A candidate event is a powerful way to engage your community around an upcoming election, build awareness about the issues that matter to your organization and community, and to learn more about the candidates. Because a nonprofit plays a nonpartisan role in hosting candidate events, it can frame these events as essential opportunities for improving the public understanding of the election process and rare but important opportunities for local residents to actively participate in the democratic process.

In addition to the Minnesota Participation Project's 2010 Candidate Event Mini-Grant program, we also have additional resources and planning guides for nonprofits hosting a candidate forum or other voter education activities.

• Voter education overview toolbox for nonprofits
  A toolbox for nonprofits to get a sense for different forms of voter education you can engage in, from candidate events to candidate questionnaires. 

• Nonprofits Guide to Hosting Candidate Forums
  A step-by-step manual on planning, politics, public relations and the law around candidate forums

• Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network's Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum
  Guide to planning, publicizing and hosting a nonpartisan candidate forum

• Candidate Event Planning Matrix
  Worksheet with items to consider when planning your candidate event

• Choosing Your Format for Candidate Events
  There are many different types of candidate events that you can host. Check out this resource to help find the right format for your nonprofit.


• Inviting Candidates
Consider the tips in this document for inviting electoral candidates to your event

• Planning for accessibility
  There are some things to consider while planning and hosting a candidate event in order to make it accessible for every Minnesotan.

• Candidate Forum Turnout Toolbox
  Tools and tactics to maximize the turnout of nonprofits, volunteers, candidates, and audience for your candidate event.

• League of Women Voters of the United States' FAQ about candidate debates and forums