Fundraising For Campaigns: Danielle Bradley on Building a Winning Strategy
Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our podcast series, Tips From The Trail, hosted by WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez, where we explore the path to political office, from the decision to run to election day.
In our latest episode, we're joined by Danielle Bradley: lobbyist, political consultant, and current partner at The Montana Group. After earning her BA in Political Science from the University of Montana in 2016, she worked for U.S. Senator Steve Daines, managing constituent relationships across Western Montana. She served as Field & Coalitions Director for Senator Daines' 2020 re-election campaign and later as Executive Director of the Montana Republican Party from 2021-2024, overseeing communications, finance, and political strategy.
Danielle brings a wealth of political experience to the show, and in this episode, we focused our discussion with her on key considerations to developing a fundraising strategy. Check out insights from Danielle’s episode below!
The foundation of any successful campaign starts building your house list. Danielle stressed the importance of starting this process early—don't wait. This includes past donors, friends, and acquaintances. Danielle also highlighted that "it's important to know your donors and understand their giving capacity."
For first-time candidates, developing a solid fundraising plan can feel overwhelming. Make sure to prioritize it from the start and keep it front and center throughout your campaign. “Sometimes it's not very comfortable to ask people for money," Danielle acknowledged, "but building in call time to your schedule is critical when you're running for office. If you put it off, you'll end up short. Hold yourself accountable to your goals."
Danielle emphasized that where you're running matters tremendously—the cost of a State Senate race in Montana differs drastically from one in Florida. Understanding your district's political lean and whether you're facing an incumbent are equally crucial considerations.
Three final considerations as you build your fundraising strategy: First, be sure to maintain strong relationships with your donors through thank you cards and regular updates on your campaign's progress, polling, and fundraising milestones. At events, bring someone with you who can handle donation logistics at the door while you focus on networking. And always make donating as simple as possible through digital tools like QR codes and text-to-give options.
As Danielle reminded listeners, it's okay to lean on seasoned candidates in your network for advice. You can also find support with organizations like WPLN who provide guidance and free resources (like this podcast!) to help you throughout your journey.
