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Kaplan (Robert) political campaign, ballot measure, and fundraising papers
6123
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Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Robert Kaplan political campaign, ballot measure, and fundraising papers
creator:
Kaplan, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: 6123
Physical Description:
7 Linear Feet
7 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1981-2015
Abstract: Robert Kaplan is an internationally known campaign, communications and fundraising consultant and advisor who has planned,
designed, positioned, directed and executed more than 250 fundraising and capital campaigns, grassroots, voter outreach and
other communications programs for a variety of interests. His experience includes more than 30 statewide initiative campaigns.
Kaplan has worked with public and private sector groups and clients on a wide range of issues including renewable energy,
environmental preservation and natural resources management, public safety, transportation, public school finance, public
employee pensions, land-use, auto and health insurance, public-private partnerships and capital campaigns for the construction
of buildings and public parks. The Robert Kaplan political campaign, ballot measure, and fundraising papers consists of
correspondence, memorandums, reports, audio visual materials, and ephemera, created and collected by Robert Kaplan during
the course of his professional fundraising activities. Included are materials for many of the campaigns on which Kaplan worked,
which include ballot initiatives (primarily in California but some in other states) and political campaigns (primarily in
California but some in other states); political action committees; and general fundraising.
Robert Kaplan is known internationally for his skills as a campaign, communications and fundraising consultant and advisor.
Clients have included initiative campaigns, political action committees, special interest groups, trade associations, not-for-profit
organizations and foundations, candidates and independent expenditure efforts. Kaplan is widely viewed as an expert in these
areas. Kaplan has planned, designed, positioned, directed and executed more than 250 fundraising and capital campaigns, grassroots,
voter outreach and other communications programs for a variety of interests. His experience includes more than 30 statewide
initiative campaigns.
Honored as the "2008 Fundraiser of the Year" by the American Association of Political Consultants, Kaplan has also been named
a "Rising Star," "Mover & Shaker" and "America's Hottest Fund Raiser" by Campaigns & Elections magazine. Kaplan's work has
won numerous Pollie Awards (the political consulting worlds' equivalent of the Oscars) and he was also named to the 2010 Aristotle
National Campaign Dream Team.
Robert Kaplan has worked with public and private sector groups and clients on a wide range of issues, including renewable
energy, environmental preservation and natural resources management, public safety, transportation, public school finance,
public employee pensions, land-use, auto and health insurance, public-private partnerships and capital campaigns for the construction
of buildings and public parks.
Kaplan has been published more than a dozen times and is a frequent speaker at conferences, training programs and other community
events. His activities and clients span the United States, Israel, Mexico, Canada and the former Soviet Union. In 1990 Kaplan
was among the first twelve American political consultants invited to the former Soviet Union to train government and party
officials on the role of politics and political campaigns in building a democratic government.
Following a degree in Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley, Kaplan was awarded a CORO Foundation Fellowship
in Public Affairs. He then completed his Fellowship and studies in Public Policy at the Claremont Graduate School.
Kaplan spent more than a decade as a Director of the American Association of Political Consultants where, as Chair of both
its 2008 and 2009 National Pollie Awards Conferences, he reworked their programs and awards. Kaplan was a member of the Board
of the CORO Foundation of Southern California, the Board of Hillel at UCLA and on the United Jewish Appeal National Leadership
Cabinet representing the Los Angeles Jewish Federation. Robert was instrumental in the creation of, and serves as a Co-Chair
of, the Los Angeles Political Roast benefiting the American Diabetes Association.
Kaplan began his political, public affairs and fundraising career in 1966 at the ripe age of 9 when he was dragged by his
older brother Allan to "volunteer" for a California State Assembly campaign. Robert was the youngest envelope stuffing, precinct
walking, lawn sign planting and telephone soliciting for votes and money volunteer on that campaign, which set the stage for
a lifetime of activities devoted to public and community service.
The Robert Kaplan political campaign, ballot measure, and fundraising papers consists of correspondence, memorandums, reports,
audio visual materials, and ephemera, created and collected by Robert Kaplan during the course of his professional fundraising
activities. Included are materials for many of the campaigns on which Kaplan worked, which include ballot initiatives (primarily
in California but some in other states) and political campaigns (primarily in California but some in other states); political
action committees; and general fundraising.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Robert Kaplan political campaign, ballot measure, and fundraising papers, Collection no. 6123,
Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Kaplan family, May 17, 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fund raising -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Political action committees -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Political campaigns -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Political campaigns -- United States -- Archival resources
Referendum -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Audiocassettes
Brochures
Letters
Memorandums
Pamphlets
Reports
Videocassettes
Kaplan, Robert -- Archives