Checklist: Starting with Grassroots
Use this checklist to build effective community-based initiatives from the ground up.
Understanding Grassroots Organizing Principles
Identified successful grassroots efforts that inspire me
Analyzed which core principles (people-centered, relationship-based) were evident in those initiatives
Considered how grassroots approaches differ from top-down methods
Reflected on how local knowledge and expertise can inform solutions
Researched historical grassroots movements relevant to my interests
Identified key strategies that made these movements effective
Building Community-Based Initiatives
Developed questions to understand community concerns
Created a plan for listening to diverse community members
Established methods for documenting community input
Identified patterns in community concerns and priorities
Evaluated potential issues based on winnability, community energy, and strategic importance
Formed an initial core team with clear roles and responsibilities
Established transparent decision-making processes
Created communication channels for coordination
Identifying and Developing Local Leadership
Mapped potential leaders from different parts of the community
Noted their relationships, skills, interests, and motivations
Developed an outreach plan for initial conversations
Identified key skills to build among community leaders
Created pathways of increasing responsibility for new leaders
Established regular reflection opportunities for learning
Designed a team structure with complementary roles
Ensured representation from different community segments
Creating Effective Campaigns with Limited Resources
Inventoried available physical spaces, skills, and other resources
Identified potential in-kind donations from local businesses
Mapped technology and communication tools already accessible
Developed creative, low-cost tactics to advance your issue
Created story angles that might attract media attention
Designed tasks that match different time availability
Established systems for running efficient, effective meetings
Developed strategies to prevent burnout among participants
Connecting Local Action to Broader Change
Traced local issues back to root causes at different levels
Identified other communities experiencing similar issues
Listed potential allies working on similar issues elsewhere
Identified larger organizations that might support your work
Created specific ways to share resources or support each other
Connected personal stories to larger public narratives
Articulated how local work reflects broader values
Described how local solutions could inform larger systemic change
Grassroots Strategy Reflection
Evaluated whether my approach is truly community-led
Considered if leadership development is integrated throughout
Assessed whether resources are being used sustainably
Reflected on connections between local work and broader systems
Identified specific next steps to strengthen grassroots organizing
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.