Michigan Campaign Leadership Boot Camp

"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." - President Ronald Reagan

The Michigan Campaign Leadership Boot Camp is designed to equip and energize both current and prospective campaign managers and leaders to identify the steps and acquire the skills and tools needed to run a successful local campaign.

The boot camp focuses on personal, professional, and political preparation for future service as a campaign manager, leader, or candidate.

Ideal attendees for the Campaign Leadership Boot Camp are individuals who are looking to become more politically active as a campaign manager, campaign leader, or candidate.

You will Learn:

• Campaign Management Essentials Including:
  • The Real Nature of Politics
  • How to Calculate A Vote Goal & Target the Right Voters
  • How to Conduct and Utilize Strategic Research to Better Understand Your Candidate, Their Opponent, & the Voters
  • How to Develop An Effective Campaign Plan
  • How to Build A Campaign Team
  • How to Build Coalitions to Win
  • How to Identify Voter Blocks & Reach Them
  • Methods of Voter Contact, Early Voting, Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV), & Election Day Best Practices

• Campaign Communication Essentials Including:
  • How to Find A Campaign Message & Execute It Through A Communications Plan
  • How to Create A Message That Sticks With Voters & Sets A Candidate Apart from their Opponent
  • How to Utilize Paid Media, Earned Media, & Public Relations to Manage & Communicate Your Campaign Message
  • How to Message to Moderate & Independent Voters

• Campaign Finance Essentials Including:
  • How to Create a Campaign Finance Plan including Fundraising Tools, Goals, & Benchmarks
  • The Donor Pyramid including Major Donors, Social Donors, and Issue Donors
  • How to Conduct Good Donor Research to Make An Effective Ask
  • The Science of Persuasion in Asking for Campaign Contributions
  • How to Assemble and Operate a Finance Committee
  • How to Plan A Successful Fundraising Event

Early Bird Registration Fee: $100.00

($150.00 after December 27, 2025)

Registration includes a continental breakfast, catered lunch, snacks, and beverages each day of training.

Training Schedule

Day 1 - Saturday, January 24, 2025

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET

Day 2 - Sunday, January 25, 2025

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET

The agenda for the Michigan Campaign Leadership Boot Camp can be found HERE.

Discounted hotel rooms will be available to registrants traveling to the Michigan Campaign Leadership Boot Camp and wish to stay overnight in the Lansing, MI area.

A link for discounted hotel rooms will be provided at a later date once a hotel room block is secured.

Partial scholarships are also available to those who have demonstrated financial need. Please reach out to Josh Emerick, Midwest Regional Director, at jemerick@leadershipinstitute.org if you have financial need.