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usaf-vet

(7,814 posts)
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 12:31 PM Jan 2024

I have a question. How do other DUer deal with political donations when you are on fixed income?

How do you decide who to give your money to?

When you donate, how do you keep the one donation from growing to dozens of daily requests via email?

If my wife and I gave just $5.00 to each Democratic who requested a donation. That would become our most significant daily expense.

Do you decide to spend starting in the primaries? Or do you wait and make one larger one in the general election?

Years ago, we donated through Act****, which started the nationwide request from unknown candidates ten years later.

When the dust clears from the primaries, we will donate to state and national runners.

We just made a Star Membership donation to DU.
I believe Omaha Steve raises money here at DU, but I am not quite sure how that works and how that money gets used.

SUGGESTIONS PLEASE.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I have a question. How do other DUer deal with political donations when you are on fixed income? (Original Post) usaf-vet Jan 2024 OP
I limit them. Voltaire2 Jan 2024 #1
I volunteer my time, no_hypocrisy Jan 2024 #2
We did that in our younger healthier days. Old age has it's limits. usaf-vet Jan 2024 #3
Instead of donating money FelineOverlord Jan 2024 #4
I don't think it's right to expect lower-income people to pay for ads. yardwork Jan 2024 #5
If I'm broke I don't donate Polybius Jan 2024 #6
I copied a bit from democrats.org. usonian Jan 2024 #7
I strongly believe donating small amounts of money vanlassie Jan 2024 #8
Sen. Sander's campaign showed that $5.00 can be meaningful...so I send what I can affford. Demsrule86 Jan 2024 #9
I made sandwiches for the Kerry campaign MOMFUDSKI Jan 2024 #10
Strong suggestion? JustAnotherGen Jan 2024 #11
I just say no and unsubscribe. I explain if they ask. catrose Jan 2024 #12

Voltaire2

(15,377 posts)
1. I limit them.
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 12:38 PM
Jan 2024

Before I retired we would freely donate to candidates. Now I have to restrain my spouse and remind her that we are no longer enjoying the regular cash inflows from my work, but are instead living off the fixed income for our retirement. It's an adjustment. I am much more likely to agree to donations to our local candidates as they have a much smaller donor base.

FelineOverlord

(3,851 posts)
4. Instead of donating money
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 12:45 PM
Jan 2024

My husband and I donate our TIME.

Text-banking and phone- banking are totally free, lots of fun, and very rewarding.

My husband and I have worked many hundreds of hours texting and phoning in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Postcards to Voters does cost money for the postcards and stamps, but it’s fun!

We also did door-to-door canvassing in 2018 which cost us the price of gasoline.

yardwork

(69,370 posts)
5. I don't think it's right to expect lower-income people to pay for ads.
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 12:47 PM
Jan 2024

It just bothers me so much. You can do so many other things - volunteer to phone bank, work at the polls, etc.

usonian

(25,393 posts)
7. I copied a bit from democrats.org.
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 01:35 PM
Jan 2024
https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18562349

It's all about people and votes. Arguably one of the volunteer actions listed there will be way more effective than an ad on TV or antisocial media.

There's even stuff for shy people to do, like mailing postcards.

https://democrats.org/
You can skip the "donate" screen if you choose!


OK here's a snippet:

STARTS NOW.

https://democrats.org/take-action/

WELCOME TO ORGANIZE EVERYWHERE
We are meeting voters where they are, whether it is two years or two days from an election. With your help, our team can have real conversations with voters about the issues that matter to them, and build the Democratic organizing infrastructure needed for years to come. There are many important fights ahead, so we’ll plug you in wherever you’re most passionate, or wherever you’re needed most – no matter where you live. Join one of our volunteer teams below, and own a piece of this movement! We can’t wait to organize with you.

DON'T BE SHY. EXCELLENT COACHING IS AVAILABLE


Talk with Voters
Make calls.
https://democrats.org/call-crew

Reach your Community

Organize Your Relationships
https://democrats.org/reach/
We’re building an organizing program around a simple principle: that YOU are the best advocate with the people in your life. Join us in having conversations directly with our friends, our families, and sharing key campaign messaging and content within our communities online. That’s how we break through the noise, that’s how we organize, that’s how we win.



Become a Social Ambassabor

https://democrats.org/share/
Social Ambassadors are a community of volunteers that enable Democrats to create lasting organizing power through online collaborative story and content sharing. Our mission is to spread our message online by using shareable content and social media best practices to help amplify achievements of both the Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration over our personal social media networks.


Social Media Best Practices
There's a session December 31, 2023 (yes, tomorrow)
https://events.democrats.org/event/486853/
And there may be others scheduled.

About this event
Maximize your impact within your social network and join our social media best practices training.

Whether you're just getting started on social media or already have an online presence, this training will provide you with the tools necessary to ensure you are reaching your full potential as an online organizer.

Learn the essentials for utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Instagram for political story telling.

This is a virtual training.

Email williamsak@dnc.org to schedule a presentation for your staff/volunteers or with any queries about co-presenting at one or more of these events.

What previous attendees are saying:

"This was an extremely informative education. I can not thank the presenter enough. She was kind and actually did a one on one with me and helped me looking at my pages, and giving me pointers to improve. It was the most helpful event I have ever attended." - Christina F.





vanlassie

(6,248 posts)
8. I strongly believe donating small amounts of money
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 01:46 PM
Jan 2024

Is nice, but not necessary. If a major candidate can’t cultivate big money, they can’t win. Our small donations will not change this. Small donations are nice to do- if you can. But you should never give more than you can afford, and feel good about. Small donations are encouragement- also important as such, to a candidate.

Demsrule86

(71,542 posts)
9. Sen. Sander's campaign showed that $5.00 can be meaningful...so I send what I can affford.
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 02:03 PM
Jan 2024

We are blessed not to be on that tight a budget but...even a dollar if enough people give can be significant.

 

MOMFUDSKI

(7,080 posts)
10. I made sandwiches for the Kerry campaign
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 02:06 PM
Jan 2024

and filled out/mailed postcards for Biden. Went to Obama Headquarters in my city and did envelope stuffing. Did phone calls for Kerry. Volunteer if you can’t send $$$

JustAnotherGen

(38,057 posts)
11. Strong suggestion?
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 02:33 PM
Jan 2024

As the daughter of a mom on a fixed income?

Come here and post folks you WISH you could donate to. My mom is in good financial circumstances - she's 75 - but all of her grandparents lived into their 90's. I don't want her eating through her retirement income.

My husband became a citizen a few years ago so our donating power has doubled.

Post here - we will donate. Do not put your budget in a bad position.

catrose

(5,365 posts)
12. I just say no and unsubscribe. I explain if they ask.
Sun Jan 21, 2024, 05:12 PM
Jan 2024

Having donated to elect Sinema, I don' t feel my limited funds are as necessary as I used to

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