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Fundraiser companies have long used the power of advocacy to help advance nonprofit causes. In the broadest sense, advocacy in the nonprofit world refers to citizens influencing public policy. Through a wide range of activities, fundraiser companies help nonprofits achieve universal social change in support of their missions. The root of the word "advocacy" means to speak up, plead the case of someone, fight for a cause or come to the aid of someone. It's the very essence of why most nonprofits exist. Fundraiser companies want to influence outcomes that directly affect the people served by the nonprofit. Nonprofits advocate to different extents. Advocacy may be the nature of the nonprofit's work. In other cases, nonprofits may advocate to achieve their mission. Advocacy vs. Lobbying Advocacy can take many forms. Often, it's often confused with lobbying. Although lobbyists do advocate, nonprofit advocacy does not involve lobbying. To clarify, the Internal Revenue Service defines lobbying as an attempt to influence legislation at the local, state or federal level. An example of lobbying would be direct or grassroots communication with legislators or their staff about legislation. The purpose of the communication is to influence a specific outcome. Advocacy, on the other hand, would be conducting activities around a certain issue and engaging voters in a nonpartisan manner to support legislation that advances the nonprofit's cause. Fundraiser companies can help nonprofits see the difference. A 501(c)(3) organization can advocate for public policies they support. However, the IRS draws the line at advocating for specific legislation. In these situations, advocacy becomes lobbying and is then subject to specific rules and regulations. The tax-exempt status of a nonprofit could be threatened by activities deemed lobbying by the IRS. This is why many nonprofits have moved to incorporate both a c3 and a c4 aspect of their brand when they wish to be directly involved in lobbying efforts. Types of Nonprofit Advocacy Fundraiser companies get involved in many types of nonprofit advocacy, including the following: - Community Advocacy – This form of advocacy focuses on changing public opinions and attitudes about a certain issue. Typically, nonprofits conduct educational campaigns using a variety of communication channels, including websites, direct mail, social media, broadcasting, print and more. Fundraiser companies are especially adept at using the media to help get the message out to the public through coverage in TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, press conferences and other editorial outlets.
- Legal Advocacy – Some nonprofits use lawsuits to achieve necessary reforms. By using the court systems, nonprofits can protect rights and raise awareness of an issue. Legal advocacy provides an excellent venue for being heard. Fundraiser companies can help nonprofits publicize court proceedings through a variety of channels.
- Legislative Advocacy – When change is needed for a federal, state or local law, school board policy or budget allocation, nonprofits may use legislative advocacy to accomplish their goals. Fundraiser companies can help with activities including legislative monitoring, committee testifying, organizing coalitions, writing position papers and more.
Nonprofit advocacy boils down to successful communication and relationship building. Because change never happens overnight, advocacy is a lengthy process. Fundraiser companies help keep nonprofits on target with programs and activities that achieve results. However, success requires persuasiveness, perseverance and an unwavering dedication to the nonprofit's mission. About the Author: Edward Phillips, MBA, is chief creative officer of IPM Advancement, a leading nonprofit fundraising company. Visit us at http://www.ipmadvancement.com or call 623-687-3908 for more information about Fundraiser Companies.
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