E-Organizers

Are you an "e-organizer?" If you communicate with supporters by e-mail or the web, then the answer is YES. You don't have to use GetActive or any particular software, you just have to want to use the Internet to improve women's health and repoductive rights.

Here's an exceprt from our sample job description :
The Online Organizer / Circuit Rider develops and implements online strategies to recruit, educate and mobilize a vibrant community of activists that is ready to take action on important policy issues related to reproductive health and services at local, state, and national levels.

In the past year, the Planned Parenthood Action Network (PPAN) has more than doubled its membership! This is partially due to the fact that so many of us are are using effective tools like GetActive that make it so easy for supporters to sign-up and to take action.

Even though you don't have to be a technical expert to use these tools, we have seen that the combination of a little online sophistication with grassroots organizing skills can do wonders. Some states and affiliates have hired "e-organizers" to develop and carry out strategic online organizing inititives. These e-organizers can develop innovative recruiting campaigns that attract more 'webby' supporters who are more likely to take online actions and tell their friends about important issues and campaigns.

But looking beyond recruiting, e-organizers can also make online campaigns more effective by taking advatage of new strategies such as list segmentation, allowing your supporters to designate their preferred types of communication and issues of interest. This means that list members hear from Planned Parenthood when and how they want, and as a result each communication is much more effective. E-organizers also bring more sophistication to other aspects of an organiztion, especially the web site. They can develop special flash campigns, web blogs, and respond to the latest trends in online organizing.

We have done a great job of recruiting for PPAN in the last year. E-organizers present the opportunity to do even better and to effectively mobilize our supporters on pro-choice issues. PPFA has drafted a sample job description for an e-organizer on ToolsForChoice.org. We have also created an e-mail list for online organizers to communicate and assist each other (see below).

Even if you think your affiliate can't afford a dedicated e-organizer, think about collaborating with other affiliates in your state state or region. Nonprofits have a long tradition of sharing tech resources through people called "circuit riders" (see left).

Hiring a sophisticated online organizer is a great way to take the past year's great investment in recruiting and turn those supporters into activists and organizers. An E-Organizer can help you use your existing resources more effectively, and build even more community support from the most engaged online and offline activists. Please contact Ruby Sinreich if you would like more information or assistance with taking your online organizing to the next level!