
• Local bank accounts��

When making a purchase - save the receipt

DA Finance information

Your go to link for:

• In-Kind Donation Reporting
• Direct Vendor Payment requests
• Reimbursements

In-Kind Donations Defined

• In-kind donation definition: Purchases by an eligible contributor for a country committee
• Goods, services, or venue usage
• Payments of committee bills
• May be donated to the CC
• Keep track of your expense origins (where you bought it)
• May be donated and then reimbursed via the CC global account
• Keep your receipt for the reimbursement
• Almost all must be reported
• Reporting EXCEPTION: food and beverages up to $2000/year

�Donors must be individual U.S. citizens or Green card holders

In-Kind Donations Reporting

What you don’t need to report

• Volunteer donated food and drink under $2000 a year per donor does not have to be reported
• Volunteer lent items such as pens, laptops, printers are considered de minimis expenses and are not reportable
• Volunteer expenses such as printing materials at home

What you must report

• In-kind donations such as FaceBook ads, print shop costs, etc must be reported

How often

• Monthly, it’s fine to gather info and receipts then report all at once

Direct Vendor Payments

Direct vendor payments may be made from the global account bank card

When to make the request

• When cost is too expensive for a volunteer to pay and be reimbursed for it
• For venue or other contracts (contracts must be signed by Int’l Chair)

Who may make the request

• Country committee chairs, treasurers, or their designees

How long will it take

• Vendor payments may take up to two weeks to fulfill
• BUT if it is an emergency, email treasurer@democratsabroad.org

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Reimbursements by Bank Transfer

All reimbursements must be approved by CC chair or CC treasurer before processing by global

Info requested includes

• Person to be reimbursed, their email, number, address
• Vendor name, address, amount
• Digital copy of receipt
• Currency requested
• Name on account
• Name of bank & other bank details*
• Purpose of funds (e.g. GPP ads)

*see comments below for requested bank details

Further Information

Cash and Democrats Abroad

May be accepted in case of sale of small items

• Prior to receipt, ensure cash donors are eligible to donate
• If any inkling of doubt, require ID to prove citizenship
• Cash contributions are limited to $100 per contributor
• Cash should only be used to fund small items (not related to GOTV) for expenses up to $100
• The International Excom have circulated more information on our petty cash policy, with details on limits, how to record and report cash donations, and how to maintain a petty cash fund

If in doubt or have questions, contact the International Treasurer at treasurer@democratsabroad.org

Volunteering as a Foreign National to Assist Party Committees

• Individuals, including foreign nationals, can volunteer personal services to party committees without making a contribution or reporting
• The volunteer "exemption" for foreign nationals applies when the individual is not compensated for their services

Examples

• Volunteer exemptions for foreign nationals include providing services such as:
• Creating trademarks, graphics, website design, or other intellectual property
• Providing an uncompensated performance as a volunteer

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Foreign National Volunteer

Prohibitions on Foreign Nationals

• Foreign nationals are prohibited from influencing election-related activities in the United States
• Foreign nationals may not contribute, donate, pay for expenditures, and make administration decisions for political committees
• Foreign nationals cannot be involved in the management (or leadership) of a political committee

Foreign nationals may also not have access to voter data or be involved in the tallying process

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https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/foreign-nationals/

Thank you!!!