In following CDC guidelines, we're postponing all in-person events until it's safe to gather again. This has a direct impact on our fundraising; if you were thinking about supporting Run for Something this year, your generosity is especially needed right now. To get involved from home, sign up to volunteer.

Hi John --

Today, we're so excited to tell you that Run for Something is merging with Ascend PAC, an organization that has focused on building the bench of Democratic leaders exclusively by providing direct financial support to candidates. With this merger, we’re launching RFS Ascend, a program to provide high-impact investments to endorsed candidates running for state legislature in Texas and Pennsylvania.

The RFS team has been a big fan of Ascend since it started in 2017 (the same year as us!). Their approach aligns with ours -- we both identify who is leading in their respective community and who has the potential to go the distance in politics, and we both do rigorous vetting of candidates to get to know the nitty-gritty of their campaigns.

RFS Ascend will start by donating directly to approximately 25 candidates in Texas and Pennsylvania, investing a maximum of $10,000 total in each race. We'll be selecting those candidates via an in-depth interview process after the primaries conclude.

One note: This is all on top of the work Run for Something already does to support candidates. We’ll continue our efforts working with partners, connecting candidates to mentors and to each other, creating and amplifying resources and trainings, highlighting our candidates’ stories, and more. Our regional staff will continue to work 1:1 with endorsed candidates in all states, getting them the help they need. RFS Ascend is an addition to this program; it is not a replacement. Especially during the pandemic, state and local candidates need as much help as they can get to connect to voters in a meaningful, authentic way.

We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $250,000 this year (including $100,000 in the next month) to fund our initial 2020 investment round. Shoot a note to [email protected] to learn more about the program and how to join the investor community, which gives members an opportunity to recommend candidates, serve on state-based selection committees, and more -- or make a contribution to fund this program below.

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