Field Leaders Research Network

The Field Leaders Research Network (FLRN) was established in 2021 to help grassroots group leaders explore how the latest research can inform their political volunteering.  FLRN members are a diverse group: some are experienced researchers, others are group leaders who want to learn and apply new information.  

• What research can we find and what research might we create?
• What are the implications of this research?
• What could we do to have more influence on election outcomes?
• How can we make sure we are deploying tried-and-true tactics correctly?
• How do we evaluate results published by organizations that depend on donations to continue their work?

On the third Tuesday of each month at 5pm, FLRN hosts an all-member meeting featuring a presentation from an invited guest speaker.  Between meetings, the conversation continues over a private Slack channel and during FLRN discussion group meetings. 

Field Leaders Research Network Resources

FLRN Research Repository

FLRN Slack Channel

FLRN Google Drive

These resources are restricted to FLRN members only.

The FLRN cordially invites political volunteers and researchers to fill out the FLRN member application.  Apply to join the Field Leaders Research Network.

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Previous Events

3/19/2024 — Jeremy Smith, Civitech

2/20/2024 — Aaron Strauss, Open Labs Institute

1/16/2024 — Emily Wasserman and Phong Le from Vote Forward

11/19/2023 — Don Green – co-author, Get Out the Vote

10/17/2023 — Neal Hussein, Bluebonnet Data — Campaign Data: How it drives election outcomes AND the volunteer experience

9/19/2023 — Amy Binder and Jeffrey Kidder, the authors of The Channels of Student Activism: How the Left and Right Are Winning (and Losing) in Campus Politics Today

8/15/2023 — Sam Novey, University of MD – Student Vote Research Network

6/27/2023 — The Collaboration Project – The Experience of Grassroots Leaders Working with the Democratic Party

5/16/2023 — Susan Labandibar, Swing Blue Alliance — Converting supporters to engaged volunteers

4/18/2023 — Nancy Thomas, Institute for Democracy and Higher Education — Groundbreaking research highlights new opportunities for turning out college students

3/21/2023 — Pete Backof, Courier Newsroom — Sugar and Vegetables: Courier Newsroom’s experiment on the power of local news

2/21/2023 — Reid McCollum, Progressive Turnout Project — Tired of underpowered experiments? Meet Reid McCollum from the Progressive Turnout Project

1/17/2023 — Sara Mitchell and Cherie Martin, Senior Program Strategists at the Analyst Institute — The Analyst Institute’s new training program for organizers, activists and volunteers

12/20/2022 — Page Gardner, founder of the Voter Participation Center — Pre- and post-election surveys of the 2022 midterm electorate

11/15/2022 — All Member Discussion — 2022 post-midterm observations, ideas and experiences

9/20/2022 —  Ausaf Qarni, Working America’s Director of Research and Analytics — Working America Deep Dive

8/23/2022 — Lara Putnam, University of Pittsburgh — Fed up with Democratic Emails?  You’re not the only one

7/19/2022 — David Nickerson, Focus for Democracy — Update on Targeting

6/21/2022 — David Nickerson, Focus for Democracy — Effectiveness of voter contact methods

5/17/2022 — Ning Mosberger-Tang,  Blue Wave Postcard Movement — Results of recent postcard projects

4/19/2022 — Mallory Roman, Sister District Action Network — An ambitious research agenda on handwritten messages

3/15/2022 — Casey Accardi, Galvanize Action — Research, turnkey creative and voter profiles/targeting information

2/15/2022 — Bob Newby, VoPro Pros — The FLRN Research Repository

Finale Norton and Robbin Warner, Postcards4VA — Postcards4VA and the Virginia Grassroots Coalition Messaging Working Group

1/31/2022 — Jessica Broitman, Heal the Divide — Connecting with conservative-leaning unaffiliated voters

12/21/2021 — Kevin Mack, The Voter Project — Sending vote by mail applications in Pennsylvania from 2020 and 2021

12/20/2021  — John Loewenstein, Swing Blue Alliance — The results are in: We increased turnout by 1.3% in Broward County

11/16/2021 — Isabel Byron, Red2Blue — What is the evidence that our volunteers are engaged in the most effective activities?

10/19/2021 —  Scott Forman, Founder and Executive Director of Vote Forward — Dissecting the “Big Send”

9/21/2021 — William and Mary professor emeritus, Ron Rapoport, and his colleague Drew Engelhardt, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro — Survey research and how it can inform our field efforts

Learn more about our sister group, the Grassroots Fundraising Network.