Seeking Volunteer Leaders
Volunteers Needed for “Crimson Goes Bigger”
With just two staff members and a handful of interns, Crimson Goes Blue is powered by volunteer organizers. Together, we're striving to grow and maximize our impact for the 2024 election.
To succeed, we need more volunteer leaders.
This is a fantastic opportunity to use skills and experience you've gained through work, volunteering, and/or family management. As a Crimson Goes Blue volunteer leader, you'll find a satisfying and fun way to collaborate with great teammates while having a meaningful impact on our efforts to champion democracy.
Who are we looking for?
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Recruit and help engage classmates from ‘72, ‘74-‘78; ‘84, ‘85, ‘87, ‘90, ‘92-‘97, ’99-’05, and ‘07 and later. Captains for the grad schools (Ed School, Law School, B School, etc.) would be great, too.
Class captains recruit classmates (or fellow grad school alums) to become members through both broad and individual outreach based on their relationships, shared connections, access to information (e.g., the Red Book, Facebook groups), and events (e.g., reunions).
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Help organize our political activism and coordinate members’ activism in a range of states including Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where we need leaders. Note also that we’d really like someone in CA based in the Bay Area and someone in Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.
Action Team Leaders (ATLs) work in concert with CGB’s Political Director to provide members with opportunities for political engagement in their respective states.
Our team of ATLs share ideas for effective action, learn from each other, and support one another in the design and implementation of actions. ATLs lead regular meetings with their teams (generally not more than monthly) and work to:
Build their team’s sense of community
Develop a picture of their state’s political landscape and grassroots political activist groups
Plan strategy and actions for the Crimson Goes Blue
Recruit members to participate in virtual and on-the-ground actions for their state.
Our intent is to have each Action Team coordinated by a pair of team co-leaders who complement each other’s skills in political strategy and outreach/recruitment.
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Help design and organize our member-based fundraising for Crimson Goes Blue’s operations.
To sustain and grow our organization as we prepare for the 2024 elections and beyond, Crimson Goes Blue is now seeking an experienced development professional to become our volunteer fundraising coordinator. Working in close collaboration with our Managing Director, Lisa Ulrich, and our Board of Directors, the Volunteer Fundraising Coordinator will play a leadership role in developing and operationalizing a multi-year plan to secure sustainable funding support.
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Help plan and coordinate Crimson Goes Blue’s communications.
Crimson Goes Blue has an ambitious goal of growing from 2000 members to “10,000 People of Harvard,” and of enhancing their engagement. Our members are far-flung, and we rely heavily on virtual communication through our website, Facebook group, and newsletter, currently managed separately by individual volunteers. As we grow, we need an experienced, roll-up-your-sleeves communications professional to create a holistic plan, lead a communication team, and sometimes take the lead in developing key copy and messages.
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Design, launch and lead a campaign to significantly grow participation in our popular strategic giving portfolio.
The Crimson Goes Blue Portfolio is a strategic political giving platform that we have developed in partnership with Swing Left. Its tagline is “We research. You give. Together we protect our democracy.” We liken it to a financial advisor for political giving, and it has become one of Crimson Goes Blue’s most popular offerings.
In 2022, over 600 members and their networks contributed over $500,000 - making us the largest single Portfolio giving circle nationwide. Now we have a BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL to raise $2 million for the 2024 election. To achieve our aspirations, the Portfolio Campaign Leader will lead the effort to develop and implement a plan to significantly expand awareness and engagement among our growing membership, their networks, and the Harvard community.
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Help plan and produce Crimson Goes Blue’s signature events.
Zoom events are core to our strategy and one of members’ favorite elements of Crimson Goes Blue. Our events are quite varied, and have featured influential Harvard-affiliated political leaders, activists, academics and artists. Typically we organize one significant event a quarter and have recently begun a more intimate, monthly series of hourlong Community Conversations. We’re seeking a roll-up-your-sleeves volunteer to help conceptualize and develop event content, coordinate planning, manage communication with our featured guests and lead “run of show” preparations.
Where do I start?
1. Consider getting involved!
Look over the list of roles, and even if you’re not sure which might be your best fit…inquire via this form or send an email to volunteerleaders@crimsongoesblue.org. We’ll get right back to you.
2. Help spread the word among your Harvard community
Talk with Harvard friends who might be interested in volunteering, and share the link to this page with them -- even if they haven't yet joined Crimson Goes Blue. Here is a sample email you can copy and adapt.
Interested candidates should complete this form or send an email to volunteerleaders@crimsongoesblue.org.
Why be a volunteer leader?
Here’s what a few of our volunteer leaders have to say:
“This is a wonderful community trying to protect our democracy and have fun together at the same time. ! I look forward to continuing to lead and participate in 2023 and 2024.”
- Hilary Klein ‘HR ‘79, Voter Protection/Election Integrity Action Team Co-leader
“In 2022 I co-led the North Carolina team, and was thrilled that alumni from around the country came to our state to canvass for Democrats… In a chaotic world in which the current GOP frontrunner represents an unprecedented threat to our country, working with fellow CGBers empowers us and keeps us sane.”
- Karen Dash HR’87, Co-leader of the North Carolina and Voter Protection/Election Integrity Action Teams
“Thanks to my involvement in Crimson Goes Blue, I feel I’m actually moving the needle on colossal issues that often feel insurmountable. I truly value this opportunity to work creatively with hopeful and highly effective fellow alums.”
- David Rabkin HR‘83, Special Initiatives Lead
FAQs
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It varies from role to role and with the timing of the election cycle. Some of our volunteer leaders have demanding full-time jobs or other commitments and contribute approximately 2 hours a week. Others have chosen to make this work their primary commitment. We’ll find opportunities that fit with your schedule.
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If you’re interested, talk to us. We’re really flexible, and we find ways for busy people to participate and have impact that are fun and satisfying and fit their schedules. Together, we’ll figure out what works.
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For most, it starts with a concern about the future of democracy. They want to make a difference and we can help ensure that their time and donations are directed effectively. Our volunteers enjoy our community and the teamwork they experience with us, too.
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No. We are eager to capitalize on the talents of the full Harvard community. If you are interested, we encourage you to throw your hat in the ring immediately. Then we’ll ask you to become a member - it’s free, quick, and comes with exciting benefits like invitations to events and opportunities to participate in CGB’s high-impact activism.
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It depends on the specific role, but the short answer is: We sure hope not. Meetings ARE important, but we view meetings as enablers of impactful work.
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It varies. Some tasks, like canvassing, require physical presence. But most of our work, meetings, and events are remote via Zoom.
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To express interest and learn more, complete this form or email volunteerleaders@crimsongoasblue.org. If you’re not a member yet, join.
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Please send us your suggestions and introduce us to members of the Harvard community you think could fill one of these volunteer leadership roles. Get in touch with us at volunteerleaders@crimsongoesblue.org, or, better still, reach out, show them this page, and have them fill in the form or email us.