Education and Training

Campaign Trainings for Women

The Farm Team
Started in 2008 under the leadership of former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, The Farm Team is a statewide organization devoted to indentifying and supporting female Democrats for office. The Farm Team recruits and supports candidates at the grassroots level -- community volunteers, professional women's organization members, campaign activists, homeowner's association leaders, small business owners or others who could step forward to run for city council, school board, or other elected positions.

For more information:
The Farm Team
PO Box 8892
Richmond, VA 23225
farmteam.va@gmail.com
(804) 592-6028

The Jennifer Byler Series
The Jennifer Byler Institute works to increase the number of effective Republican women in public service and Party leadership by providing extensive training and support as these women pursue their political and/or professional goals. Each year, the program runs one weekend a month for eight months; it also includes a meeting in Washington DC featuring Virginia elected officials and other national leaders. The program prepares, motivates and inspires women to assume key roles in both political and public service. Participants are selected through a competitive process beginning each November, which includes extensive applications and individual interviews.

For more information:
The Jennifer Byler Series
115 East Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1741
jbi@rpv.org
(804) 780-0111

Campaign Trainings (women and men)

American Majority
Founded in 2008, American Majority is a national non-profit, nonpartisan training institute with national headquarters in Purcellville, VA and state offices in Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas. American Majority programs bring the expertise and knowledge base of national politicos, campaign strategists, communication consultants, and seasoned organizers directly into local communities with four tracks of training: Candidate Training, Activist Training, Campus Majority, and the Fellowship Program. Each track offers a number of unique courses to prepare participants to run for office or work for campaigns or in politics. The calendar of scheduled trainings is available on the American Majority website.

For more information:
Jaoni Wood, Administrative Assistant
American Majority Inc.
P.O. Box 87
Purcellville, VA 20134
team@americanmajority.org
(540) 338-2326

Campaign Management School
Sponsored by the Leadership Institute
Founded in 1979, the Leadership Institute’s mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. The Institute identifies, recruits, trains, and places conservatives in government, politics, and the media throughout the country. The Institute offers 41 educational programs for activists and campaign professionals. The five-day Campaign Manager School provides campaign managers and staffers with the tools and information necessary to organize a winning campaign with a strong grassroots organization and an effective media strategy. A one or two-day Campaign School - emphasizing skills for organizing and participating in any organized political effort - or Advanced Campaign School is also available to conservative elected or party officials, current or future candidates for political office, campaign managers, campaign volunteers, and supporters. The Future Candidate School trains potential candidates and community activists  to run for office and build a grassroots organization, focusing on personal and political preparation for a career as an elected official and community leader.

For more information:
The Leadership Institute
1101 North Highland Street
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 247-2000

Campaign Training Program
Sponsored by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia
The Sorensen Institute's Candidate Training Program (CTP) is an intensive, four-day program focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign for office. Participants explore the nuts and bolts of building a strong campaign from the ground up—all within the context of ethics and principled public service. Applicants should be Virginia residents eligible for and considering a bid for office; many graduates have gone on to serve in elected office around the Commonwealth.

For more information:
Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400206
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4206
sorensen@virginia.edu
(434) 982-4943

Committee Training
Sponsored by the Virginia Democratic Party
The Virginia Democratic Party runs either a single statewide training or multiple regional trainings on grassroots work for committee members each year.

For more information:
Don Mark, Political Director
Virginia Democratic Party
1710 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23223
don@vademocrats.org
(804) 644-1966

Progressive Majority Candidate Recruitment and Development Program
Sponsored by Progressive Majority
Launched in 2004, Progressive Majority's Candidate Recruitment and Development Program works to recruit progressive leaders to public service by providing political campaign support and pragmatic skills training. Candidates for state and local offices identified, recruited, and supported by Progressive Majority are trained through both small-group sessions and one-on-one support.

For more information:
Progressive Majority
(202) 248-5349

Virginia Leadership Institute
Created in 2006, the Virginia Leadership Institute prepares black professionals to run for office through training, tracking, mentoring, and networking. The Institute holds two annual trainings, an annual networking reception, and various other webinars and meetings with the objective of increasing the number of black elected officials in Virginia, in addition to providing preparation for black political professionals and appointed officials. Trainings feature campaign professionals in fundraising, communications, field operations and several critical issue areas. VLI programs are not gender specific, and participants do not have to be currently running for office.

For more information:
Krysta Jones
Virginia Leadership Institute
P.O. Box 41390
Arlington, VA 22204
info@virginialead.org
(703) 969-9647

Leadership Training Programs (women and men)

College Leaders Program
Sponsored by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership's College Leaders Program (CLP) is an advanced program on public service and leadership for college students. The four-week summer program (held at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville) gives students practical skills and political knowledge to become effective advocates in government and business. All undergraduates at Virginia colleges and universities, or Virginia residents attending a college out of state, are eligible to participate in the program.

For more information:
Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400207
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4207

Leadership Arlington
Leadership Arlington’s Signature Program is a ten-month program that provides a forum for the business, nonprofit, and public sectors to discuss the issues and opportunities facing Arlington while enhancing personal and professional leadership skills. Forty-eight chosen area leaders meet once a month from September to May for day-long gatherings focused on one challenge or opportunity — from public safety to the arts — important to Arlington.

For more information:
Betsy Frantz, President and CEO
Leadership Arlington
2009 14th Street North
Suite 111
Arlington, VA 22201
bfrantz@leadershiparlington.org
contact@leadershiparlington.org
(703) 528-2522

Political Leaders Program
Sponsored by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia
The Sorensen Institute's flagship Political Leaders Program (PLP) is a leadership development program for Virginia men and women of all ages who are involved in their commmunities and interested in becoming more active in public service and the political process, whether as community leaders or as elected officials. Approximately 35 participants are selected each year in a competitive process to participate in 10 monthly meetings (from March to December) in various locations across Virginia.

For more information:
Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400206
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4206
sorensen@virginia.edu
(434) 982-4943

Organizations Committed to Political Parity

The Farm Team
Started in 2008 under the leadership of former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, The Farm Team is a statewide organization devoted to indentifying and supporting female Democrats for office. The Farm Team recruits and supports candidates at the grassroots level -- community volunteers, professional women's organization members, campaign activists, homeowner's association leaders, small business owners or others who could step forward to run for city council, school board, or other elected positions.

For more information:
The Farm Team
PO Box 8892
Richmond, VA 23225
farmteam.va@gmail.com
(804) 592-6028

Virginia Democratic Women's Caucus
The National Federation of Democratic Women (NFDW) supports the inclusion of women’s voices in the Democratic Party. With 32 chapters nationwide, the NFDW promotes Democratic Party goals and candidates and works to unite women party members behind them. NFDW chapters recognize potential women candidates and encourage their candidacies for office.   Members attend meetings, organize educational and political events, volunteer for campaigns, and support candidates for office.

For more information:
Rachel Rifkind, Chair
Virginia Democratic Women's Caucus
rrifkind@gmail.com
info@VaDWC.org

Virginia Federation of Republican Women
Through affiliate chapters in nearly every state, the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) promotes the principles, objectives and policies of the Republican Party; elects Republican candidates; informs the public through political education and activity; and increases the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government. In working toward these objectives, the NFRW concentrates its efforts in the areas of educating, communicating, recruiting, campaigning, fundraising, training and legislative action.

For more information:
Fay Williamson, President
Virginia Federation of Republican Women
info@vfrw.org
(804) 794-6555

Virginia NOW
Sponsored by the National Organization for Women
Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States whose goal is to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women's rights. The organization's official priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women's health issues; opposing racism and fighting bigotry against lesbians and gays; and ending violence against women. NOW has over 550 chapters in all 50 states that participate in education and advocacy activities. Information on state and local chapters of NOW is available on the national NOW website and through state chapters.

For more information:
Virginia NOW
P.O. Box 7621
Arlington, VA 22207
vanowpresident@hotmail.com

Virginia Women's Political Caucus
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The Virginia Women's Political Caucus, a chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, recruits, trains and supports women candidates for elected and appointed office.

For more information:
Sandra Brandt, President
Virginia Women's Political Caucus
brandts1@verizon.net

Women’s Political Action Committees (PACs)

The Farm Team
Started in 2008 under the leadership of former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, The Farm Team is a statewide organization devoted to indentifying and supporting female Democrats for office. The Farm Team recruits and supports candidates at the grassroots level -- community volunteers, professional women's organization members, campaign activists, homeowner's association leaders, small business owners or others who could step forward to run for city council, school board, or other elected positions.

For more information:
The Farm Team
PO Box 8892
Richmond, VA 23225
farmteam.va@gmail.com
(804) 592-6028

Virginia NOW PAC
Sponsored by the National Organization for Women
The Virginia NOW PAC endorses and gives funds to candidates that promote women's causes and issues in Virginia that are endorsed by NOW. 
 

For more information:
Diana Egozcue, President
Virginia NOW
P.O. Box 7621
Arlington, VA 22207
vanowpresident@hotmail.com

Virginia Women's Political Caucus PAC
Sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus
The Virginia Women's Political Caucus, a chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus, recruits, trains and supports women candidates for elected and appointed office.

For more information:
Sandra Brandt, President
Virginia Women's Political Caucus
brandts1@verizon.net