This document provides instructions for raising $2,500 for a political campaign within 7 days through direct, in-person requests to friends, family, and local businesses with whom one has a relationship. It recommends making a list of such contacts and their estimated incomes to determine request amounts between $50-$500. The approach involves brief, casual requests explaining the campaign and asking for a donation, with suggestions for addressing concerns or objections to donating. Reciprocation of past or future business spending is also proposed as a request rationale. Scheduling fundraisings for brief periods each day over 7 days is recommended to reach the $2,500 goal quickly through a high-volume personal approach.

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Raising Money
“In politics, it’s no go without
Quickly
whether they should or shouldn’t business with someone else in your
dough.” —Evry’s Law give. This is just a preliminary list. field, but they are loyal to you.
a. Write down the names of They know you, trust you, like you
S
ome Libertarians succeed by your immediate blood relatives. and believe you. List their names.
re-inventing the wheel. Most One name per line, list your father h. Who do you spend money
Libertarians fail by re-
inventing the flat tire.
Here’s the simplest, easiest,
Raising and mother, your brothers and
sisters. What about grandmothers
and grandfathers? Aunts and uncles
with? Who do you do business
with? Who is your doctor? Your
dentist? Chiropractor? Car me-
fastest way to raise the first $2,500
for your next campaign in only
your first you stay in touch with?
b. If you’re married, write the
chanic? Who owns the used
bookstore you frequent?
seven days.
Why is the first $2,500 so
important? That $2,500 is your cam-
$2,500 in name of your spouse, mother-in-law,
father-in-law . . . and any of your
spouse’s immediate blood relatives.
Who owns the small boutique or
men’s store you patronize? Who is
your insurance agent? Who’s your
paign’s seed corn. Political start-up
capital. Yeast to make the bread rise.
The first seven days of a fitness
7 days c. Write down the names of
your personal friends.
d. List the people you socialize
veterinarian? Who styles your hair?
Who owns the dry cleaners that you
spend $500 a year at? Who’s your
program, the first seven days of a the money? 4. When do you ask for with. Who do you go to dinner real estate agent? Car salesperson?
diet, the first seven days of the money? 5. How do you ask for with? Have over for parties? Go Printer? Video rental store owner?
developing a new skill set the pace it? Exactly what do you say? camping with? Play bridge with? Health food store owner?
for all that follows. What other social activities do you
A strong beginning fans the
flames of faith. A weak start
breathes life into self-doubt.
Who Do You Ask For Money?
Before you read this section, get
some blank paper and a pen.
engage in? Who with?
e. What organizations (other
than the LP) are you involved in?
W ho else do you spend money
with? If they know you and
you know them, if you’ve done
“You don’t have to recover from First, we’ll make a preliminary Rotary Club? Lions? Chamber of repeat business with them,
a good start,” said John Wareham. list of the people you know who know Commerce? Church? Charity? A especially if you’ve sent them
Can it really be done in only you. If you’re well-known in your support group? Mensa? Society for business . . . list their names. (Your
seven days? Some candidates raised community, many people you don’t Creative Anachronism? Square checkbook, credit card billing,
the first $2,500 in seven hours. know may recognize you. Leave them Dancing? Ballroom Dancing? Rolodex, appointment calendar,
Others in a day. Many in 3 days. A off your list. If you stay up on what’s University boosters? Health Club? holiday card list and receipts are
few took the whole week. Nobody going on in your community, you What else? Who do you usually sit gold mines for this chunk.)
needed more than seven days. will recognize many people who don’t next to, talk with and spend time i. Who else do you personally
know you. Leave them off your list. with at the gatherings or meetings? know who personally knows you?
STEPS TO SUCCESS To qualify for your preliminary list, Write their names down. List their names.
You’ll be doing one-on-one the person must know you and you f. Write the names of the co- Congratulations! You’ve put
personal fund-raising for your must know the person. workers that you spend time at together your basic preliminary list.
campaign. The steps are elegant and work with. (Don’t list or ask people Other names may occur later. Write
simple and easy: 1. Who do you ask
for money? 2. How much do you
ask for? 3. Where do you ask for
D on’t consider whether they can
or can’t afford to give,
whether they will or won’t give,
who report to you at work. It
borders on harassment.)
them down as they occur. As the
Arabs say, “The palest ink is more
reliable than the strongest memory.”
g. If you’re a member of one of
the professions, own a business, are Second, list the phone numbers
Written by self-employed, or in sales, who are and addresses next to the names on
your regular, repeat, favorite your list.
Michael Cloud clients? They could be doing Third, put a check mark next to

2. the name of everyone on your list The second easiest thing to shut up. Even if the other person of credit card receipts, paid bills
that you’ve personally talked with ignore is a phone call. There are says nothing for a seeming eternity, and check stubs, then add up and
at least 30 minutes during the last answering machines, call interrupt let the silence hang heavy until the write down exactly how much you
12 months. This is your list of services, people in the home or other person fills it with words. spent with each person. Don’t
prospective donors. office interrupting or waiting for Rule of thumb: Whoever talks next round it off. Write the exact dollar
the person you’re trying to talk will be leaving money with the figure.
How Much Money with. Contacting anyone on your other person. In addition to your relationship
Do You Ask For? list by phone will be a last resort. 4. If the person says “Yes”, ask with each of these people, you will
These people are not motivated him to get the checkbook so that be employing the principle of
to give because of The Libertarian
Party, the Libertarian philosophy,
your unanswerable arguments for
T he hardest thing to lie to,
ignore, put off, let down, refuse
or get rid of is a living, breathing
the check “can be filled out as the
law requires.” Tell him, “Please
make the check payable to
reciprocity. Tit for tat. I support
you, now you support me.
your positions, the benefits of living
in a better society or even because
they despise the incumbent.
person looking you in the eyes.
One-on-one, in person is how you’ll
be asking for almost all of your
(appropriate campaign committee
name).” Get the check, thank the
person and leave.
U se the same format as above
through step 6. Change step
seven to incorporate reciprocation:
They are giving to you because contributions. 5. Usually the person will be “I see . . . But John in the last 12
of you and your personal relation- Also remember that you can’t concerned about the amount you months I spent $1,247 with you,
ship with them. Your family from immediately collect a check through asked for, the campaign or why and in the next 12 months I’ll
love, duty and family ties. Your the mail or over the phone. You you’re running for office. Get him probably spend another $1,247
friends and co-workers out of can in person. talking. with you. I’d like to know you
friendship, obligation and personal If you live within 60 miles of the 6. If they have objections to appreciate me and my business . . .
ties. So, too, with the people you person on your list, go to his office helping or helping now, say, and the best way for me to know
socialize with. Your clients and or home. (Telephone the others.) “Ohhh? Tell me about it.” Keep that is with your $125 donation to
customers out of goodwill and them talking with a non-critical my campaign. Will you do it?”
loyalty. And the people you spend When Do You Ask? “Ohh?” Or “Uhh-huh . . . ” And Other reciprocation sentences:
money with and do business with Pick a time when you can spend “Really? . . . ” And “Tell me more.” s “I support your business . . .
will do it from goodwill and out of an uninterrupted seven minutes with Let them talk. Let them express I’d like you to support my run for
a sense of reciprocation. You the person. Don’t make a formal their feelings and thoughts. office.”
scratched my back, now I’ll scratch appointment. Don’t make a big deal 7. Then say, “I see . . . but I am s “I put money into your
yours. They want to return the favor. about it. If you’re around other people, your (relationship) and I’d really business . . . I’d like you to put
The only reason these people take the person aside with, “C’mere, like your help. If $500 is too much, money into my effort here.”
are motivated to give is because of I have some good news. You’re one how much would you be willing to s “I help your business . . . ”
you and their relationship with you. of the first people I’ve told.” put into the (your name) for Out of all the people you could
They know you and like you and (office) campaign?” do business with, you’ve remained
trust you and believe you. How Do You Ask 8. If they name a reasonable loyal to this businessperson. How
The strength of your relation- For the Money? amount — 50% or more of what you many thousands of dollars is your
ship and their income determines With family, friends, co-workers asked for — get the check filled out, repeat business, customer loyalty
how much you can ask for. and people you socialize with, get the check, thank them and leave. and ongoing support bringing his
s Family and Friends: Ask here’s the basic format: 9. If they still have objections or business over the lifetime of your
each one to give 1% of your estimate 1. For family: “Mom, I’ve got concerns, repeat steps 6, 7, and 8. patronage? Isn’t that worth
of the person’s annual income. great news. I’m running for City 10. In many cases you will need something?
s People you socialize with, Council. Imagine . . . your son . . . to ask for the money three times.
co-workers and Clients: If they the boy you raised . . . running for 11. If they do not give or claim How Do you Schedule It?
make under $25,000 a year, ask for public office. Isn’t that terrific? I they cannot give, thank them for You know your hours and
$50. Over $25,000, ask for $100. wanted you to be among the first to being your (relationship), thank commitments better than I do. Set
s People you spend money know. them for letting you share your aside 2 hours each week day and 4
with or do business with: If they “Mom, will you put $500 into great news and say goodbye. hours each weekend day for seven
provide a service, 10% of what you your son’s campaign?“ 12. That evening, send them a days. Work it around your schedule.
spent with them; If they sell goods, For friends: “Jerry, I’ve got thank-you card letting them know
10% of their estimated gross profit. great news. I’m running for state you appreciate them being your Money is the Fuel
List the appropriate amount legislature. Imagine . . . your golfing (relationship), thank them for Money is the fuel that runs your
next to each name on your list. buddy, your regular golfing partner considering donating, and ask them Libertarian campaign. It won’t make
You can always accept less than for 3 years . . . running for public if they wouldn’t reconsider you a good driver or guarantee you
you ask for, but you’ll rarely be office. Isn’t that terrific? I wanted donating. Ask them to mail you a reach your destination. But without
offered more. you to be among the first to know. donation, and be sure to enclose a it you’re stalled and stuck.
“Jerry, will you put $100 into stamped reply envelope and a
Where Do you Ask? your golfing sidekick’s campaign? . . . ” donation card. This article © 1996
The easiest thing to ignore is a 2. Always end by asking for the Before you approach people you
letter — closely followed by fax and contribution. spend money with or do business
e-mail. So you won’t use these. 3. After you ask for the money, with, go through the last 12 months