The Campaign for 400

Today, the New Democrat Network kicks off a national drive to raise hard, federal dollars. Called The Campaign for 400, this aggressive effort will attempt to raise $400,000 in federal dollars for NDN before year’s end. Through the generous support of our members we have identified at least $300,000 of that target. Our challenge is now to bring in that $300,000, and to identify and raise that extra $100,000 before the Holiday season.

We hope you will do everything you can to help NDN meet this critical goal. If you have federal money to give – whether $25 or $5,000 – you can donate to NDN through its website today, www.newdem.org/join. Though we will always take contributions through the mail, given the state of things in DC, we encourage you to contribute on-line. If you want to help round up others to give, or talk about a contribution please contact our Finance Director Kim Kauffman at 202-544-9200 x223 or kkauffman@newdem.org as soon as you can. For more information about the rules governing contributions from individuals to NDN, click here.

Why is This Campaign So Critical?

Even though we are on target to have our best fundraising year ever, we have a shortfall in hard, federal dollars. The reasons for this shortfall are many – a slowing economy, particularly in the tech sector; the ripple effect of September 11th; and perhaps too much internal investment to help build long-term capacity. To accommodate these new realities we have cut our operating budget by more than one-third, eliminating unfilled positions and some current ones. If we raise this $400,000 we are confident that NDN will be in balance and well positioned to continue to invest significantly in targeted 2002 races next year.

But most of all we need your support because the mission of NDN – preparing new leaders for a new time – is more important than ever before. Simply put, post-September 11th, NDN must do more. For if America is to have a competent generation of leaders capable of guiding us through these challenging times our network must step up and raise more money, train more candidates, engage in more issues and make an even bigger contribution. We must have more New Democrats: leaders focused on problem solving not politics; committed to international engagement, not isolationism or protectionism; for growth and fiscal discipline not reckless deficit spending; and not afraid to use the power of government to help provide for the needs of our people.

Help Us Cultivate the Next Generation of Leaders

As our founder Joe Lieberman said at our October 15th conference here in Washington:

When we launched the NDN five years ago, our hope was to cultivate the next generation of fresh thinkers and doers, the new leaders who would help our party and country meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a new century.

The remarkable record of the NDN in electing its chosen candidates to Congress and state and local offices is one proud measure of the Network’s success. But today’s conference and its impressive roster of thinkers and doers also shows that the NDN has not forgotten that the ultimate measurement of the New Democratic movement’s record is the extent to which we have remained faithful to our core values and open to new ideas that will make our country work better.

In short, NDN is a good idea that has worked. Our investments have dramatically increased the influence of New Democrats in Congress and across the country. One-third of all Congressional Democrats today are New Democrats. Two-thirds of those elected since the formation of the House and Senate New Democrat Coalitions have joined the two groups. And on issue after issue New Democrats are working as a team, with Democrats and Republicans, to get the job done for the American people.

We need your help today to make sure that this project – NDN – thrives in this extraordinary time. Please think hard and reach deep. Become part of our Campaign for 400 today. With your help we can continue to produce the leaders the country so desperately needs, and so clearly deserves.

Thank you for your consideration.

For More About the New Democrat Network

Log onto www.newdem.org for a tour of our comprehensive web site; go to www.newdem.org/candidates to learn about and contribute to our top targeted candidates from across the country; visit www.newdem.org/join to become part of our network today and help make sure we build a more modern, more effective Democratic Party; go to www.newdem.org/ndnnews to sign up for our free e-newsletter, produced 3-4 times a month; and please, email ideas and questions to us at info@newdem.org.