Recommended Resources: Advocacy for Nonprofits

A. "The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations," available from the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, was written by Marcia Avner of the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits. The book provides some very practical approaches to influencing policy at the local, state, and national levels and includes help on creating a planning process. The most helpful section of the book is the Worksheets, which provide step-by-step guidance. To order the book, go to:

http://www.wilder.org/pubs/lobbying_handbook/index.html

B. "Advocacy and Lobbying without Fear: What Is Allowed within a 501 (c) (3) Charitable Organization" by Thomas Raffa, Nonprofit Quarterly. Understanding the distinction between lobbying and advocacy is an important first step in knowing what is permissible in your efforts to affect public policy. To download the article go to:

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/158.html

C. The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide by Bob Smucker is available online (in Adobe PDF format) on the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest website. This is an essential resource for any nonprofit wanting to take on more of a role in lobbying. It includes background on the lobbying laws, on grassroots coalitions, and on using electronic media and other topics. The entire website is an excellent source of information. To access this guide go to:

http://www.clpi.org/

D. The Office of Management and Budget Watch (OMB Watch) has a nonprofit advocacy section which provides current articles on nonprofit advocacy, and resources for nonprofits that want to be informed and prepared to advocate. To review this online resource, go to:

http://www.ombwatch.org/npadv

E. "Advocacy, Oh, Yes You Can…," a whole issue of the Nonprofit Quarterly focuses on advocacy as a core competency for nonprofits. To view some of the articles and the table of contents, go to:

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/155.htm

F. Alliance for Justice has a Nonprofit Advocacy Project that works to strengthen the voice of the nonprofit sector in important public policy debates by giving tax-exempt organizations a better understanding of the laws that govern their participation in the policy process. The Project provides workshops, research and publications, and other technical assistance. To view their Web site:

http://www.allianceforjustice.org/nonprofit/index.html

G. The Health Advocacy Toolbox is designed for advocates (both beginners and more experienced advocates), especially Connecticut healthcare consumers, who want to improve the health care policies that affect you and your family. This toolbox emphasizes advocacy in the state of Connecticut, through state government, providing links and resources for issues better addressed at the national or local levels. To best access the information on the pages, first go to the page titled How to Use This Site at: http://www.cthealthpolicy.org/toolbox/how_to_use.htm

http://www.cthealthpolicy.org/toolbox/Default.htm

H. NPAction is an online resource hosted by OMB Watch to support capacity building for nonprofit advocacy. A glossary, state guides, and online tools for Advocacy Know How (About Advocacy, Advocacy Laws,  Regulations, and Rules, Executive Branch: A Civics Lesson, Legislative Branch: A Civics Lesson, Judicial Branch: A Civics Lesson, Locating Government Information), Means and Methods (Administrative and Regulatory Advocacy, Collaboration and Partnership, Information Access, and Sharing, Judicial Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy and Lobbying, Organizing and Mobilizing Public Outreach and Media Advocacy, Research, Voter Participation and Electoral Advocacy), and Capacity Building (Coalition Building Management, Best and Promising Practices, Technology, Training and Technical Assistance).

http://www.npaction.org