Ah, fundraising. Just the thought of asking friends and family for money can induce chest pain and deter qualified potential candidates from dropping their name in the hat. Yet fundraising is necessary to reach voters, spread the word, and get elected. This week on the Election University podcast, our hosts Jason Bennett and Reiny Cohen speak with a fundraising star from Virginia's 2017 Blue Wave, Diondra Musgrave, to demystify the daunting task of funding your campaign.

Diondra Musgrave was a vital contributor to the 2017 victories in Virginia, where Democrats picked up an astounding 15 seats for their House of Delegates. Working as Finance Director for now-Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, Diondra helped the campaign raise nearly $240,000 in cash donations in a little more than two months. Her aggressive fundraising plan dramatically increased donor engagement and funded Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy’s victory with 63.14% of the vote. Now Diondra offers her pragmatic advice on hesitant candidates, call time, making a fundraising plan, and the basics of effective fundraising. Her practical tips will help you get inspired, organized, funded, and elected!  

So listeners, what do you think? Did our chat with Diondra help put the "fun" back in fundraising? Are you ready to bust open your Rolodex and get dialing for dollars? Do you have a new tip for our listeners or a funny fundraising story? We want to hear from you! Leave a note in the comment section below or email your questions and comments to our hosts at podcast@ElectionU.com.   You can listen to the show right here on the website or by subscribing in iTunes, Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and more! If you do subscribe, please leave us a rating and review. We love the feedback! If you'd like to hear a particular topic on our podcast, please email podcast@electionu.com. As always, thanks for listening!