Frequently Asked Questions

What does Everyday Canvassing do?

We help communities and governments move closer to community ownership of policy, programs, and budget decisions.

Door-to-door outreach is often how we begin, because it’s one of the most reliable ways to reach people who are usually left out. But we don’t treat doorknocking as a one-time event. We use what we learn to help residents come together, name priorities, and build real power around what they want to change.

Do you canvass for elections?

No. We don’t canvass for elections.

Our problems and hopes don’t automatically get heard or acted on after someone is elected, even if we like who’s elected. Our work focuses on engagement that informs real decisions beyond electoral cycles.

What kinds of projects are the best fit for EC?

We’re a strong fit when engagement is meant to:

• Reach people who are usually left out of the political process

• Learn what’s actually happening on the ground

• Build trust through real conversations, not rushed scripts

• Turn community input into real decisions and follow-through

If the work is strictly about checking a box, or outreach with no intention of follow-through, we’re probably not the right partner.

Do you only do door-to-door outreach?

No. Depending on the project, our work can include community needs assessments, listening sessions, focus groups, convenings, coalition-building, and support for local organizing.

We don’t offer one-size-fits-all packages. We build the work around what the community needs and what you’re trying to change.

How much time do you need to prepare before starting a project?

Ideally, we begin planning about six months before knocking the first door.

Door-to-door outreach looks simple from the outside, but quality depends on preparation: local hiring, training, community context, cultural competency, logistics, language access, and ensuring the outreach actually fits your goals.

Can you work on a shorter timeline?

Yes. We can move quickly when needed.

When timelines are tight, it helps to have:

• A map or clear boundaries of where we’ll work

• Building names and unit counts (for apartments)

• Any existing materials (flyers, program info, survey drafts), plus translations if available

• A clear goal for what decisions the engagement will inform

We can help fill in gaps, but building from scratch under pressure comes with tradeoffs.

Why do you prioritize hiring people from the neighborhoods you’re engaging?

People who live in a community hold the deepest expertise about their home, language, and neighbors.

Local hiring builds trust faster, improves the quality of conversations, and keeps the work grounded in real life. It also ensures resources stay in the community instead of extracting information and leaving.

How do you price your work?

Community engagement involves labor, training, local hiring, language access, logistics, and follow-through.

Most budgets include:

• Field staffing (canvassers and leads, shifts, hours)

• Supervision and quality control (training, coaching, data review)

• Project design and coordination

• Deliverables (synthesis, reporting, partner readouts)

• Logistics (travel, access planning, translation or interpretation)

We benchmark compensation to local wage conditions and use established standards when projects include resident or volunteer participation.

If you can share boundaries, unit counts, timelines, and goals, we can scope quickly and provide a tighter estimate.

What do partners receive at the end of a project?

Deliverables vary by scope, but partners typically receive:

• A clear picture of what residents are experiencing

• Key themes, needs, and priorities

• Insight into who engagement reached

• Recommendations for next steps grounded in what we heard

This may include structured summaries, de-identified insights, or story-based components.

How do you handle resident data and privacy?

We don’t share identifiable information broadly.

When a resident requests services or follow-up, we share only what’s needed with the appropriate agency or organization. Every resident is told exactly how their information and stories will be used.