Campaigner Corps

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The SEIU Campaigner Corps creates a small, cohort-based learning and capacity building

experience that helps grow, challenge and support the advancement and development of

strategic, comprehensive campaigners in our union.

overview

As a year-long, hybrid program with both in-person and virtual sessions, the SEIU Campaigner Corps focuses on developing organizational leadership and comprehensive campaign planning and execution.

Organizational Leadership

Connect purpose, values, power and vision to individual leadership stance and growth
Develop ability to navigate systems and identify collaboration to advance the work
Understand how to apply a racial justice and equity lens to campaigns and teams

Comprehensive Campaign Planning and Execution

Situate campaigns with what the current times may require of campaigners, including in the context of overall union’s priorities and current political realities
Ability to access and assess the landscape, analyze key factors and understand and apply a critical lens to building power
Understand different planning concepts, models and tools for developing campaign strategy
Design, develop and write comprehensive campaign goals and plans integrating multiple, relevant components and syncing to overall campaign strategy
Best practices and tools to build and drive a diverse and multi-component team

Nominations Open Now

Nominations due by Friday, November 7, 2025.

program components

The program’s goal is to go beyond putting together a comprehensive campaign and to provide a dynamic space for cohort leaders to think strategically for the short and long-term. In order to truly rise to meet the moment as campaigners, the components include:

In-person sessions that include an opening and closing session
Virtual zoom sessions that occur between in-person sessions
Learning tied to current campaign work and exposure to other priority breakthrough campaigns, as sessions held will be in cities where participants can learn about the comprehensive campaigns happening there
Guest speakers and opportunities to interact with seasoned campaigners both in-person and virtually around best practices and lessons learned in campaigning
Opportunities to learn about theories and application of various elements in a comprehensive campaign
Supervisor component that includes orientation and quarterly check-ins with cohort supervisors

program commitment

Participants to attend all in-person and virtual sessions
Supervisors to attend orientation, check-ins and debriefs
Supervisor Virtual Orientation: Week of February 17, 2026
Participant Virtual Orientation: Week of February 24, 2026
Three (3) In-Person Sessions
- Session 1: March 10-12, 2026
- Session 2: June 9-11, 2026
- Session 3: September 8-10, 2026
One (1) In-Person Closing Session: November 11-12, 2026
Three (3) Virtual Sessions, in between in-person sessions
- Virtual learning sessions with Justice Movement Leaders and cohort building conversations
Quarterly 1:1 check-ins with cohort participants
Quarterly check-in with supervisors

“As an Organizing Director based in Saskatchewan, Canada, my work can sometimes feel isolated from professional mentorship and idea-sharing. Campaigner Corps solved this problem for me. Now, I have other Organizing Directors to work with, I have a network that includes Research Directors, Political Organizers, and Internal Organizing Directors."

–Graham Mitchell, SEIU-West Organizing Director

eligibility

The SEIU Campaigner Corps Program is a selective program. Eligibility Requirements are:

5+ years of union organizing experience that may include External, Internal, Research, Communications, Data, or Politics
Active leadership role in a current campaign
Potential to lead comprehensive campaigns

APPLICATION PROCESS

Nominations due by Friday, November 7, 2025
Candidate Applications due by Friday, November 28, 2025
Decisions by Friday, December 12, 2025, with follow-up 1:1 check-ins to begin preparation for February virtual orientation and first in-person meeting

Questions?

For more information or any questions, please contact Susan Li, susan.li@seiu721.org

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