Once your group has identified an objective or a set of demands, the next step is to plan your campaign strategy. Your strategy is how you turn the resources you have into the power you need to achieve the change you want.

Creating a campaign strategy is essential for a strong, sustainable campaign. Planning strategies carefully and revising them continuously as campus climate and group membership evolve can prevent setbacks often caused by a lack of a clear and cohesive vision, team fragmentation, or disorganized actions. A great strategic plan helps us understand how we are going to “win” something before we even start organizing our first event, and keeps us focused on achieving our goals effectively and collectively. Your strategic plan will have three essential components, the Three Ts: Targets, Timeline, and Tactics.

  • Target: Who has the power to make the changes you’re fighting for?
  • Timeline: When could these decisions be made? When are your target(s) most susceptible to pressure?
  • Tactics: What concrete actions are you going to use to put pressure on your target(s)?

This resource is part of our Campus Organizing Toolkit. Whether your campus needs policy and judicial process reform, has a lack of crisis response and counseling services, or needs greater prevention education, the Campus Organizing Toolkit will walk you through legal requirements and organizing strategies needed to plan an effective campaign.