Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Advocacy for Nonprofits Resources

Nov 29, 2002

Planning for 2003? Here are some excellent resources from the
Nonprofit Quarterly

1. Recommended Resources: Advocacy for Nonprofits

A. ?“The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations,?”
available from the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, was written by Marcia
Avner of the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits. The book provides some
very practical approaches to influencing policy at the local, state, and
national levels and includes help on creating a planning process. The
most helpful section of the book is the Worksheets, which provide
step-by-step guidance. To order the book, go to:



B. ?“Advocacy and Lobbying without Fear: What Is Allowed within a 501
(c) (3) Charitable Organization?” by Thomas Raffa, Nonprofit Quarterly.
Understanding the distinction between lobbying and advocacy is an
important first step in knowing what is permissible in your efforts to affect
public policy. To download the article go to:



C. ?“Advocacy 101?” is presented on the Center for Community Change Web
site, which provides some helpful articles on how to advocate, how to
pick winning issues, and what you can and cannot do legally. To view the
Web site go to:



D. The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide by Bob Smucker is available online (in
Adobe PDF format) on the Charity Lobbying for the Public Interest Web
site. This is an essential resource for any nonprofit wanting to take on
more of a role in lobbying. It includes background on the lobbying
laws, on grassroots coalitions, and on using electronic media and other
topics. The entire website is an excellent source of information. To
access this guide go to:



E. The Office of Management and Budget Watch (OMB Watch) has a
nonprofit advocacy section which provides current articles on nonprofit
advocacy, and resources for nonprofits that want to be informed and prepared
to advocate. To review this online resource, go to:



F. ?“Advocacy, Oh, Yes You Can?…,?” a whole issue of the Nonprofit
Quarterly focuses on advocacy as a core competency for nonprofits. To view
some of the articles and the table of contents, go to:



G. Alliance for Justice has a Nonprofit Advocacy Project that works to
strengthen the voice of the nonprofit sector in important public policy
debates by giving tax-exempt organizations a better understanding of
the laws that govern their participation in the policy process. The
Project provides workshops, research and publications, and other technical
assistance. To view their Web site:



Thanks to Shelley Cousin, Executive Director
Wisconsin Head Start Association for this resource