Becoming an effective advocate

Becoming an Effective AdvocateSupport Center for Nonprofit

ManagementMarch 24, 2011

John Magisano Consultingwww.johnmagisanoconsulting.com

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are needed to see this picture.

John Magisano Consulting, 2011

http://www.johnmagisanoconsulting.com/

“If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a

time.”

- Marian Wright Edelman, Founder Children’s Defense League

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BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE

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We lobby for money, we advocate for change.

Stephen Woods –

Executive Director, Open Hand, Atlanta, Georgia





Agenda:

• Introductions• Why do we advocate?• How do we advocate?• Practice, Practice, Practice!• Break• Power analysis • Tools and resources• Final thoughts





Introductions:

• Name and organization• Why are you here? • What are your top two

questions about advocacy?





Why do we engage in advocacy?





How do we advocate?





What is our mission?





What is our story?

• What is the need we seek to address or condition we seek to change?

• How do we know it is a real need or condition?• Who is impacted by this need or condition?• What have we done to address it thus far?• What are the barriers to further change?• What changes would help meet the need or

change the condition?





Practice

Practice

Practice





Break!





Power Analysis:

Who is in a position to make the changes you seek?





Allies:

Who can help us?





SPECIESLarger Fields of Endeavor

GENUSOther Orgs

Serving Same Clients

FAMILYOther

Organizations Providing Similar

Services

Tools: How do we get our message out?









Issue-based CoalitionsHunger

•NYC Coalition Against Hunger, http://www.nyccah.org/•NYS Hunger Action Network, www.hungeractionnys.org•New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, www.njahc.org/

HIV/AIDS •NY AIDS Coalition, www.nyaidscoalition.org

Homeless Youth•Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services - www.empirestatecoalition.org/

Human Services •Human Services Council www.humanservicescouncil.org/

Seniors •Council of Senior Centers and Services - www.cscs-ny.org/

http://www.nyccah.org/

http://www.hungeractionnys.org/

http://www.njahc.org/

http://www.nyaidscoalition.org/

http://www.empirestatecoalition.org/

http://www.humanservicescouncil.org/

http://www.cscs-ny.org/





Information and Resources:Federal Government-

Alliance for Justice - http://www.afj.org/Internal Revenue Service - http://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/

NY State-Office of the Attorney General - http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/charities2/faqs_political_new.html

NY City-City Clerk - http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/lobbying/rules.shtml

New Jersey: NJ Dept of Taxation - http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/exemptintro.shtml

http://www.afj.org/

http://www.stayexempt.irs.gov/

http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/charities2/faqs_political_new.html

http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/lobbying/rules.shtml

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/exemptintro.shtml





Summary

• Assess the need for change• Develop your “Story”• Analyze the Power Structure• Develop your strategy for change• Communicate your message• Engage Allies

AND . . .





Summary (cont.)

CHANGE THE WORLD!

Business

Becoming an effective advocate