1. Your hospital foundation can be a political change agent?
Chris Wilder, CEO, Valley Medical Center Foundation
June 22, 2017 Time

2. Yes. In fact, It can.
2008: Measure A to rebuild Valley Medical Center = $840M
2009: Campaign to defeat Prop. 1D = success. $$$ protected.
2010: Measure A to fund the Children’s Health Initiative = fail
2012: Measure A to boost County sales tax by 1/8₵ = $500M
2016: Measure A to build supportive/affordable housing = $950M

3. 30 minutes? I only have 30 minutes?
2008: Measure A to rebuild Valley Medical Center = $840M
2016: Measure A to build supportive/affordable housing = $950M

4. Thanks, Ballotpedia!

5. Yes, in California we’re very lucky
…and you make your own luck sometimes.
COMPETITOR: Jack, you’re the luckiest putter I’ve ever seen!
JACK NICKLAUS: Yep. And the more I practice, the luckier I get.

6. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot
4. Build your campaign team
5. Raise as much money as you possibly can
6. Find as many champions as you possibly can
7. Follow the rules, follow the science
8. Be ready for victory. And defeat.
Neutralize
Opposition!

7. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just Neutralize
Opposition!

8. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just Neutralize
Opposition!
1994

9. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
Neutralize
Opposition!

10. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot (or docket)
Neutralize
Opposition!

11. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot (or docket)
4. Build your campaign team(s)
- Professional Strategist
- Biggest potential donors
- Sympathetic organizers/activists
Neutralize
Opposition!

12. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot
4. Build your campaign team
5. Raise as much money as you possibly can
2008 we raised/spent $1.2M
2016 we raised/spent $2.4M (450K votes)
Two million people live in Santa Clara County…mostly Democrats.
Neutralize
Opposition!

13. How do you raise that kind of money?
Existing donors
FPPC lists to races/candidates around you…public information
Other medical centers around you (our treasure trove in 2008)
Construction/development companies
Labor/bargaining units within your medical center (and outside)
Endorsing elected officials
Other non-profits…here’s where you tell them the rules

14. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot
4. Build your campaign team
5. Raise as much money as you possibly can
6. Find as many champions as you possibly can
Endorsements!
Earned Media, Paid Media
Send everyone out to speak to everyone
Neutralize
Opposition!

15. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot
4. Build your campaign team
5. Raise as much money as you possibly can
6. Find as many champions as you possibly can
7. Follow the rules, follow the science
No lawn signs or other non-targeted outreach
Base your messages around the data
Frequent voters sympathetic to your cause…get them!
Neutralize
Opposition!

16. The roadmap 1. convince yourself that your cause is just
2. Find out if anyone else also thinks so
3. Write it up, get it on the ballot
4. Build your campaign team
5. Raise as much money as you possibly can
6. Find as many champions as you possibly can
7. Follow the rules, follow the science
8. Be ready for victory. And defeat.
If you win, win the victory.
If you lose, dust yourself off and re-work the plan.

17. I know it’s not this simple…but hey, 30 minutes.
IRS, NOLO Press…read carefully; they will try to scare you.
Does your Foundation have a nonprofit lawyer on its board?
If you really, truly want to see your hospital foundation become a change agent, great. Call me. We’ll spend more than 30 minutes.
Chris Wilder, CEO
Valley Medical Center Foundation