Mobilize + Personal Text Pilot: In the spring of 2021, we ran a pilot study to determine if an additional personal text message reminder to RSVPs to an event (in addition to the automated text message reminder sent by Mobilize) would increase event attendance. We found no significant difference between people who received the additional text message and people who only received the Mobilize reminder. This indicates that an additional personal reminder text message is not necessary for (or effective at) increasing event attendance. Read more here.

Ladder of Engagement Pilot: This pilot study attempted to determine if showing volunteers a video about the relative efficacy of field tactics could move volunteers “up the ladder of engagement” from postcarding to a more direct type of voter contact like phonebanking. We found no evidence to support this hypothesis, but it should be noted that the sample size was extremely small and outcome data was limited. Read more here.

Friendraising Full Study: We followed up on the promising findings from the Friendraising pilot study to test friendraising on a larger scale, as well as testing more personal or more candidate-focused messages. We replicated the findings of the pilot study and found that friendraising is highly effective both in terms of what percentage of people approached to donate actually donate (average conversion rate of 45%) and in terms of the median amount of the donation (median donation amount of $50). Importantly, candidate-focused messaging was significantly better than personal messaging. Read more here.

Sister District 2020 Survey: We conducted a survey of Sister District members in May 2020, which allowed us to investigate feelings around activism during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, as well as replicate findings from the 2019 survey. Overall, we found that social investment and personal closeness with teammates remained important predictors of volunteering with Sister District. Further, we found that volunteers are more motivated than ever to volunteer, and plan to volunteer more than they did in either 2018 or 2019. Read more here.

Friendraising Pilot: We ran a pilot study in early August to determine if sending fundraising emails for SDP candidates to friends and family is an effective fundraising strategy. Because the sample was small, results in the pilot did not always rise to statistical significance, but it appears that sending emails to friends and contacts with specific fundraising goals, asks, and deadlines generated more money from more people than emails with non-specific goals, asks, and deadlines. Friendraising works! Read more here.

Sister District 2019 Survey: We conducted a survey of Sister District members in January 2019, which yielded valuable insights about our community. We found that personal factors like gender, age, race, and partisanship are not significantly related to volunteering with Sister District, but social factors like closeness with one’s team and personal investment in the social aspects of Sister District are significantly related to engagement. This suggests that the social bonds of team membership are really important in keeping folks connected to Sister District! Read more here.

Recruitment and Confirmation Volunteer Engagement: We ran a study to see if personally contacting volunteers could boost attendance rates at team events. In short, yes! Personally contacting volunteers to recruit them for events resulted in 168% more RSVPs and 177% more event attendees than just sending emails. Similarly, personally contacting volunteers to confirm their plans to attend an event they had previously RSVP’d for resulted in a 51% increase in attendance. So, don’t just send emails! Read more here.