Comprehensive Ballot Measure Campaign Support

A full-service partner, from the first conversation through election day.

A ballot measure campaign isn’t a project to layer on top of everything else your leadership team is already managing. It requires dedicated attention, coordinated execution across multiple channels, and consistent messaging over a sustained period—all while the day-to-day work of running a school district continues. For most districts, that’s more than internal staff can absorb without outside support.

Our Comprehensive Ballot Measure Campaign Support provides school districts with a full-service communication partner who manages the strategy, the creative work, the community outreach, and the execution. We make it easy for your leadership team to stay focused on leading while the campaign runs the way it needs to.

What Full-Service Support Includes

Every comprehensive engagement begins with a strategy and planning phase designed to establish a clear foundation before any public-facing work begins. From there, our team manages the full scope of campaign execution.

  • Campaign Strategy and Messaging Development

    We work closely with district leadership to develop a clear, honest, and compelling campaign message grounded in your district’s specific needs and community context. Key messages are developed for every audience: families, staff, community members without children in the district, business stakeholders, and others. Then, a campaign timeline is built around your election date and the community engagement opportunities that matter most.

  • Community Education and Outreach

    Informing the community is the core work of any ballot measure campaign. We develop and execute a coordinated outreach strategy that reaches voters where they are—through digital channels, print materials, community presentations, social media, and direct outreach. Every touchpoint is designed to build understanding and confidence in what the district is asking voters to support.

  • Creative Production and Materials

    Our in-house team produces the full range of campaign materials your district needs, including branded graphics and visual identity for the campaign, printed materials such as mailers, flyers, and door hangers, digital and social media content, website content and landing pages, talking points and presentation materials for leadership and advocates, and video content as needed.

  • Stakeholder and Advocate Engagement

    The most credible voices in any ballot measure campaign are community members—parents, staff, local business leaders, and others who can speak to why the measure matters. We help districts identify, organize, and equip those advocates with the messaging and materials they need to carry the campaign into conversations we can’t reach directly.

  • Media Relations

    Earned media coverage can significantly extend a campaign’s reach and reinforce credibility. We support districts with press releases, media outreach, and preparation for interviews and editorial board conversations to ensure your district’s message is represented accurately in local coverage.

  • Ongoing Counsel and Campaign Management

    Throughout the campaign, your team has direct access to experienced campaign counsel. We monitor momentum, advise on adjustments as conditions evolve, and keep the effort coordinated and on track from kickoff through election day.

Who This Service is Built For

Comprehensive campaign support is the right fit for districts that want an experienced partner to carry the weight of campaign strategy and execution. This service is particularly recommended for districts without dedicated communications staff, those running their first ballot measure, or those that have experienced a failed measure and want to approach the next effort more strategically.

It’s also the right fit for districts facing competitive or complex campaigns where the stakes are high, and the margin for error is low.

"I wanted to share my appreciation for all the support and guidance you provided throughout the CTE millage renewal process. Your help in shaping our communication strategy and your feedback on our campaign materials were really important to the initiative. It has been a pleasure working with you and the rest of the team at the Donovan Group."

David Sim, Public Engagement Specialist

Copper Country Intermediate School District (MI)

Frequently Asked Questions

When should we start the campaign?

Earlier than most districts think. Effective ballot measure campaigns require months of planning and sustained community engagement before election day. We generally recommend beginning the strategic planning process at least six months before the vote—and earlier for complex measures or communities where trust needs to be built over time.

What types of measures does this service cover?
How does the campaign stay within legal boundaries?
What if our district has tried and failed a ballot measure before?
Do we still maintain control over messaging and decisions?
How is this service priced?