NGP VAN
NGP VAN is the leading software platform used by Democratic campaigns, progressive organizations, and nonprofits for managing their voter outreach and fundraising efforts. Think of it as a specialized customer relationship management (CRM) system, but specifically designed for political campaigns. It helps campaign staff keep track of voters, donors, and volunteers all in one place. The system is widely used by Democratic candidates from local races all the way up to presidential campaigns. Some people also refer to it as "VAN" (Voter Activation Network) or "NGP" separately, as these were originally two different companies that merged.
Examples in Resumes
Managed voter outreach database using NGP VAN for state senate campaign
Trained 50+ volunteers on VAN for voter contact programs
Used NGP VAN to coordinate fundraising efforts resulting in $500,000 raised
Typical job title: "Campaign Data Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Campaign Data Managers
Professional Networks
Job Boards
Training Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you set up a campaign's voter contact program using NGP VAN?
Expected Answer: Should explain creating targeted voter universes, setting up walk lists and phone banks, managing volunteer teams, and tracking progress through various metrics and reports.
Q: Describe your experience with troubleshooting database sync issues in NGP VAN.
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience managing large voter file databases, resolving sync issues between different campaign offices, and implementing data quality controls.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use NGP VAN to track fundraising progress?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain setting up fundraising targets, tracking contributions, managing donor information, and creating financial reports.
Q: What methods do you use to train volunteers on NGP VAN?
Expected Answer: Should describe experience creating training materials, conducting sessions, and managing user permissions for different volunteer roles.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic features of NGP VAN?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic functions like looking up voters, creating call lists, and entering contact results.
Q: How do you create a basic voter contact list in NGP VAN?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how to search for voters by basic criteria and export lists for phone banking or door knocking.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-1 years)
- Basic voter file management
- Creating simple contact lists
- Data entry and basic reporting
- Volunteer coordination
Mid (1-3 years)
- Advanced targeting and list creation
- Campaign progress tracking
- Volunteer training and management
- Fundraising database management
Senior (3+ years)
- Full campaign database administration
- Complex targeting strategies
- Data analysis and reporting
- Staff training and program development
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with Democratic campaigns or progressive organizations
- Lack of basic understanding of political campaign operations
- No experience managing volunteer teams
- Poor data management practices
Related Terms
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