Template: Grassroots Organizing Plan

Community Issue Identification

Community/neighborhood: _________________________________ Issue to address: _______________________________________ How this issue affects community members: ________________ _________________________________________________

Community Listening Plan

Methods I’ll use to gather community input (check all that apply): ☐ One-to-one conversations ☐ Small group discussions ☐ Community surveys ☐ Public forums ☐ Participatory research ☐ Other: _________________________________

Key questions to ask community members: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________ 4. ________________________________________

Community Assets Mapping

List existing community strengths and resources that could help address this issue:

Issue Analysis

Based on community input, analyze the issue:

Root causes: _______________________________________ Previous attempts to address: _______________________ Power holders who can make decisions: _______________ Potential opposition: _______________________________ Winnability assessment: ☐ High ☐ Medium ☐ Low

Core Team Development

Initial organizing team:

Team coordination plan: - Meeting frequency: _______________________ - Communication methods: ___________________ - Decision-making process: _________________

Leadership Development Strategy

Potential leaders from different community segments: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________ 4. ________________________________________

Leadership development approaches: - Training opportunities: ____________________ - Mentoring pairs: _________________________ - Skill-building roles: ______________________ - Reflection practices: _____________________

Campaign Strategy

Specific goal: _________________________________ Target decision-maker(s): ______________________ Timeline: ____________________________________

Key tactics: | Tactic | Purpose | Timeline | Resources Needed | Lead Person(s) | |——–|———|———-|——————|—————-| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Resource Plan

Budget needs and potential sources: _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Non-financial resources needed: _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Communication Strategy

Core message about the issue: _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Communication channels: ☐ Community meetings ☐ Flyers/posters ☐ Social media ☐ Local media ☐ Door-to-door outreach ☐ Other: _________________________________

Broader Connections

Similar efforts in other communities: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________

Potential allies beyond the immediate community: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________

Sustainability Plan

How will you maintain momentum? _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

How will you prevent burnout among participants? _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Success Metrics

How will you know if your organizing is effective?

Reflection Questions

• Is our approach truly community-led?
• Are we developing new leaders throughout our work?
• Are we building power that will last beyond this specific issue?
• How does our local work connect to broader systemic change?

Remember: Grassroots organizing represents the heart of democratic participation—ordinary people coming together to shape the conditions of their lives through collective action. Some of history’s most significant changes began with ordinary people gathering around kitchen tables to address shared concerns.