January 2024
THE STAKES OF 2024
(Image courtesy of Jessica Craven, Chop Wood, Carry Water)
Happy New Year! And so it begins again. As we head into yet another consequential election, it’s time to shake off the anxiety and dread generated by clickbait media coverage and remember all we’ve accomplished in the last few election cycles. In 2023 alone, here’s what you’ve helped bring about:
Flipping Wisconsin’s Supreme Court majority so voting, labor, abortion rights, and fair maps can prevail
Flipping a Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat and the state House blue
Flipping Virginia’s House of Delegates blue and strengthening the state Senate majority
Providing healthcare to 600,000 North Carolinians thanks to relentless organizing for Medicaid expansion
Countless progressive victories in local and special elections throughout Airlift territory, including pushback against the right-wing havoc disrupting school districts
Major legislative accomplishments in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona because of electoral victories in 2022’s statewide and state legislative elections
Expanded membership, training, leadership development, and reach among all Airlift Partners–so crucial for 2024!
In short, you’ve played an important role in reshaping the political landscape since that dark day in November 2016. In 2017-18, Airlift’s first election cycle, we raised $264,000. That’s grown to a whopping total of $3.9 million since our inception. We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $1.75 million in 2024, an extremely ON YEAR, with no less than our future, our democracy, and our earth at stake (but hey, no pressure!).
Yes, the stakes are high, the staying power of MAGA maddening, the incessant horse-race coverage demoralizing. We have a steep hill to climb to keep the White House and Senate blue, flip the House, keep North Carolina’s governorship blue and break their GOP legislative supermajority, and continue to expand progressive engagement and victories across Airlift Territory.
But we’ve defied the odds before. We can do this. As Dan Pfeiffer notes,
What happens in 2024 is entirely up to us. As dark as our politics seems, the United States is defined by a growing, diverse, progressive majority. The last two elections spotlighted a strong anti-MAGA majority in the battleground states. In other words, we control our destiny. If we turn out to vote [and donate to grassroots groups who turn non-voters into voters], we win.
Join us as we stand refreshed, resolute, and ready for the work ahead.
Steve Phillips
New York Times best-selling author of How We Win the Civil War
GEORGIA ON OUR MINDS:
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN?
January 16, Tuesday, 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
Grassroots organizers in Georgia who were largely responsible for engineering not only President Biden’s victory in 2020 — but that of two Democratic U.S. senators in 2022 — are growing concerned about their ability to deliver again in 2024. The national money that once flowed freely from Democratic groups to help win pivotal contests in Georgia has been slow in coming. At the same time the challenges in the state to motivate Black low-income voters, particularly rural voters, essential in 2020 and 2022 appear to be growing.
Steve Phillips in a recent New York Times article on the subject was quoted sounding the alarm that a lot of donors are inexplicably leaving Georgia out of the top tier of states to focus on next year in 2024. "We can and should win Georgia," Phillips notes. But we won't if we stop investing. Come hear what Steve has to say.
We will also hear from dynamic leaders John Taylor and Dakarai Paxton who are organizing right now on the frontlines with the Black Male Initiative of Georgia.
John R. Taylor III & Dakarai Paxton
Black Male Initiative of Georgia
If you can’t make it, but would like to help our Airlift partner group in Georgia, Black Male Initiative Fund, here’s the button:
INVEST EARLY AND BIG!
The earlier the investment, the greater the return.
In 2024, turnout will determine how things turn out. The best way to influence turnout is to make sure the grassroots groups have all the resources they need early on to get voters to cast their ballots. As our friends at Movement Voter Project point out, Grassroots organizers are the frontlines. The donors are the supply lines. If we, as donors, follow through on doing our job–getting the funding to the frontlines as quickly as possible–organizers will have the resources they need to do their jobs at the highest levels of scale and excellence.
Conversely: If our ground game is not extremely well-funded in the next few months, we will be going into the election with one hand tied behind our backs.
You know what’s at stake. At the end of the day, the election is in our hands. All we need to do is put in the work–and the money–to close the deal.
Give Early. At least 50% of what you plan to give in 2024 by the end of March.
Give Big. As much as you can so you wake up the day after the election knowing you’ve done everything possible.
Give Regularly. Becoming a monthly donor means our partners can count on having the resources they need year-round to build trust, engage their communities, and turn out voters. You can frontload a higher amount for the first quarter, then change it if you want to as the year progresses.
Do it now, not months from now.
Here’s how:
Donate by Check. Set up automatic payments to Airlift with the Bill Pay service at your bank, or send a check directly to: Airlift, PO Box 617, Corte Madera CA 94976
Donate Online at ActBlue. Just click the button, and click again to Make it Monthly!
For Tax-Deductible Giving. Although non-tax-deductible 501c4 gifts allow our partners the most flexibility for political action, tax-deductible 501c3 donations are welcome too. Email Ruth Jaeger at ruth@airlift.fund.
Host a House Party, or create your own fundraiser: Be inspired by the example below, and contact info@airlift.fund.
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about Airlift and our events. Share this newsletter and our website.
Thanks!
Airlift is an all-volunteer organization. Less than 2% of all proceeds go to expenses, the rest goes to our partner groups.
FEED YOUR CREATIVITY AND THE GRASSROOTS
Is 2024 your year to act on your creative impulses and help secure election victories? Have we got a win-win for you!
David Ford and Mark Kenward, award-winning directors, performers, writers, and teachers as well as Airlift supporters extraordinaire, are offering a free, in-person session to help you work on a storytelling project if you donate at least $100 to Airlift.
David and Mark have worked with beginning and seasoned performers alike to help shape their stories. This is a great way to get a new project started or keep an old one going while also contributing to the future we want for our country.
This fundraiser will take place on January 27 & 28 at Mark Kenward’s home studio in the Oakland Hills. Address and directions will be sent after you sign up. The early birds get the slots, so sign up soon!
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If David and Mark’s project sparks your imagination to share a special talent or passion on behalf of Airlift, please don’t hesitate to contact us (info@airlift.fund) with your idea, and we can help bring it to life. Reaching out creatively to our networks is a great way to spread awareness and enthusiasm for winning 2024!
FIELD NOTES
Down Home North Carolina: Building on 2023’s successes and ready for 2024, with so many members running for office! Read more.
Durham for All, a Carolina Federation affiliate, wraps up a big year, including a successful Boost the Budget Campaign and electing three out of four endorsed “Forward Together” candidates for City Council and Mayor.
Carolina Federation chapter Guilford for All stands in solidarity with the cafeteria workers of Guilford County Schools, who were left out of the new classified wage scale. After one of the largest public sector work stoppages and protests seen in recent history in North Carolina, the district agreed to double the wage increase originally offered.