Resources for New League Leaders

General

League Management Site | An online resource hub for League members that includes all the resources LWVUS provides for Leagues. Also includes a calendar of events open to League leaders and League members. The League Management Site is on the LWV.org domain, but the content is for League members rather than the public. LMS can be found at LWV.org/league-management or by going to the LWV.org homepage and clicking the purple button at the bottom of the page that says League Management. Please avoid sharing LMS pages with the public.

LMS Content Library

League Update | LWVUS sends a bi-weekly (every other week) email newsletter to all state and local League presidents, and other engaged League leaders may sign up to receive this newsletter using the form below. Includes important information about grant opportunities, communications resources like graphics and talking points, information about upcoming webinars and trainings, surveys for Leagues to give feedback to help LWVUS better serve them, opportunities for action around priority issues, and more. Those individuals designated at League presidents, co-presidents, and executive directors in the Roster Manager Portal are automatically subscribed to this newsletter.

Guide to LWVUS Services for Leagues | A description of the services that LWVUS provides for local and state Leagues and the work LWVUS does at the national level. This guide includes contact information for where to send specific questions to LWVUS staff and links to important forms and resources.

Member Onboarding Resources | Sample language, tools, and resources for Leagues to use in their new member onboarding process. This page is a great League 101 overview that includes nonpartisanship, federated model, history, etc.

Key Policies

League Responsibilities Policy | The League's policy that defines what it means to be a local, state, or national League.

Member Rights & Responsibilities Policy | The League's policy that defines what it means to be a League member. 

Developing and Implementing a Nonpartisan Policy | A guide for Leagues to formulate their own nonpartisan policy. Each League’s board of directors is responsible for drafting and carrying out a nonpartisan policy in its community.

Governance

LWVUS Bylaws and Certificate of Corporation | Bylaws are the legally binding rules that outline how a nonprofit will operate. Each state has its own regulations about nonprofit bylaws, so be sure to check with the applicable state office or consult with an attorney familiar with your state's nonprofit laws when crafting or reviewing bylaws.

When drafting your own local or state League's bylaws please see these two resources:  

• Training: All About Bylaws
• Sample Bylaws Template

LWV's Federated Model | An overview of LWV's federated model. The federated structure of LWV comprises a national League and affiliated state and local Leagues that are separately incorporated.

League Governance Checklist | A checklist of the foundational governance items every League needs to do basic League business.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

LWV Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Policy

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Resources | The DEI section of the League Management Site is a rich source for guides, webinar recordings, talking points, etc.

• DEI Basics
• 2024 DEI Webinar | To explain the new policy and provide an overview of the League’s origins, where we are as a League, and where we are going through a DEI lens. Transformation: Are You Ready to Move the League Forward? 

Transformation

LWV Transformation Journey | The League's Transformation Journey centers our mission and empowers our League community at every level, facilitating the real work of democracy that League members lead in our states and communities. Find links on this page to each phase of the Transformation Journey. Includes the LWV Theory of Change.

ChapterSpot Resources | All available resources for the new League membership management platform, ChapterSpot.

Advocacy/Litigation

Impact on Issues | LWV's public policy positions. This resources helps League members use LWVUS public policy positions effectively at the national, state, local, and regional levels. The intention is to inspire Leagues to use national positions to act in their own communities.

Federal Action Request Form | State and local Leagues that would like to take advocacy or legal action at the federal level must complete this form to connect with LWVUS staff.

What To Expect When You're Expecting...Litigation! | A brief guide for Leagues considering federal litigation.

LWVUS Guidance for Leagues Considering Litigation | Whether to engage in legal advocacy — especially federal litigation — is a serious matter. LWVUS has outlined guidance to help Leagues understand the process.

Organizing

League in Action by OutreachCircle | League In Action is the League’s digital organizing platform where anyone who believes in our mission and values at a click of a button can directly connect and take action on issues impacting their communities on the local, state, or national level.

Communications

Brand Standards & Logos | Guidelines for using LWV logos, colors, and fonts. Find general LWV logos, VOTE411 logos, and your local or state League logos on this page.

League Media Relations Training | Press relations training for Leagues covering general press relations and media planning around elections.

Tips for Media Interviews | Each League should have a designated media spokesperson, typically their president and/or executive director. Follow these tips to ensure you are properly prepared before speaking with members of the press.

Nonpartisanship on Social Media | Guidance for how individual League leaders can comport themselves on their personal social media in a nonpartisan way.

Other

League Lingo | A glossary of terms that are unique to the League of Women Voters.

Annual League Survey | Each year, every League completes the Annual League Survey, to capture their work and needs over the previous year. The Annual League Survey LMS page provides guidance on data collection practices, tracking and storing data, and using the collected data. Explore this page for data resources and see the related content at the bottom of the page.

VOTE411 Resources Toolkit | A guide to VOTE411.org's capabilities and resources for promoting it.