Advocacy and Lobbying: Effective Strategies and Best Practices

1. Advocacy 101 Erica M. Romero and Karen Y. Zamarripa San Antonio, Texas October 30, 2006

2. Advocacy v. Lobbying Advocacy: When nonprofit organizations/colleges advocate on their own behalf; seek to affect some aspect of society, whether they appeal to individuals about their behavior, employers about their rules, or the government about its laws. Lobbying: Lobbying refers specifically to advocacy efforts that attempt to influence legislation.

3. Restriction on 501C3s A 501(c)(3) non-profit cannot: • Endorse or directly campaign for a candidate, party or ballot initiative. • Contribute directly or in-kind to a candidate, party or ballot initiative. • Distribute materials aimed to influence the outcome of an election.

4. Restriction onNonprofits Lobbying Limits On 501(c)(3)s: IRS regulations allow 501(c)(3) organizations to spend an “insubstantial” amount of money on lobbying.

5. Institutional AdvocacyWho and How • Governing boards, presidents/chancellors are usually the only entities who can take a position for the institution or system • Presidents/chancellors, faculty and staff writing personal letters on a bill should refrain from using their title/organization name • Individuals have rights to express their personal views but any title/organization name must be listed as for identification purposes only (some schools prohibit the use of title/organization period).

6. What Can We Do? • Present educational information: must not be biased and must “permit an individual or the public to form an independent opinion or conclusion.” • Provide forums for candidate debates, town halls and forums as long as offered to both sides (whether at the same time or not) • Support voter registration efforts

7. What Can We Do? • Take positions on legislation and budget issues • Take positions on ballot initiatives (subject to lobbying limitations) such as general obligation bonds and other matters of direct impact to institution

8. Best Practices inMaking Your Case • Know your audience - Do Your Homework • Who are they? • How does the issue relate to their district, constituents, voters and communities? • Choose the right or best messenger(s) for effort • Anticipate and be prepared to address opposing arguments, questions • Repeat your message – over and over!

9. A Message to Remember Create a succinct message! • Si Se Puede • A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste • Just Say No

10. Friend, Foes and Others:Who Are They? • Champions • Allies • Fence Sitters • Mellow Opponents • Hard Core Opponents

11. The Basics:Letter Writing The Do’s • State the bill number/budget item and your position in the first paragraph • Address only one issue per lette • Explain how the bill impacts you and the Member’s District • Use a personal story when possible

12. The Basics:Letter Writing The Do’s • Include your return address (legislators often discard mail from non-constituents). • Keep the letter to no more than two pages; preferably one. • FAX letter the same day mailed to Members

13. The Basics:Letter Writing The Don’ts • Do not copy sample letters verbatim; personalize • Do not use negative, condescending, threatening or intimidating language. • Do not enclose extra material

14. The Basics:Office Visits The Do’s • Make an appointment – tell the scheduler what you want to discuss and who will be attending the meeting • Be Prepared • bring a one-pager on the bill you seek to address • Know your audience: member district, voting history • Appoint a spokesperson

15. The Basics:Office Visits The Do’s • Be assertive but polite and respectful • Make a clear ASK of the Member, staff • Send a thank you note • Don’t forget staff too! • Another chance to confirm the ASK

16. The Basics:Office Visits The Don’ts • Turn down meetings with staff • Rude, argumentative and threatening people will be remembered – but not for the right reason • Don’t be late

17. Legislative StaffContacts Do’s • Be polite, respectful of all staff • Make introductions, provide card for future contact, reference during the meeting • Give the staffer background information • Note questions and make sure to follow-up

18. Grassroots Advocacy:Making It Local, Personal • Alumni Advocacy • Community, Business Leaders • People of Influence • Donors/Supporters

19. Coalition Building:More and Diverse Voices • Develop partners interested in common issues, outcomes • Build a broad coalition • Think organizations outside of education • Who would influence your audience? • Different types of influence • Grassroots, “grass tops” • Who DON’T the members want to oppose?

20. The Fourth House:Media • Media influences voters, communities, and elected officials • Both Proactive and defensive strategies can be used • Tell a story – make it personal, local • Media events should be provocative, exciting • Why is your story better than another, or of greater interest to reporters and their readers? • Keep it timely • Press releases – One page

21. Your Turn to be the Advocate • Take The DREAM ACT • Create a 5-minute pitch for the Act for meetings with: • 1) Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) • 2) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) • 3) Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D- CA)

22. Your Turn to be the Advocate • Develop strategy for your objective • Who and what will influence them? • What Grassroots Advocacy are you going to use in this effort? • Who should be part of your coalition? • Who is your spokesperson for each meeting? • Is there a way to use the media?

23. Contact Information Erica M. Romero Karen Y. Zamarripa Western Regional Office The California State University 915 L Street, Suite 1425 915 L Street, Suite 1160 Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 442-0392 Phone: (916) 445-5983 Fax: (916) 446-4028 Fax: (916) 322-4719

24. References • CAN Advocacy/Lobbying Guide: http://independenceave.org/advocacy/guide/ctnonprofits.org_a1.pdf • http://www.biodiversityproject.org/EF%20Kit/EFCraftingcommunication.pdf#search='crafting%20your%20message'