How long does a cohort run? 

Fellows are expected to stay on board for an entire cohort cycle, which runs for 11 weeks. After the cohort cycle, they can transition off the project or continue on as a volunteer with their partner campaign or organization. Our 2023 cohorts are:

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• April Cohort: April 24 - July 10

• August Cohort: August 28 - November 14

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Where can I find project ideas?

1. Check out the Partner Guide 

2. Talk to a Bluebonnet staff member (info@bluebonnetdata.org) 

3. Read about Data Projects & Case Studies on the Bluebonnet Blog 

4. Skim through our Campaign Data 101 blog series:

Part 1: How to think about Data if you’re not a “Data Person”

Part 2: How to use Data in your campaign for Field, Messaging, and Policy

Part 3: How to use Data in your campaign for Finance and Internal Operations

Part 4: Case Studies & Other Resources

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How much does it cost to be matched with a team?

We charge an FEC-compliant fee to match campaigns and organizations to work with a Bluebonnet Data team. We charge $750 per cohort cycle to federal campaigns and state parties, and $500 to everyone else. In 2021, we also added a new matching fee option: $300 for a supplemental team match (1-2 fellows joining an ongoing team). The supplemental matching fee is only available to current clients looking to add to their team of Bluebonnet Data Fellows.

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• $750: Federal campaign or state party data team matching of 3-5 fellows 

• $500: Regular data team matching of 3-5 fellows 

• $300: Supplemental team matching of 1-2 fellows 

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Does the matching fee cover one fellow or a whole team? 

The matching fee covers a team of several volunteers, typically 3 to 5 people.

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Are there any other fees involved? 

No, there are no other fees associated with the program beyond the matching fee.

 

What does the matching fee pay for? 

This fee covers Bluebonnet Data’s service of matching a volunteer team to your campaign or organization. The fee is for the work done by Bluebonnet staff to coordinate and match a volunteer team with your organization. Once the fellows are matched, they become volunteers for your organization. 

 

Can I be matched with a team more than once?

Yes! We have many partners and clients who choose to be matched with teams multiple times over the course of a cycle, or across different cycles. We also offer a continuous matching arrangement, in which you can pay an up-front fee to have fellows continuously matched with you (as needed) at each cohort cycle. 

 

Does Bluebonnet Data match data teams with nonprofits? 

We match data teams with campaigns, nonprofits, PACs, unions, state parties, local parties, legislative causes, and other progressive organizations.

 

Does Bluebonnet Data work in primary elections?

Yes, we do match teams with primary campaigns, and we will work with multiple campaigns in the same primary provided they meet our criteria. We keep the fellow teams separate before the primary and ask that the campaigns share projects and best practices after the primary election.

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How do the data teams help nonprofits? 

Data teams help not only in many of the same ways as for campaigns (Targeting & Outreach, Strategy & Planning, Reporting & Infrastructure, etc.), but also have the skillset and creativity to assist in innovative ways: Deep canvassing data systems, creative voter registration targeting tactics, managing Donor data, targeting areas for candidate recruitment, and more.

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What do I do if a fellow drops out or I'm having another issue with my team? 

Reach out to our Programs Team at programs@bluebonnetdata.org). 

 

How do I offboard as a client?

Clients off-boarding from their Bluebonnet Data engagement are asked to fill out our feedback & off-boarding form. The information in this form is critical to Bluebonnet. We use it to inform how we structure the program for future cohorts. Clients can also schedule an off-boarding call with the Bluebonnet staff.

 

For wrapping up with the data team, we encourage clients to take over any accounts created for the Bluebonnet Fellows and to request access to any deliverables the fellows may have completed or still been working on. An off-boarding call with the team is highly encouraged.