Advocacy 101

1. Advocacy 101 Presented by the National VOAD Advocacy Committee

2. Your Facilitators Today • Karen Benson, Director of Disaster Response at Convoy of Hope • Jihad Saleh Williams, Government Affairs Representative at Islamic Relief USA • Jono Anzalone, Division Disaster Executive at The American Red Cross

3. Purpose of Presentation To gain a greater understanding of advocacy, including lobbying, and the importance of advocacy by National VOAD members. Why advocate?

4. Why Advocacy Is Important

5. What is Advocacy Advocacy is any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends or pleads on behalf of others (often the most vulnerable). Advocacy includes education, regulatory work, litigation, and work before administrative bodies, lobbying, voter registration, voter education, and more. While all lobbying is advocacy, not all advocacy is lobbying.

6. What is Lobbying • Lobbyingis the act of attempting to influence legislation or spending plans made by government officials, most often legislators (congress, state, local), to achieve a favorable outcome to its agenda. • Legislation includes acts, bills, resolutions, public referendum, ballot initiatives, and constitutional amendments. • Lobbying is done by many different types of people and organized groups, including the private sector, corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, and nonprofits.

7. Advocacy: The Essentials Why VOADs Should Advocate • Represent the needs of communities and people we support; help shape the debate • Further the cause of social justice by addressing vital social and economic issues • Ensure that short and long-term needs remain prominent • Keep focus on the “big picture” via coalitions, National VOAD national/state advisory committees • Likely central to your organization’s mission

8. Advocacy: The Essentials How VOADs Can Advocate • Community advocacy: Education via web sites, publications, presentations and media--online, TV/radio, press releases and conferences • Legal advocacy: Using lawsuits to protect or create rights, improve services, or raise public awareness in open courts • Legislative advocacy: Targets federal, state or local laws, policies, or budget. May involve monitoring, testifying, lobbying, position papers, networks/coalitions, other activities.

9. Advocacy: The Essentials Effective Advocacy Includes— Planning Ahead: Includegoals, timetable, resources, strategy and tactics Knowing the rules governing nonprofits Involving staff, volunteers, service recipients Working in partnership, as part of grassroots networks and coalitions Build relationships, persuade, persist, be flexible and resourceful 9

10. Lobbying: Importance/Legalities Importance • Despite outstanding advocacy, nonprofits are often reluctant to engage in public policy. • Nonprofit lobbying, both Direct and Grassroots, is essential and needed now more than ever. • Nonprofit lobbying is legal, within specific IRS provisions. • Staff and volunteers already have the skills to influence legislation and policies. • Your voice needs to be heard.

11. Lobbying: Importance/Legalities Direct and Grassroots Lobbying • Direct Lobbying: An attempt to influence legislation through direct contact with public officials or staff at the local, state and federal levels. • Actions include visits, calls, emails. • Grassroots Lobbying: Asking the general public to influence legislation by contacting public officials or staff at the local, state, or federal levels. • Actions include petitions, emails, prepared messages.

12. Lobbying: Importance/Legalities IRS Provisions 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code allows that organizations may engage in a limited amount of legislative lobbying under either the “substantial part” or “expenditure” test. “Substantial part” test is based on facts and circumstances, such as time by staff/volunteers and lobbying expenditures. “Expenditure” test (501(h)), nonprofits may spend on Direct Lobbying and Grassroots Lobbying based on financial formulas. 12

13. How to Start Advocating Identify the problem, strategy and goal Create a legislative agenda or platform for your organization Learn the history of your issue Gain a basic understanding of how a bill becomes law Engage in an advocacy campaign 13

14. Identify Strategy, Issue, Goal Problem—The major cause for concern that needs action Example: Nonprofits would be adversely affected by potential caps or limits on charitable tax deductions being considered by Congress Strategy—The problem framed as something you can feasibly do something about Example: Nonprofits urge their legislators to preserve the charitable tax deduction. Goal—What you hope to accomplish Example: Congress retains the deduction as is based, in part, on strong nonprofit advocacy. 14

15. Create a Legislative Platform Mission Clarity Identify guiding principles and overarching goals Identify priority issues for your organization What are all the current challenges/opportunities? Is there consensus on the top? Discuss with your Board of Directors Consider creating an Advocacy Committee Can these challenges be addressed as advocacy efforts (grassroots, lobbying or education) Identify all the ways in which a challenge can be addressed short-term and/or long-term 15

16. Research Your Issue Get the facts Why did this come about; who wanted this to happen; what has been its impact; who else is working on the issue. Create a support and opposition list Outline arguments from both sides. Find out what has happened already What legislative relationships have been built; has legislation been introduced; who are your legislative allies 16

17. Advocacy Campaigns Mobilize your base Strengthen your coalition Set goals & prioritize Strengthen your knowledge Analyze and use your power Build relationships with legislators Communicate with legislators & staff Monitor the issue 17

18. Basics of the Legislative Process

19. Committees

20. The Process

21. State Resource Decision-Making • State Legislative Disaster Committees, e.g.— • Budget • Housing • Economic development • Infrastructure • Small business • Regional/County Emergency Planning Committees (similar issues as above) • Judicial Leadership • Business Roundtable • Chamber of Commerce • Others

22. State Advocacy Best Practices • Step One: Organize a Base • Who has an interest in housing recovery? • What are the interests, cultures of groups? • How much collaboration can we achieve? • How can we pool achievements “as one”? • Step Two: Understand the Process • Conduct Research: available funds, decision-makers and process • Engage Power Analysis: potential allies & opponents • Understand Context: pace of recovery, administering agency • Develop Your Position/Argument: outcomes, evidence, sources

23. State Advocacy Best Practices Step Three: Take Action Testify at public hearings Prepare Speakers—create “talking points,” influencers, data points Build relationships with key staff Step Four: Keep Organizing Apply best research actions/best practices Develop your argument Take action Ongoing evaluation (plan, act, evaluate) 23

24. NVOAD Advocacy Committee Support • Help de-mystify the advocacy process • Additional webinars in 2013 • Establish support via the National VOAD website, e-newsletter, best practices, contacts • Make accessible a “toolkit” of products

25. Next Steps • Actions already underway to address issues • Survey VOAD partners to establish baseline • Presentations (e.g., webinar) • Core Team building your feedback into its planning process • Communications that will reflect one VOAD voice • Establish a manageable number of goals/priorities • Distinguish operating norms from our stated (behavioral) norms, i.e. “walking the talk”

26. Activity • Setting • Your member of Congress is holding a public forum/town hall meeting to address a recent flood in your community. • Choose your issue • Options for this exercise: Housing, Case Management, Volunteer Engagement, Immigration, Workforce, or choice own issue • What are your goals? • What do you hope to get out of the meeting?

27. Activity • Advance Preparation • Identify key messages (one a 3x5 index card) • Two or three • Easy to grasp • Free of jargon • Demonstrate local impact • Clear action required • Designate a spokesperson • Prepare your talking points and a short 60 second elevator speech

28. Questions??? The National VOAD Advocacy Committee advocacy@nvoad.org www.nvoad.org

29. Select References • Alliance for Justice (http://afj.org; http://bolderadvocacy.org) • National Council on Nonprofits (http://www.councilofnonprofits.org) • Independent Sector (http://independentsector.org) • Interaction (www.interaction.org) • Learning to Give (http://www.learningtogive.org) • LANO Nonprofit Advocacy 101 (Elisabeth Gehl and Ashley Herad)