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Through
telephone outreach, progressive organizations are able to
reach, inform and mobilize thousands of citizen supporters.
Directors of the Fund's Telephone Outreach Projects oversee
a staff who raise funds and activate citizens over the phone.
Your
responsibilities
You recruit
and manage a staff of 20 to 30 people, who conduct
membership drives and special appeals over the phone. You
train your staff in effective telephone canvassing techniques,
you identify those who show the most potential, and you teach
them how to be leaders.
You organize
a grassroots campaign. You teach your staff how to attract
media coverage for the issues. You teach them to enlist the
support of political leaders and others for your cause. You
teach them to organize grassroots pressure on elected officials,
corporate boards and other decision-makers.
You raise funds, seeking to reach or exceed your office
goals. A typical Telephone Outreach Project office will raise
$1 million and contact 50,000 citizens. You'll call two to
three evenings a week to train staff, raise money, and develop
new approaches.
You make
the office run smoothly, tracking and analyzing your staff's
performance in terms of fundraising, membership, campaign
and other work.
What
we're looking for in you
We want
to see if you're smart, motivated and action-oriented. If
you're interested in politics and are committed to progressive
issues. If you work well with a team of people. If you're
able to convey a sense of urgency and passion about the issues.
If you're able and willing to work hard. If you can be resourceful
on a shoestring budget. We'll train you on the issues, on
campaign strategies and tactics, and on calling skills. You
provide the brains, heart and drive.
What
you earn
Assistant Telephone Outreach Project Directors earn $23,750 in their first year.
All staff are eligible for apply for college loan assistance and accrue two weeks of paid vacation over the course of their first year on the Fund staff. Staff are encouraged to join our group health care plan through pre-tax payroll deductions. Those who secure positions with the Fund for a second year are eligible to join our 401(k) plan.
Where
you work
The Fund
is running Telephone Outreach Projects in Boston and
Portland, Ore.
Staff Profile
Name: Jonathan L. Jelen
Age: 29
Alma Mater: University of Illinois
Hometown: Downers Grove, IL
Started on staff: May 2001
Positions held:
-FM in Anchorage, AK
-CD in Albuquerque, NM winter (01/02) and Eugene, OR (summer 2002)
-TOP Director-Portland, OR
Before I started with the Fund, I was working in Chicago as part of a homeless services outreach program. Essentially, I provided individual and group counseling to homeless shelter residents. And while I absolutely loved the job and will always love Chicago, I have always had a deep desire to move westward and get away from the cold winters of Chicago. So, I naturally decided on Alaska and figured it was also time to try out the environmental field. And so the online job search began and I came across this strange group called the Fund for Public Interest Research. I called the Fund's office in Boston, scheduled an interview in the Chicago office, and was ultimately offered a position as a canvass director.
I decided to do the job for several reasons, but honestly, the most pressing reason was the fact that I was able to work on the issue that felt most strongly about at the time; saving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now, as the director of the Fund's Telephone Outreach Project in Portland, Oregon, I talk to members of the state PIRGs about a number of different issues. And this year we'll raise over a million dollars for public interest work.
And as far as why I continue to do it, it's really pretty simple. I like to hike and I love that sense of amazement standing in an old-growth area or hiking towards a summit. Those feelings, those places wouldn't exist if it weren't for our work. That's what we get out of doing this.
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