What can I expect from the program?

• The program provides practitioners with foundational knowledge and skills for ballot measure campaigns
  
• Our participants understand the “why” and “how” for centering racial equity and directly impacted communities in every aspect of their ballot measure campaign
  
• The program expands the number of leaders in the ballot measure space with a focus on increasing leadership of historically marginalized communities in this space
  
• The training program lifts up the best practices, lessons learned, and leadership of BISC’s state partners​​

What courses are you offering and what is the cost? 

Ballot Measure Leader Training Membership (RECOMMENDED)

The membership level provides full access to all Ballot Measure Leader Training course offerings including: training modules for all phases of the ballot measure campaign including tools and templates, automatic invites to virtual workshops and office hours (returning in 2023) that will allow them to engage with experienced practitioners and put into practice what they are learning, and access to our community feature which provides opportunities to connect and build relationships with other trainees. Membership level participants automatically receive access to new and updated offerings as they become available. 

Cost: $1,200 - paid upfront or in monthly payments of $100 for a full calendar year. Members retain access to modules for the full year of membership.

Individual Training Modules

For experienced practitioners looking for a quick refresher, or newer leaders looking to learn about a specific aspect of ballot measure campaigns, we do offer ad hoc access to our training modules. These individual training modules provide participants with the video content and related tools and templates only. Office hours and workshop access available for purchase separately.  

Cost: $50/module. Participants retain access to the module for 90 days after purchase. 

360 Ballot Measure Lifecycle Packages 

This is an offering of a set of training modules, grouped by the phases of the 360 ballot measure lifecycle. This allows participants to engage in training based on where they are in the campaign cycle. They will receive access to training content videos and related tools and templates, automatic invites to the workshops and office hours connected to those modules (returning in 2023), and access to our community feature which provides opportunities to connect and build relationships with other trainees.

Cost: Varies by package. Includes a 10% discount for purchasing together. Participants retain access to modules for 180 days after purchase. 

Pricing for the remainder of 2022:

• Incubation Phase Package (3 modules and Community): $165
• Decision Phase Package (4 modules and Community): $210
• Qualification Phase Package (4 modules and Community): $210
• Campaign Phase Package (6 modules and Community): $300
• Post-Campaign and Implementation Phase Package (2 modules and Community): $120

Customized Packages and Bespoke Training

BISC also provides customized packages and bespoke training to organizations looking to train multiple staff at once. To discuss options, please reach out to [email protected].

What other details can you offer about the training program?

The ballot measure training program consists of modules: Pre-recorded videos that walk you through the core concepts of ballot measure campaigns. These are accompanied by homework and quizzes to further support your understanding of these concepts. These modules can be watched multiple times, as needed.

We offer tools and templates to strengthen your learning and support you in putting the core concepts covered into practice.  

When capacity allows we offer office hours which are pre-scheduled virtual events that gather participants with BISC staff and ballot measure experts to ask questions and dive deeper into the concepts covered in each phase of the ballot measure lifecycle. 

We sometimes offer LIVE workshops: Workshops are interactive, live, virtual events that allow participants to work together to practice what they’ve learned and work through real-life campaign scenarios. 

One of the best and most valuable aspects of the training program is our community: Virtual chat rooms for you to build relationships with fellow trainees, interact with BISC staff, ask questions and share insights or experiences that will further one another’s learning. 

I’m new to ballot measures. Is this training program right for me?

Our training program remains focused on teaching people the basics of running a ballot measure campaign--from the incubation phase through the implementation phase. The training is a combination of modules, office hours, and live workshops --all targeted towards those with little to no ballot measure experience. 

How long will it take to complete the course(s) and how much time should I expect to put into the training?

Each module is about 60-90 minutes total, but is broken down into more digestible subsections of 15-20 minutes each. 

What forms of payment do you accept?

We offer PayPal and accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express (AMEX), Discover. 

Do you offer scholarships? How do I apply?

If the cost of the training is a barrier to access, please reach out to [email protected] to discuss options.

How is the ballot measure training program different than past years?

In 2021, BISC moved our training program to an online learning platform in order to have a more flexible approach that matches the needs of our participants. Through a mix of pre-recorded videos and live sessions, participants have access to the foundational skills they need to be successful in the ballot measure space while interacting with a community of their peers across geographies and issue areas. 

Are there other ways to get involved in BISC’s programs?

The Ballot Measure Leader Training is also an onramp to other BISC programs, such as the Peer-to-Peer Cohorts, Road Ahead Conference, Direct Democracy Campaign, and 360 Alignment Work, that will allow you to continue learning and grow your leadership skills.

Who are some of your training program graduates and what campaigns have they run?

Mila Al-Ayoubi, a former BISCuit, attended our first Ballot Measure Campaign Management Training in 2013. She went on to help lead Florida’s historic 2018 Amendment 4 - Voting Restoration. The five year effort was the blueprint to BISC’s Declaration of Equity--a guide for coalitions and ballot measure campaigns on how to use principles of equity and inclusion to win durable victories at the ballot. 

Ellie Pérez, a Political Director at Arizona Education Association, trained with BISC at our 2019 Ballot Measure Campaign Management Training, then played a major role for 2020’s Prop 208 InvestinED campaign in Arizona. 

How do I apply for the training program?

       You can apply for access to the training on the application page. 

How can I contact you directly?

        We can be reached at [email protected].