Who is in the Driver’s Seat? Driving Change and Advancing Advocacy

Ghida Dagher, Public Policy AssociateUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan

Scott Dzurka, President/CEOMichigan Association of United Ways

February 19, 2015

Introductions

Overview

• Why Advocate?

• Internal roadblocks and External Rules

• What do we advocate for?

• How do we advocate?

3

Advocacy

ad·vo·ca·cy;ˈadvəkəsē/

noun

1.public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.

4

Small Group Discussion 1

Question 1:

Why Advocate?

5

Small Group Discussion 1

Question 2:

How is your organization well suited for this work?

6

Why Advocate?

▪ Being active in the area of public policy is a key element of being a community impact leader.

▪ Achieving organizational goals will not happen by fundraising or programming alone.

▪ State and Federal fiscal policy can significantly impact (help or hinder) capacity to create community-level change.

▪ Foundation funding of advocacy produces an ROI of $115 to $1 spent (Source: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy).

7

How is your organization Well Suited for this Work?

•High Visibility

•Established Credibility

•Influential Board Members

•Unique Grass Roots perspective

•Ability to personalize the impact of abstract policy

•Ability to communicate and raise community awareness

8

Small Group Discussion 2

Question 1:

What are some potential roadblocks to engaging your organization in advocacy work?

9

Common Challenges to nonprofit Advocacy

• Natural aversion to controversy

• Fear of partisan labels

• Difficulty defining alignment with mission & success metrics

• Confusion around what is legal activity for nonprofits

• Varying board members perspectives on issues

• Lack of personnel & resources

• Inexperience

10

Small Group Discussion 2

Question 2:

What can be done to address or avoid some of those potential roadblocks?

11

Small Group Discussion 2

4-Box Exercise

12

Define the problem Identify Stake Holders

Propose a solution Identify Next Steps:-In one week

-In Three months-In One Year

501(c)(3)s Can Lobby! Know the terms…

• Advocacy: Raising awareness about a key issue

• Lobbying: An attempt to influence a specific piece of legislation

• Direct Lobbying: stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees

• Grassroots Lobbying: stating a position on specific legislation to the general public and asking the general public to contact legislators or other government employees about the legislation

13

Nonprofits Can Lobby! Know the rules…

• Taking the (h) election makes reporting easy (Form 5786)

• May spend up to 20% of first $500,000 on lobbying

• 5% of expenditures over $1.5 million

• $1 million ceiling

• “Direct Lobbying” and “Grassroots Lobbying” are reported

Resources:

MNA: https://www.mnaonline.org/lobbying.aspx

CFNP: http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-advocacy/501h-election

IRS: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5768.pdf

14

Getting Started: Some best Practices in Advocacy

1. Identify Board and Staff Champions

2. Establish process for selecting issues and policy positions

3. Build relationships with decision-makers

4. Engage with policy partners and thought leaders

5. Clearly define alignment with mission & Goals

http://online.unitedway.org/file.cfm?fid=3114560

15

Policy Metrics

I. How relevant is this policy to our mission?

II. How impactful is the policy on our community?

III. How feasible is it that this policy will move?

IV. Do we have an opportunity to impact the

outcome?

V. What are the risks of taking a position?

Issue Evaluation

Opportunity

Feasibility

Impact

Relevance

Risk

Group Discussion 3

Issue Evaluation

20

• Newspaper• Google Ads• Billboards• Radio Spots

• Press releases

• Press calls• Press conferences• Op-eds

• Social media• Advocacy alert

emails• Sign-on letters or

& petitions • Phone calls • Town halls

& legislative events

• Rallies • Lobby days

• Meeting legislators• Site visits• Phone calls• Letters• Emails

Direct Lobbying Grass-roots Lobbying

Paid MediaEarned Media

Advocacy Tools

Opportunities to Advocate

High Engagement

• In-District visits

• Site visits

Medium Engagement

• Engage policymakers in local events

Low Engagement

• Social Media

• Action Alerts

22

Relationship Building – the Key to Success

• Know your local/state/federal policy makers and their staff

• Find ways to incorporate them into your work

• Follow up on issues of interest

• Frequent communications and knowledge sharing

• Working with State Association/UWW Policy Staff

23

Resources are available to help you

•Michigan Nonprofit Association

•United Way

•Each other

•Partner Organizations

•Coalitions

24

Discussion? Questions?

25