Posted
Sep 21, 2022 12:05 PM
Nonprofits have led the charge on many of the major movements that have changed our country. Whether it’s child labor laws, food regulations, women’s right to vote, racial and LGBTQ equality laws, or employee rights – the nonprofit sector played a substantial role in giving these movements life at the grassroots level.
But the work is not done yet! Your organization can lift its voice and advocate for changes to local, state, and federal laws that benefit our communities, but it’s crucial that you know how to do this both effectively and legally.
We’ve gathered resources to help transform your organization into stronger champions of your cause.
- Right off the bat, use Bolder Advocacy’s Advocacy Capacity Tool (ACT), a self-assessment that will evaluate your readiness and capacity to engage in advocacy efforts.
- Listen to Bolder Advocacy’s podcast Rules of the Game to hear real stories of successful advocacy and tips on getting involved.
- Independent Sector has a wealth of resources to help you become a better advocate, as does the National Council on Aging.
- Stand For Your Mission is a campaign led by Campion Foundation, BoardSource, and others to build awareness around the importance of board advocacy and empower board members to lift their voices.
- There are limitations on how much money nonprofits can spend on lobbying without jeopardizing their 501(c)3 tax status. You can choose to take the 501(h) expenditure test, as defined by the IRS, to see how to remain compliant.
- Who exactly are your elected representatives? Find out how to contact your congressional and state officials.