What is the Florida Institute for Political Leadership (FIPL)?
The Florida Institute for Political Leadership is an initiative by the Florida Chamber of Commerce to recruit, train and provide campaign training to candidates across the State of Florida.
Is the campaign school non-partisan?
It’s non-partisan, it is free, and open to everyone. We are not asking you to hire us. We are asking you to partner with us to secure Florida’s future.
What is the cost to attend?
The cost is free. We cover all costs, materials and speakers associated with the training or campaign schools. The Institute will partner with local Chambers of Commerce, and other interested groups, to host the schools. Candidates who are currently running for office or current elected officials who wish to attend the school will be required to pay a nominal fee to comply with contribution and gift laws.
When will the campaign schools be held?
The schedule for our campaign schools is updated annually and may vary from year to year. You can find the most current schedule on the “Campaign Schools” tab at www.FIPL.org. Schools are being scheduled on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Where will schools be hosted?
The Florida Institute for Political Leadership aims to partner with local chambers of commerce and community organizations to host the schools. The schools will be hosted online through the use of Zoom technology. We have private and secure online meeting rooms for the schools and training. Attendees can join from their home or work as long as they have access to internet and a quiet place to participate in the program.
How many attendees will be in each school?
Campaign schools are held entirely online via Zoom, allowing unlimited participation. There is no cap on the number of attendees, so anyone interested is welcome to join from anywhere.
Who is eligible to attend?
The schools are open to leaders in the community who want to know how to enter public office, want to serve on local boards or appointed positions or are considering running for office in the future. It also can help current elected officials. We are seeking people who want to serve their community and Florida.
What types of training are available?
Campaign schools are provided online and consist of two sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM local time. Over the course of the program, we cover key campaign milestones—how to prepare to run for office, how to build a winning campaign organization, and how to effectively communicate with voters. For more information, please see our Institute page.
How long does the campaign school last?
The campaign school is a two-session online training program, with each session running from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM local time. All you need to participate is a computer with camera and audio capabilities and a reliable internet connection.
What does the campaign school teach you?
The campaign schools are broken up into three different sessions.
Local and State Issues: We will discuss Florida and local issues and help candidates understand where they can get more information and resources on topics that impact their community.
Preparing to Run: We teach you how to prepare to run for office in the future. Candidates who are looking to run for office one to three years in the future will learn how to get an early start and prepare themselves now.
How to Run and Win: Our campaign schools consist of an A to Z overview on how to run for office today. The campaign school modules include planning, budgeting, voter targeting, communications, get out the vote and how to run early voting and vote by mail programs. We also cover election laws and campaign compliance.
Who will teach the schools?
The schools will be taught by non-partisan political professionals selected by the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Subject matter experts will also be invited to attend and share their experience during particular classes, including University Political Science Professors. The school will also feature a chamber presentation or speaker about the Florida 2030 plan.
All educators will have no conflicts of interest with any local candidates or races and they are not looking to get hired or sell any services. This is educational and does not compete with consultants or other vendors services campaigns will use.
What is the goal of the Florida Institute for Political Leadership?
Our focus is local. Our goal is simple: We want to recruit better candidates across the State of Florida who want to run today or in the future.
How do I get more information, sign up to attend a school or to host a school?
Go to our contact page at FIPL.org and sign up today and get started.