Targeted Campaign Resources and Campaign Matching Funds Programs: Rules Brought to you by the Coordinated Campaign Committee These rules were last revised on March 11, 2005. For more information on the CCC, please visit us online at http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/. PROCESS FOR TARGETED CAMPAIGN RESOURCES PROGRAM AND CAMPAIGN MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAMS ____________________________________________________________________________ The Coordinated Campaign Committee (CCC) of the U.S. Green Party (GP-US) is excited to work with Green candidates, campaign managers, staff, and volunteers. We pledge to work cooperatively with campaigns and party committees across the country committed to running strategic, professional, winning campaigns. We want to help campaigns win! TARGETED CAMPAIGN RESOURCES PROGRAM (1) Overview and Goals The CCC allocates various campaign resources available to candidates. The CCC works with other national party committees to determine the nature and availability of resources for campaigns. The CCC makes regular assessments of what resources are available and decides how to distribute available resources to campaigns. (2) Eligibility for Participation a. The applying entity must be a campaign for office running on the Green Party line in a partisan race or as an acknowledged Green candidate in a nonpartisan race (must provide explanation if latter). State and local Green Party organizations are not eligible to apply for these matching funds. b. Completion of a CCC Campaign Questionnaire. (3) Requirements Upon evaluation of the campaign's application, candidates must receive at least one point for targeting question #1 and one point for targeting question #2 to qualify for the program. CAMPAIGN MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM (1) Overview and Goals In order to assist Green campaigns, the CCC has established a fund that will match money put up by individual campaigns, up to a maximum amount, towards approved campaign expenses. The aim of this program is to assist small campaigns without access to strong state, regional or local Green Party support, where a relatively small amount of matching funds will make a significant difference. In particular, the program will commit 75% of its available funds each year for use on campaigns that raise and spend up to $20,000 (for all campaign cycles, while meeting viability criteria). (2) Eligibility for Participation a. The applying entity must be a campaign for office running on the Green Party line in a partisan race or as an acknowledged Green candidate in a nonpartisan race (must provide explanation if latter). State and local Green Party organizations are not eligible to apply for these matching funds. b. Completion of a CCC Campaign Questionnaire, including all questions related to the Campaign Matching Fund Program. c. Commitment to complete Matching Fund Program requirements (see below). d. Campaigns that are eligible to participate in government matching fund programs with reasonable requirements are not eligible to apply for these matching funds. (3) Requirements a. Campaign proposal must spend matching funds on approved campaign expenses, in keeping with the proposed expenses. b. Candidates must receive at least one point for targeting question #1 and one point for targeting question #2 to qualify for the program. c. Each awarded campaign must document the use of the program funds awarded and the required matching funds. Campaigns awarded must provide the following within one month of the election*: ? Copies of all filings with local government that include the awarded funds and the required matching funds. ? A financial report showing how these funds were used. ? A narrative describing how funds were used, how these uses compare to those proposed, how the awarded funds benefited the campaign, and any recommendations for how use of the funds might be improved in the future. * A form will be provided to all awarded campaigns requesting this information; the financial report and narrative together should not exceed two printed pages. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The Resources Subcommittee of the CCC will administer both programs. The Resources Subcommittee will consist of elected three members and two elected alternates. Only members of the CCC can run to sit on the Resources Subcommittee. PROGRAM CALENDAR OVERVIEW Both programs run from December through November and contain two general election (November) evaluation cycles and a year-long rolling evaluation cycle that provides for special elections and elections held at other times of the year. Details on deadlines are described below. Cycle 1 Period: February through December Description: Early funding and resources for campaigns with general elections in November Note: A campaign applying in Cycle 1 may resubmit its application in Cycle 2 or submit an updated application. Cycle 2 Period: June through December Description: Regular funding and resources for campaigns with elections in November Cycle 3: Rolling Period: Yearlong Description: Funding and resources for campaigns for any elections not held in November, including special elections and local spring elections. PROCESS (1) Circulation of program announcements Period to get out announcement of upcoming funding cycle and deadlines through whatever further guidelines are established. Announcements must consist at minimum of: a. Description of the purpose and process program b. Precise information on how to submit an application (who, how, maximum length, application deadlines, etc.), c. Contact information (who to contact with questions) d. Eligibility and evaluation criteria The Resources Subcommittee is required to, at minimum, notify the CC, the state contacts, and Green News, and post program announcements on the CCC and GPUS websites. Announcements will be made: February 20 for Cycle 1 June 20 for Cycle 2 On an on-going basis for Cycle 3 (2) Campaigns Complete Application For Programs Campaigns that want to participate in the Targeted Campaign Resources Program and Campaign Matching Funds programs must complete an application. The application can be found online at http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/. The campaign questionnaire requests information to be used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the campaign. Applications are due: March 20 for Cycle 1 July 20 for Cycle 2 On an on-going basis for Cycle 3 (3) Processing During this period, the applications must be received by the CCC. It is the responsibility of the submitting campaign to ensure the application's completeness. The Resources Subcommittee will acknowledge the receipt of each completed questionnaire within two weeks. The internal deadline for distribution of all applications to all reviewers is three days from application due date (including consideration of any conflicts of interest and absences).The Resources Subcommittee will also identify a contact person who will serve as the liaison between the candidate and the Subcommittee during the application process. (4) Application Review Members of the Resources Subcommittee will review the applications. Alternates may choose to review all applications. When a member(s) of the Subcommittee has a conflict of interest (see the CCC Conflict of Interest policy for details), one of the two alternates will be chosen to review in his/her place. At least three members must review each application. If necessary, other members of the CCC may be called upon to serve as an alternate for a particular application(s). During this period, reviewers must submit their reviews and recommendations. Recommendations should include a prioritized list of which campaigns should be funded, how much each recommended campaign should receive, and when funds should be distributed. The subcommittee will draft a funding plan based on its recommendations. It will include a distribution schedule. a. Answers to the informational questions and Campaign Matching Funds program questions are used to make qualitative assessments of the campaign. b. Answers to targeting questions are used to make quantitative assessments of the campaign. The total points awarded by each reviewer are totaled and divided by the number of reviewers who complete evaluations. The average of points awarded is the "score" awarded to the campaign. Reviewers are encouraged but not required to provide brief written comments about answers provided to targeting questions. c. Reviewers should use the following guidelines to award points for answers to the field plan and finance plan. ? 0 points – No plan was submitted or information was inadequate. ? 1 point – Plan is a good start. All areas of the plan lack sufficient substance and strategy, but can be improved. The plan demonstrates that the candidate and campaign manager communicated with each other about what the campaign should do. The plan does not touch on all aspects of an exceptional plan described in the questionnaire. ? 2 points – Good plan that is thorough and realistic. The plan touches on most areas of an exceptional plan described in the questionnaire. ? 3 points – Plan is exceptional. The plan must show that the campaign looked and analyzed data, has a realistic approach to what numbers they need to win, and have clearly thought out the strategy about messages and targeting. Recommendations must be completed by: April 5 for Cycle 1 August 5 for Cycle 2 On an on-going basis for Cycle 3 (5) Finalization of Funding The Resources Subcommittee will present its funding recommendations to the full CCC for approval. Any questions or discussions with the full committee will take place at this time. The final decisions must be made by: April 20 for Cycle 1 August 20 for Cycle 2 On an on-going bases for Cycle 3 (6) Announcement of Selected Campaigns and Notification of Applicants Campaigns will be notified by May 1 for Cycle 1 September 1 for Cycle 2 The CCC will notify a campaign of its decision within two months of receipt of an application for Cycle 3 (7) Distribution of Campaign Matching Funds Awards and Other Campaign Resources The CCC will identify the range of funds it anticipates distributing over the course of the year and will create an allocation plan that takes this range into account. The allocation plan will provide a funding range and approximate number of grants per funding cycle. The CCC will update the allocation plan as necessary throughout year. The Resources Subcommittee will allocate funds on a yearly basis for the 3 funding cycles described above using this allocation plan. Fund Distribution will occur: February - May for Cycle 1 May - November for Cycle 2 September - November for Cycle 3 On an on-going basis for Cycle 4 (10) Availability and Use of Evaluations a. Candidates and their campaign managers may request copies of the CCC's qualitative and quantitative evaluations within one month of the deadline for receipt of questionnaires. Campaigns must submit their request in writing or by e-mail to the Resources Subcommittee. b. Evaluations of the Resources Subcommittee are available to members of the Coordinated Committee of the Green National Committee and co-chairs of accredited Green state parties upon written request to the CCC co-chairs. Members of the Coordinated Committee (CC) of the GP-US and co- chairs of state parties who receive the evaluation, comments, and targeting decisions must agree to keep the disclosed information confidential. Confidentiality requires individuals not to circulate the information by mail, radio, television, or Internet. Furthermore, an individual is prohibited from communicating in any manner to the press about evaluations of CCC members. c. CCC evaluations are not endorsements of a candidate's campaign by the Green Party of the United States, the CC of the Green Party of the United States, the CCC of the Green Party of the United States, or individual members of the committees. d. CCC evaluations provide a guide for party committees to use when determining how to allocate financial, human, and other resources. 5