The Advocacy Capacity Tool: For Advocacy Evaluation February 7, 2013 Sue Hoechstetter sue@afj.org American Evaluation Association Coffee Break

Advocacy Capacity Tool (ACT) for organizational assessment Measures skills, knowledge, resources, practices Electronic Free Self Assessment

Capacity & Advocacy Evaluation Long term External Controls Many Partners So……… Measure Capacity Built!

Who Uses ACT Individual Organizations Coalitions Funders Evaluators with all of above

ACT Helps Nonprofits & Coalitions: Identify Gaps and Strengthen Plan Advocacy Work Choose Partners Evaluation/Be Accountable Understand Advocacy

ACT Helps Funders: Assess grantees’ growth Help choose new partners Help support grantee capacity-building Educate within foundation

Advocacy Capacity Tool: for organizational assessment Advocacy Goals, Plans, & Strategies Conducting Advocacy Advocacy Avenues Organizational Operations

I Advocacy Goals, Plans & Strategies Preparation Agenda Plans, Strategies & Adaptability II Conducting Advocacy Research & Analysis Field Operation Advocacy Partners & Coalitions Messaging Media Relations Influencing Decision Makers III Organizational Operations to Sustain Advocacy Organizational Commitment Funding Advocacy Decision-Making Structure & Process Fiscal Management & Sustainability IV Advocacy Avenues Administrative Legislative Ballot Measures, Referenda & Initiatives Electoral Litigation

Advocacy Capacity Tool

Advocacy Capacity Tool

Advocacy Capacity Tool Results Individual results Custom aggregation All user aggregation

Advocacy Capacity Tool Results

Advocacy Capacity Tool Results: Stengthening

Advocacy Capacity Tool Results: Aggregating

Sample User: Shawnee Regional Prevention and Recovery Services Used ACT in cooperation with funder ACT feedback helped… provide better view of group’s advocacy activities to create a more comprehensive plan show the need for training on permissible grassroots advocacy point out the need for an appropriate strategic plan for advocacy acknowledge the advocacy already being done

ACT: Keep in Mind Capacity, Not Effectiveness Honesty Helps No Organization Does It All

Follow-up Conference Calls for Completing Advocacy Capacity Tool (ACT) Tuesday, February 12, 2013 @ 2 – 3pm ET Tuesday, March 12, 2013 @ 2 – 3pm ET For addition assistance, please write to us at: advocacycapacity@afj.org

Resources ACT www.bolderadvocacy.com/act Assistance with ACT advocacycapacity@afj.org Evaluation http://bolderadvocacy.org/tools-for- effective-advocacy/evaluating-advocacy

Community Organizing Capacity Assessment Tool (COCAT) Look ahead for the… Community Organizing Capacity Assessment Tool (COCAT) Available Winter 2013/2014 International Advocacy Capacity Tool Available Soon!

Melinda K. Lewis Capitol to Classroom Blog September 2012 “One of the things that I appreciate most about the new version of the AFJ assessment is that it includes an option for ‘relying on partners,’ when asking organizations about their abilities in specific areas.” “There’s a lot to like about AFJ’s, especially this newer version, which has ‘advanced’ options for organizations whose advocacy is a bit more well-developed, and the ability to compare an organization’s assessment against an aggregate.” “I know that it’s not easy to get Board members and other key stakeholders to sit down and fill out an assessment that takes 30-45 minutes. But, really, if we can’t get that much buy-in around questions of how to position our organizations for advocacy, how can we get buy-in to take the steps that move us to where we want to be, in terms of advocacy?”

Comments from ACT Users “This survey showed the concepts that we are lacking— like messaging. Thank you!” “This survey shows us that adaptability is a strategy too, and that we score relatively low here” “The Advocacy Capacity Tool is good for using with boards of directors to identify where the organization is strong and weak. It’s not just about my opinion as executive director, but about best practices.” “Excellent! Got me thinking in new ways!” “Very important for us to inventory our collected goals and resources. We need this kind of regular self- evaluation to make our service to our clients and the community better and better.”

WEST COAST Alliance For Justice 1611 Telegraph Avenue Suite 1006 Oakland, CA 94612 510-444-6070 EAST COAST Alliance for Justice 11 Dupont Circle, NW 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20036 202-822-6070 advocacy@afj.org Free TA Line: 866.675.6229 www.bolderadvocacy.org @bolderadvocacy @AFJBeBold www.facebook.com/#!/BolderAdvocacy