Wanna run for office? Crowdpac wants to help you get funded

The startup that once helped a college professor become state rep is coming to Philly to talk campaign funding.

Through Crowdpac — the self-billed “platform for political participation” — Temple University adjunct professor Chris Rabb raised $8,510, which fueled his successful 2016 bid to unseat incumbent Tonyelle Cook-Artis for the Democratic nomination.

On Nov. 29, the San Francisco-based startup — which we last saw in town when it won this civic-tech pitch competition — is coming to Pipeline Philly to host a free workshop on digital crowdfunding for political campaigns, in partnership with Committee of Seventy and Philadelphia 3.0.

Join @Phila3_0, @Crowdpac and C70 for a 101 training on how to crowdfund your run for office, hosted at @PipelinePhilly on 11/29 — Refreshments will be provided and registration is FREE: https://t.co/G3TC0N7L2l pic.twitter.com/T2C8ApjUmG

— Committee of Seventy (@Committeeof70) November 15, 2017

“The single-biggest challenge any candidate faces when they run for office is raising money,” said Mason Harrison, Crowdpac’s communications chief. “In this seminar, we’ll teach citizens the basics of exploring a run for office and raising the money they need to actually win.”

Much like Emerge Pennsylvania, the local chapter of a national accelerator for Democratic women candidates, Crowdpac had a big night on Nov. 7. It helped over 70 candidates raise funds toward successful bids, including landmark races like that of Virginia state rep Danica Roem — the first openly transgender candidate to ever win a state house seat — and Wilmot Collins, the first black mayor in the state of Montana.