Alesa Mackool’s Post

Here's a reminder you might not want to hear. Giving Tuesday is December 3, less than one month after Election Day. 😅 We still have space for one more email and/or mobile messaging client! If you want to lock in fundraising support or surge capacity for after the election, send me a message ASAP. I'm excited to bring the lessons learned from this political cycle to leaders whose movement-building work has to continue year-round.

There's been more reporting about scammy political entities sending deceptive and annoying fundraising texts. If you're a registered voter with a phone, you know how bad it is. The Harris-Walz campaign has repeatedly warned supporters to not accidentally donate to scam PACs. I'm grateful to their high-profile campaign for shining a light on this pervasive problem. I'm not too worried about the presidential campaign, however. The folks I'm worried about are perpetually underfunded grassroots organizations for whom Election Day is an important day, but it's not the end of anything. Texting is an inexpensive and historically effective tool for building grassroots power. Making getting a text so terrible that the channel is wholly burned is a short-sighted and potentially devastating move. I beg of you—if you're going to send texts, remember that your work doesn't exist in a vacuum. Make sure your actions today won't crush the teams that keep organizing infrastructure alive in the so-called off years.

Someone needs to ask the hard-hitting questions. Who has the best GOTV 2024 playlist? Please share links! 🎧

Does election season have you feeling motivated to make a change? Here are some ✨values-aligned✨ job opportunities where you can use your powers for good. Please like, comment, and share if your network should see these! I post values-aligned jobs every week, so be sure to follow my profile so you don't miss an update. ⭐ Senior Digital Organizing Specialist at ACLU | $128,778/year | Hybrid in D.C. or New York City | https://lnkd.in/eSprZwaF ⭐ Grocery and Retail Worker Organizer at Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy | $68,000/year | Los Angeles | https://lnkd.in/eHBY-9sd ⭐ People & Culture Program Manager at Pivotal Ventures | $154,700 - $162,200 | Seattle | https://lnkd.in/e44j548u ⭐ Executive Assistant - Communications at United Domestic Workers of America, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 | $75,000 - $96,737/year | San Diego | https://lnkd.in/ejpT8uRr If you're also hiring, please drop a link + the salary in the comments. ⬇️ —------------------------------------------- 👋🏼 I’m Alesa, and I help organizational leaders build movements by turning supporters into ✨activists✨ for their cause. Here's the quiet part out loud: I share these job posts because it's one way I can serve my community of visionaries, communicators, and fundraising and development professionals right now. And yes, I'd love to collaborate and GROW with you if you land at one of these orgs! If you need your organization — and your movement — to withstand changes in politics and algorithms, I can help. Here's the link to book a free, no-risk strategy call with me: https://lnkd.in/g4VGMZMU

Don't make the mistake of assuming something is effective just because it's popular. ❌ Stop chasing trends and copying bad tactics. ❌ 🟢 Start LEADING in a customized and authoritative way that fits YOUR voice and YOUR mission. 🟢 That's the secret to building a sustainable movement that can withstand changes in politics and algorithms. 💃

The #1 thing you need to be doing TODAY if you need your movement to keep growing after Election Day: ✨Get your people onto a list you own.✨   When you have a supporter’s email address or phone number and their permission, you can reach them directly, on your terms, whenever you want. This doesn’t mean you should spam people—your message and approach still need to be good to work.   Growing your owned email and mobile lists is one of the best ways to ensure your organizing efforts can withstand changes in algorithms and politics.

Voter registration deadlines are coming up! Can I make a recommendation? In places where online voter registration is available, ❌ Don't say: "The deadline to register to vote online is X." ❌ 👍 Say: "The deadline to register online to vote is X." 👍 I can't tell you how many messages I've seen clients receive on Election Day saying, "Can I vote online?" 😓 When every vote matters, clarity matters.

I heard this is helpful, so here's a fresh list of ✨values-aligned✨ job opportunities on my radar this week. A few of these have FAST timelines, so if you're looking to make a move, read on. Please like, comment, and share if your network should see these. I post values-aligned jobs every week, so be sure to follow my profile so you don't miss an update! ⭐ Communications Associate at Obama Foundation | $59,755 - $74,670/year | Hybrid in Chicago | https://lnkd.in/epWts-WS ⭐ Policy Director at REPRO Rising Virginia | $75,000 - $90,000/year | Hybrid in Richmond, VA | https://lnkd.in/equr65Jd (via Amy Pritchard) Interviews starting next week❗ ---> ⭐ Associate Director - Individual Giving at 350.org | Remote | $105,000/year | https://lnkd.in/eSSwTU6i (via Namrata Chowdhary) Application deadline is Oct. 8❗ ---> ⭐ Grantmaking Coordinator at Marguerite Casey Foundation | $90,000 - $108,000/year | Remote | https://lnkd.in/eRx-BdyU If you're also hiring, please drop a link + the salary in the comments. ⬇️ —------------------------------------------- 👋🏼 I’m Alesa, and I help organizational leaders build movements by turning supporters into ✨activists✨ for their cause. Here's the quiet part out loud: I share these job posts because it's one way I can serve my community of visionaries, communicators, and fundraising and development professionals right now. And yes, I'd love to collaborate and GROW with you if you land at one of these orgs! If you need your organization — and your movement — to withstand changes in politics and algorithms, I can help. Here's the link to book a free, no-risk strategy call with me: https://lnkd.in/g4VGMZMU

"This link automatically activates 30X IMPACT!!!"  "80X IMPACT ON YOUR DONATION." I want to be clear: Just because you're seeing something constantly doesn't mean it works. There's a disturbing amount of inertia in fundraising, especially in the political space. What some people are afraid to admit is that there are better ways to raise money. But they're harder—you don't get to use generic, boilerplate copy or the "spray and pray" approach of sending panicky pleas to people who have never heard of you. ➡️➡️ I know this because my team and I have raised millions of dollars for clients without sending misleading messages or alienating would-be supporters. Instead, we've leveraged our clients' unique stories and voices to build lasting support for their cause. We treat money as a tool, not a goal. Our approach requires transparency, creativity, and a commitment to a long-term, big-picture, world-bettering goal. It takes time and investment. It's not for everybody, but if you're trying to build a sustainable culture of giving that can withstand changes in algorithms and politics, there's no better way.

I added a disclaimer to my email footer: "My work day may look different than your work day. Please do not feel obligated to respond outside of your normal work hours." I've been working atypical hours for years. Most of the time, I schedule emails and Slack messages to reach my collaborators between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Is this still best practice in the age of "flexible schedules"? Many organizations I work with are sprinting on election-related programming, so they want deliverables whenever they're ready. I'm curious how you're all engaging with after-hours work these days (especially if you've been someone who works early or late, but not by choice!).