TOLA Organizing Academy

What it reported doing in 2024

2024 Programs Spring 2024 The Organizing and Leadership Academy (TOLA), in collaboration with Communities for a New California (CNC) created a two month pilot program in the 41st Congressional district. The objectives of this effort which was completely funded by TOLA was to: a. recruit and train 6-8 organizers, b. recruit and train local community volunteers, c. increase turnout among less likely Latino or young voters TOLA interns, were selected because of their interest in learning campaign basics. The basics included: PDI instruction, self-motivation, recruitment of volunteers, specifics of mail balloting, importance of reporting, creating urgency, managing staff and personal visits. Our primary target was 61,961 Latinos who did not vote in November 2022.Our approach was two pronged. First, our bi-lingual phone bank (CNC) called voters in our target who have phones (this process helped clean up our list and identified people who have moved or were not interested). Each person talked to was asked what issues they were interested in, whether they planned to vote, and whether they would be interested in helping others get out to vote. Phoners/organizers were instructed to engage as best they could as we emphasized quality calls as opposed to quantity. Each night the script was improved/adjusted and modifications made.In less than a month we had conversations with over 6,000 less likely voters who indicated what issues were important to them (healthcare 11.6%, housing 22.9%, jobs 11.7, inflation 32.6, other 21%). 1,002 of these less likely voters indicated a willingness to volunteer.Each day the people who indicated willingness to volunteer were followed up by TOLA fellows either in person or on the phone. Of the 1,002 who agreed on the phone to volunteer, 312 actually volunteered, voters.Our efforts increased Latino turnout by 5%.Summer 2024 TOLA, in collaboration with the Cesar Chavez Service Clubs piloted a summer/fall program for high school students. In July 2024 a select group of 15 high school students from various high schools in San Diego were selected for an intensive internship learning the basics of community organizing. The project goal was to demonstrate the power and influence young people can have on elections and community improvement initiatives. The project had three distinct phases.Phase 1TOLA and Cesar Chavez Service Clubs interns spent three weeks attending seminars to become more knowledgeable about the different aspects that go into electoral non-partisan campaigns from polling to community outreach, while also learning the basics of community organizing. Interns also gained experience engaging voters through door-to-door work and phone banking.Phase 2During the fall school Interns developed their own outreach campaign demonstrating the power young voters can have electorally. During this phase interns of applied the organizing skills they learned to bring their projects to life. Each project reflects the interest of the intern and ties into a different aspect of a campaign.Phase 3During phase 3 of the project interns with the guidance of their mentors evaluated the success and impact of their project.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 83.8%; rating input score 84

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 90.9%; rating input score 91; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -99.9%; rating input score 0; 0th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.57; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.2% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.9% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings