Free marketing help for first-time local candidates
Creative Cabinet (formerly Civic Power of Change) matches progressive candidates running for local or state office with volunteer marketing and creative professionals, so first-time candidates can get that help for free. The volunteers build campaign messaging, logos, websites, social graphics and print materials. Volunteers donate their time; campaigns pay only their own hard costs, like printing and advertising.
Who it’s for
Progressive candidates for local and state office: school board, city council, county commission, state legislature and similar seats. Many are first-time candidates without a campaign budget or staff.
Since 2018, Creative Cabinet has served over 300 candidates and supported candidates in 48 states (incl. DC).
What you can get help with
- Message: a short, clear reason you’re running, plus your bio
- Brand: a logo, colors and fonts you can use everywhere
- Website: a simple campaign site with your story and how to help
- Social: graphics and templates for your posts
- Print: walk cards, palm cards and mailers
- Video: short pieces for social or your site
Why running matters, even against the odds
Most seats go unchallenged, and that hands them to the other side. In 2024, 70% of the nearly 77,000 elections Ballotpedia tracked were uncontested, and Republicans won nearly 80% of uncontested partisan races in that year’s general election (BallotReady). Xander Orenstein took on a Pittsburgh judge who had run unopposed for roughly a decade, won by about 40 votes, and is now Pennsylvania’s first openly nonbinary judicial officeholder.
Primaries are decided by a small slice of voters. 80% of eligible voters do not participate in some of the most determinative contests in our democracy: midterm primary elections (Bipartisan Policy Center). Orenstein’s win came in a Democratic primary, after the incumbent moved onto that ballot to try to end the challenge early.
A first race can be the start of a longer path. Lisa Feret came to Civic Power of Change as a first-time Arvada City Council candidate in 2021, then won a Colorado House seat in 2024. Daqavise Winston ran for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board in 2020 with our support, lost, and is back on our roster for 2026. Losing once isn’t the end.
The issues candidates run on
Schools come first. Across the campaigns we’ve tagged, the issues candidates run on most are public education funding and schools (47%), housing affordability and homelessness (34%), cost of living and economic opportunity (33%), and climate and environment (27%). Tyler Murphy, a Kentucky school board chair we’ve now supported three times, is suing over a new state law that makes teachers ineligible to serve on school boards, a rule that, in practice, unseats him.
How to apply
Apply at creativecabinet.org/candidate-sign-up. A real person reviews every application.
Frequently asked questions
Are applications open?
Applications are open on a rolling basis and will close periodically when capacity is reached.
What happens after I apply?
After you apply, one of our project managers will reach out to get your needs matched to volunteers.
Is a volunteer match guaranteed?
A match is subject to volunteer availability, but we make every effort to find what you need, even if we don't have it on our roster.
What if my campaign has an urgent deadline?
Our work is most effective when we're brought into the campaign early and holistically, but candidates with timely needs should submit an application and email hello@creativecabinet.org with details. We can't guarantee support less than 30 days from an election, but we'll do our best.
Is it really free?
Yes. Volunteers donate their time. You cover hard costs like printing and paid ads.
I’ve never run for office. Can I still apply?
Yes. Many of the candidates we support are running for the first time.
Is there an organization like Run for Something, but for creative help?
Creative Cabinet focuses on one thing: matching candidates with volunteer creative and marketing professionals. It works alongside candidate-recruitment and training groups like Run for Something rather than replacing them.
Does Creative Cabinet work with candidates in every state?
We have supported candidates in 48 states (incl. DC). The work is done remotely.
Is Creative Cabinet the same as Civic Power of Change?
Last updated November 3, 2026
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