The Nonprofit FAQ

Canvassing Basics

Canvassing is a strategic campaign process targeted towards voter identification and/or "getting out the vote" (GOTV), but is also utilized by many nonprofit organizations as a means of fundraising and development. In most cases, neigborhood volunteers or paid workers go door-to-door or stand on busy streets and talk to targeted voters/members, oftentimes soliciting funds. Canvassing can also be done over the phone, aka http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/faqcat/119-44">telemarketing, but in this case canvassers only contact previously identified voters/members. While many observers hail canvassing as the epitome of grassroots politics, in some cases, certain canvassing organizations have been criticized for exploiting the cheap labor of idealistic youth. Online Resources http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/7/9838/40436">A Beginner's Guide to Door-to-Door Canvassing http://www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com/story/story.bsp?var=story&sid=53410">Some Dangers of Door-to-Door Canvassing Professional Canvassing Services: Grassroots Campaigns Inc., http://www.grassrootscampaigns.com/index.php United States Public Interest Research Group: http://www.uspirg.org/ Analysis Yale study on the effectiveness of canvassing in terms of cost/benefit analysis: http://www.yale.edu/vote/canvassing.html Article dealing with the canvassing industry during the 2004 Presidential Election: http://www.altweeklies.com/gyrobase/AltWeeklies/Story?oid=oid%3A136188 Series of articles about problems of canvassing and progressive youths: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/2787/ Posted 8/25/08 -- BA