1. Federation for Community Schools
Advocacy 101
March 15, 2017
Federation for Community Schools
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2. Agenda
I. Welcome and introductions II. Context- What is Advocacy? III. Advocacy Strategies and Messaging IV. Q&A

3. Public Policy Defined
Public policy is the combination of goals, laws, rules, and funding priorities set by public officials that determine how government meets needs, solves problems, and spends public funds.
- Marcia Avner, Minnesota Association of Non-Profits

4. Why Advocacy?
Government funding represents primary source of support for many agencies
Target beneficiaries rely on public resources for income and benefits
Providers are often subject to government regulation
Agencies have data and expertise that has value to policy makers

5. Examples of Advocacy testifying before governmental bodies
influencing governmental agencies at all levels
issue identification, research and analysis
education of the public on crucial issues
lobbying for or against legislation
coalition building
grassroots organizing and communication with local leaders

6. Public Policy is Something You’re Already Doing!
Have you testified before your city council or county commissioners?
Do you work on an area homelessness commission?
Do area elected or appointed officials turn to you for information on the needs of the community?
Do you partner with your school district or local government on a particular program or initiative?
If the answer is YES to any of these, then you’re already doing public policy! Why not be intentional and organized about it?

7. Areas of Advocacy
Administrative / Regulatory / Executive branch - relationships with all levels of non-elected government folks; importance of rule-making
Requests for information
Rulemaking
Contract administration
Funding opportunities
Legislative
Federal
State
Local – City / County Council, Referenda, School board
Lobbying
Advocacy

8. How A Bill Becomes Law

9. Grassroots Lobbying
State your position on specific legislation to the general public and ask them to contact policymakers.

10. Direct Lobbying
State your position on specific legislation to policymakers or urge your members to do so.

11. Lobby Day in Springfield

12. What is the most important thing to know?
Lobbying by a 501(c)(3) organization is legal!
Tax code has always allowed some lobbying by nonprofits.
1976 Public Charity Lobby Law (PL ) and subsequent regulations specify rules for nonprofit lobbying.
In 1990, IRS established guidelines for complying with 1976 lobby law under Section 501(h) and 4911.

13. But Beware! 501(c)(3) organizations cannot: Endorse candidates!
Align with political parties!
Contribute to candidates or parties!

14. What you can do Respond to Action Alerts with calls or emails
Guest editorials/letters
Help find and prepare individuals to testify
Educate your board, volunteers and staff
Map your relationships (“Kevin Bacon style”)
Meet with your locally elected state and federal representatives
Promote and interact at every opportunity

15. Helpful Websites www.thomas.gov - The Library of Congress
– U.S. Senate
– U.S. House of Representatives
–Illinois General Assembly
- State of Illinois
– The National Council of Nonprofits
– Alliance for Justice
– Independent Sector
look up IRS Nonprofit Charity Division

17. DECISIONS, DECISIONS

18. MESSAGING – What do you want your elected official to know?
What is a community school? How is it different from an afterschool program? What is my school doing – activities, programs outreach, etc.
Tell a story – put a human face on your work How can the elected official help? Ask for something specific

19. WHO is the advocacy target?
In order to determine the advocacy target, you first need to determine whether the issue is local, state or federal. Once your advocacy target has been identified, “Get to Know your Target”

20. GETTING TO KNOW YOU
RESEARCH – websites, newspapers, social media Does your elected official have a record on the issues you care about? What issues does the elected official care most about?
What committees and subcommittees does the elected official serve on? This can include community committees. Seniority? What is the political party of the elected official Is there a staff person that you can speak to first that could offer insights?

21. ADVOCACY STRATEGIES

23. FACE TO FACE MEETINGS

24. What is the best recipe for success?
A combination of strategies!

25. HOW DOES ADVOCACY FIT INTO YOUR DAY?
Every time you talk about community schools, you are advocating
Take advantage of opportunities
Attend public forums, meet & greets, town hall meeting
Look for opportunities to tell the story of your community school – newspaper/online stories, invite elected officials to your school

26. ADVOCACY MEETING

27. GOALS OF THE MEETING SHORT-TERM GOALS: EDUCATE
ASK FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC
LONG-TERM GOALS:
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL, I.E., PASSING LEGISLATION, STOPPING LEGISLATION, CHANGING POLICY/PROCEDURE

28. MEETING PREP KNOW YOUR FACTS: SCHEDULING – Call the Scheduler
Gather data specific to your school as well as state and national data
Know the stories you want to share
Create a 1-page fact sheet
Is there opposition to community schools? If so, how can you address the opposition?
Learn about your elected official
SCHEDULING –
Call the Scheduler
What is the process for scheduling a meeting?
Can the meeting occur as part of a school visit?
How much time will we (I) have? Can I use technology?
Confirm in Writing and forward a copy of the Fact Sheet

29. MEETING PREP (cont) PREPARING FOR THE MEETING –
KNOW YOUR FACTS, KNOW THE OPPOSITION (IF ANY)
AUTHORIZATION v. APPROPRIATION
Authorization – authorizes expenditure of funds from federal budget
Appropriation – Congress states the amount of money that will be spent on federal programs during the next fiscal year.
HAVE A PERSONAL STORY TO TELL
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
ICEBREAKER

30. MEETING AGENDA INTRODUCTIONS
INTRODUCE YOUR ISSUE – BE SURE TO HAVE EXTRA COPIES OF YOUR FACT SHEET TO HAND OUT
“MAKE YOUR CASE”
USE AVAILABLE DATA
PERSONAL STORY – “PUT A HUMAN FACE ON THE ISSUE”
DISCUSS THE OPPOSITION, IF ANY
ASK FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC
SCHEDULE FOLLOW-UP
GET A PICTURE!!

31. MEETING TIPS
UTILIZE FACT SHEET IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, SAY SO AND OFFER TO GET THE INFORMATION ASK QUESTIONS; ALLOW STAFF OR ADVOCACY TARGET TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE LISTEN! MAKE THE MEETING A CONVERSATION! STAFF YOU ARE YOUR GREATEST ASSET!!! BE YOURSELF AND HANDLE EVERY SITUATION WITH PATIENCE, GRACE, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT AND TRUSTWORTHINESS.

34. FOLLOW-UP
Arrange a time to follow-up at the end of the meeting and DO SO Thank you letter following meeting Be persistent but not obnoxious Track legislation/committee hearing schedules Engage in additional advocacy strategies, i.e., s, letter writing, etc. Thank you letter following the decision If supportive, publicly thank the elected official via social media, letter to the editor, etc. FOLLOW-UP IS CRITICAL TO THE PROCESS!

35. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
“EVERYTHING TURNS ON RELATIONSHIPS”
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO DEVELOP AND NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS:
TRUST
HONESTY
INTEGRITY/CREDIBILITY
AUTHENTICITY
REMEMBER YOU’RE A-B-C’s:
BE ACCURATE
BE BRIEF
BE COURTEOUS
ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCKS:
BE WILLING TO PUT IN A TON OF EFFORT/BE A RESOURCE
KNOW HOW TO LISTEN
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF TIME
NEVER GIVE UP!!!

36. Q&A