Educating, Advocating and Lobbying for Our Work: How Far Can We Go? Jamie L. Keith, Executive Director Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Brigid Riley, Principal Willow Consulting Healthy Teen Network Conference Baltimore, Maryland Oct 2-4, 2017
Introductions Your name Where you are from Your role A word or phrase that comes to mind when you hear the word “advocacy”
Overview • • • • •
Unpack common terms Discuss common tactics Share the “whys”, “wheres” and “hows” Review legal parameters Discuss ways to engage policymakers, grassroots advocates and media
Common Terms Public Policy
Advocacy
Lobbying
Activism
Common Terms Public Policy
Government policies that affect the whole population
Advocacy
Lobbying
Activism
Common Terms Public Policy
Government policies that affect the whole population
Advocacy
Lobbying
Conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially members of a legislative body on legislation
Activism
Common Terms Public Policy
Government policies that affect the whole population
Lobbying
Conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially members of a legislative body on legislation
Advocacy
Activism
Practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action, especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
Common Terms Public Policy
Government policies that affect the whole population
Lobbying
Conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially members of a legislative body on legislation
Advocacy
The act or process of supporting a cause or proposal
Activism
Practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action, especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
Common Tactics Educating public on policy issues
Non-partisan voter engagement
Building relationships with policy makers Lobbying
Advocacy
Educating policy makers on issues
Coalition building
Outreach to media Research
Why Advocate? Furthers your mission
Builds relationships
Policy-makers need your expertise
Government impacts your organization and your constituencies
With Whom?
States
Cities
Federal Government
Counties
With Whom?
Elected Officials
Committees
Budget Process
Departments
What Gets in Our Way?
Common Tactics Educating public on policy issues
Non-partisan voter engagement
Building relationships with policy makers Lobbying
Advocacy
Educating policy makers on issues
Coalition building
Outreach to media Research
Common Tactics
Lobbying
Legal Parameters Nonprofits CAN lobby
Direct Lobbying
Grassroots Lobbying
Any communication with a legislator that expresses a view about specific legislation
Any communication with the general public that expresses a view about specific legislation and includes a call to action
Legal Parameters Nonprofits CAN lobby
Default Status
“h” Election
Spend no more than 5% of your overall budget on lobbying
File a simple form with IRS Spending amounts vary from 20% of your budget to $1 million, depending on the size of your overall budget
Legal Parameters Rules Vary According to Organizational Type
501(c)(3)
501(c)(4)
501(c)(6)
Public charities and foundations
Civic leagues and local associations
Business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate board, boards of trade and professional football leagues
Building Internal Capacity • Obtain buy-in from Board of Directors to include advocacy activities in your work • Create process for defining policy priorities • Identify resource format you will use to share advocacy information • Develop advocacy resources for distribution • Schedule regular release of advocacy messages
Tools for Engaging Policy Makers Gathering information
Building Relationships
Providing Expertise
•Issues affecting organization and constituents •Issues affecting nonprofits in general •Target specific policymakers •Get to know them and their staff •Educate them about your organization •Be a resource for them •Share your research and/or reports •Share the implications of their policy proposals on your organization and your constituents •Lobby
Tools for Engaging Your Grassroots Identify your network
Educate your network
Mobilize your network
Maintain your network
Tools for Engaging Media Define Goals Identify your audience Craft your message Choose your tactics and messengers
Define your goals
Identify your audience
Craft your message
Choose your tactics and messengers
Tool for Sharing Your Message Handy Guide to Advocacy - Use your hand as a guide to sharing message – – – – – –
Thumb – introduce yourself Index finger – introduce your issue Middle finger – share why you care Ring finger – express why they should care Little finger – ask for support Palm of hand – handshake and thank for time PRACTICE YOUR ADVOCACY MESSAGE
Summary • It is appropriate, and important, for non-profit organizations to engage in advocacy activities • There are a number of groups and individuals we can inform and influence with our messages • There are concrete steps a non-profit organization can take to build, or enhance, its capacity to include regular and planned advocacy activities
Resources Alliance for Justice American Bar Association Board Source
Thank you! • Jamie Keith
[email protected] • Brigid Riley
[email protected]
