EMILY’S List
EMILY’s List members are dedicated to building a progressive America by electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. 
The organisation invests in women as candidates, as contributors, as campaign professionals, and as voters in order to bring about great change in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America of America
EMILY is an acronym that stands for “Early Money Is Like Yeast”
Mission
EMILY’s List is committed to a three-pronged strategy to elect pro-choice Democratic women: recruiting and funding viable women candidates; helping them build and run effective campaign organizations; and mobilizing women voters to help elect progressive candidates across the nation.
History
EMILY’s List was established in 1985 when 25 women decided to establish a powerful network of women to mobilise and fund raise for pro-choice Democratic women candidates. These “founding mothers” pioneered a new concept in fundraising: a donor network that would provide its members with information about candidates and encourage them to write checks directly to the candidates they choose. At that time, no Democratic woman had been elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right, no woman had been elected governor of a large state, and the number of Democratic women in the U.S. House of Representatives had declined. Frustrated by the barriers that prevented women from making it to the top political offices, these women founded EMILY’s List to elect more women to the House and Senate, and as governors.
Activities
- EMILY’s List identifies viable opportunities to elect pro-choice Democratic women to office, recruits qualified candidates, trains them to be effective fundraisers and communicators, and works with them throughout the campaign to make sure that they are executing a winning strategy.
- EMILY’s List trains candidates and campaign professionals to effectively organize, fund raise, and communicate their message.
- EMILY’s List uses marketing techniques to help identify key segments of women voters for the Democratic electorate. Through Women’s Monitor surveys and other projects, EMILY’s List researches the political concerns and values that guide women’s electoral choices. Analysis of their findings are shared with candidates. Mobilisation campaigns include public awareness campaigns through broadcast advertising, web sites, direct mail and personal voter contact.
Key Achievements
Since its founding, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 79 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, and 9 governors.
References
External Links
- Sweet, Lynn. “The Scoop from Washington.” 11 January 2007. Chicago Sun Times . 27 June 2010
- Horowitz, Jason. ” EMILY’s List Trashes NARAL for Obama Endorsement.” 14 May 2008. The New York Observer . 20 June 2010