1. Advocating for Fun (and your nonprofit)
Bringing your (and your organization’s) public policy voice
to decisionmakers

2. Overview Introductions Defining Advocacy Our advocacy environment
Tools & Tips for making the world a better place
Action Steps!
What’s Next

3. Introductions
Name
Organization/Location
Favorite Halloween candy

4. Defining Advocacy What is “advocacy”?
What does it mean to be “advocates”?

5. Defining Advocacy
Advocacy is the art (and science) of changing what is into what should be

6. Defining Advocacy
Advocates are people who commit to changing what is into what should be

7. Who Can Advocate? Defining Advocacy Your clients Your staff
Your board members
Your volunteers
Your donors
YOU!

8. Defining Advocacy
Advocates use effective tactics to influence the decision-makers who can affect change

9. Our Advocacy Environment
Advocates use effective tactics to influence the decision-makers who can affect change

10. Our Advocacy Environment
MCH does state-level advocacy
201 Legislators
67 Senators
134 House Members

11. Our Advocacy Environment
MCH does state-level advocacy
Governor Dayton
& his administration

12. Tools & Tips
Advocates use effective tactics to influence the decision-makers who can affect change

13. Who do decision-makers listen to? How can we communicate with them?
Tools & Tips
Who do decision-makers listen to?
How can we communicate with them?

14. Tools & Tips Letters Email Phone Calls Rallys Marches
“Days on the Hill”

15. Hi, my name is _____ and I'm from __(city)__.
Action Steps!
Call Governor Dayton or
Hi, my name is _____ and I'm from __(city)__.
I'm at the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless conference today and I want to encourage Governor Dayton to include a $100 per month increase in MFIP cash assistance for families striving toward economic stability in his budget.

16. Write to Commissioner Johnson-Piper
Action Steps!
Write to Commissioner Johnson-Piper
Use the writing prompts
Handwrite your letter!
Address the envelope (but don’t seal it)
Turn it in to Atom - he’ll make sure it gets delivered to the Commissioner with all the other letters!

17. Action Steps!

18. What’s Next? VOTE (& register others to vote!)
Ask others to call the Governor & write a letter to Commissioner Johnson Piper
“Like” and follow the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless on Facebook (
Endorse the Prosperity for All agenda!
Contact Atom with your advocacy questions & ideas!

19. atom@mnhomelesscoalition.org 612-222-5500
Atom Robinson