Advocacy 101Advocacy 101

Erica M. Romero and Karen Y. ZamarripaSan Antonio, TexasOctober 30, 2006

Advocacy v. LobbyingAdvocacy 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.

Restriction on 501C3sRestriction 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.

Restriction onRestriction onNonprofitsNonprofits

Lobbying Limits On 501(c)(3)s:

IRS regulations allow 501(c)(3) organizations to spend an “insubstantial” amount of money on lobbying.

Institutional AdvocacyInstitutional AdvocacyWho and How Who 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).

What Can We Do?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

What Can We Do?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

Best Practices inBest Practices inMaking Your CaseMaking 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!

A Message to A Message to RememberRemember

Create a succinct message!

• Si Se Puede

• A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

• Just Say No

Friend, Foes and Others:Friend, Foes and Others:Who Are They?Who Are They?

• Champions

• Allies

• Fence Sitters

• Mellow Opponents

• Hard Core Opponents

The Basics:The Basics:Letter WritingLetter 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

The Basics:The Basics:Letter WritingLetter 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

The Basics:The Basics:Letter WritingLetter 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

The Basics:The Basics:Office VisitsOffice 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

The Basics:The Basics:Office VisitsOffice 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

The Basics:The Basics:Office VisitsOffice 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

Legislative StaffLegislative StaffContactsContacts

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

Grassroots Advocacy:Grassroots Advocacy:Making It Local, PersonalMaking It Local, Personal

• Alumni Advocacy

• Community, Business Leaders

• People of Influence

• Donors/Supporters

Coalition Building:Coalition Building:More and Diverse VoicesMore 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?

The Fourth House:The Fourth House:MediaMedia

• 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

Your Turn to be Your Turn to be the Advocatethe 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)

Your Turn to be Your Turn to be the Advocatethe 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?

Contact InformationContact Information

Erica M. Romero Karen Y. ZamarripaWestern Regional Office The California State

University915 L Street, Suite 1425 915 L Street, Suite 1160Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814Phone: (916) 442-0392 Phone: (916) 445-5983Fax: (916) 446-4028 Fax: (916) 322-4719

ReferencesReferences

• 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'