How to Be a Smart Advocate

Trustees’ connections and community clout can be invaluable for the nonprofits they serve, but these assets are often underused. Experts share their secrets on how to motivate board members to make your case to legislators and policy makers.

Nonprofit leaders offer smart tips for remaining apolitical to build bipartisan support among lawmakers and donors. The advice can also benefit groups that take a neutral stance but are plunged unexpectedly into a political controversy, as happened to the Boy Scouts this week after President Trump made a speech at its jamboree that included partisan political comments.

How one nonprofit channels fans’ passion for pop culture into social activism.

Food & Water Watch uses text messages to inspire supporters to call their legislators.

Mobilisation Lab, a nonprofit spinoff of Greenpeace that helps organizations encourage supporters to take action on behalf of a cause, poses questions that can help charities share control.

Allow interested employees at all levels and in all departments of the organization to participate, and keep fundraisers involved at all stages.

Mobilisation Lab works with charities around the world to put control over campaigns in the hands of more supporters.

A collection of articles to help you define your storytelling strategy, gather great stories, hone them to be effective, and drive your audience to take action.

Advice to help you educate legislators about your causes without running afoul of regulations on lobbying and politicking.

Use data and powerful stories to help members of Congress see the value of your nonprofit.

Experts see this as one of the most basic kinds of advocacy. Here’s how to get started.

The wage hike will have profound effects on charities’ bottom lines, but phasing it in over several years buys groups time to adjust budgets and communicate with donors.