From basketball tournaments on the Navajo Nation, to pizza parties on a college campus, to a ballot measure info session in a community center – at Spread the Vote, we’ve learned that successful get-out-the-vote efforts look different everywhere, and communities themselves are best positioned to know what works for their neighbors. So the question is: how do we get communities the resources they need to do GOTV in a way that works for them?
Bread to Spread the Vote is our answer. Our microgrant program serves as a link between hyper-local community groups and the institutional funding they often struggle to access. We provide grants of up to $1,000 to execute creative, nonpartisan, and locally-focused voter outreach activities. We don’t require 501c3 status, which keeps the program accessible to small groups with deep roots in their communities – we welcome faith-based organizations, student groups, youth-led volunteer groups, mutual aid networks, and more.
We also know that effective GOTV goes beyond registration. Voters still need to get to the polls – they might need transportation, or childcare, or just a friendly reminder about the early voting schedule. Voters also need access to information about the offices, candidates, and referendums on their ballot, so they walk into the voting booth feeling informed and empowered to make their own choices. That’s why Bread to Spread the Vote goes beyond funding. We support recipients with our years of on-the-ground expertise, along with resources from our partners like rides to the polls and nonpartisan voter education materials (shout out to ActiVote, one of the most comprehensive nonpartisan ‘what’s on my ballot’ tools out there).
Research shows that personalized engagement, whether it’s a face-to-face conversation or a message from a friend or community member, is by far the most effective way to increase voter turnout. That makes locally-focused efforts some of the greatest investments you can make during election season. It turns out you don’t need a lot to strengthen democracy – all you have to do is start in your neighborhood.
To support grassroots GOTV efforts this season, donate here. Have a great idea for voter outreach in your community? Apply for funding here.
