Contributor
The organization participates in administrative advocacy, signs on to policy advocacy letters or speaks at public hearings. They may fund research or have a public policy agenda.
Tactics
- Reach out to legislators directly, via staff, board, or engaged donors, to weigh in on key policies at critical junctures.
- Author Op-Eds or issue statements in response to policy proposals or in response to requests by partners.
- Connect with mission-aligned groups and coalitions doing policy work, and signal your different capacities for support of group efforts.
- Contribute to coalition efforts by joining sign-on letters or joining partners for meetings with policymakers.
- Contribute by providing a quote to a partner press release about an important action or policy development, or join a partner press conference to speak on an important mission-oriented issue.
- As your organization evolves its work on public policy or advocacy, discuss with your finance team or auditor the wisdom of opting for a 501(h) expenditure test (if applicable) in order to identify the exact lobby expense limit for your organization.
Resources
- Best Practices for Foundations Supporting Multi-Entity Work / Bolder Advocacy
- How Can Foundations Support Policy Change / Bolder Advocacy
- Leading Voices in Advocacy Funding Bolder Advocacy
- Administrative Advocacy / Bolder Advocacy
- Taking the 501(h) election / National Council of Nonprofits
Next Steps to Consider
- Review your organization’s theory of change and goals to ensure that policy and advocacy are appropriately incorporated
- Consider developing a broad public policy strategic framework to support your mission and community’s needs and reflect policy priorities of grantees and partners
Capacity Builder
Learn about the next persona
Florida Examples
- FPN Census? Ventus (maybe put them somewhere else); Coulter
- United Way Palm Beach County (summer EBT)
- One of the mental health foundations
- Gulf Coast does mostly administrative advocacy