The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations: Shaping Public Policy at the State and Local Level - Softcover

Avner, Marcia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0940069261 ISBN 13: 9780940069268

Publisher: Amherst H Wilder Foundation, 2002

Synopsis

Your ""How-To"" Guide to State and Local Lobbying This guide is your complete road map to shaping public policy at the state and local level. It gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for developing an effective plan and putting it into action. With this handbook, you will discover how lobbying can help fulfill your mission; learn how to initiate, support, or defeat bills; develop effective lobbying skills; gather and mobilize support for your positions; learn how to use the media effectively; influence gov’t administrators to back your policy positions; comply with state and federal regulations; and set up systems in your nonprofit to support lobbying. Adaptable to Your Unique Needs This flexible book can be tailored to fit your situation. You have four different planning strategies to choose from short-term, long-term, proactive, or reactive. Want to move quickly? Use the ""planning shortcuts."" Plus, a special ""rapid response guide"" helps you with emergencies. Straightforward and Action Oriented In addition to a clear framework for planning your policy work, author Marcia Avner shares with you the nitty gritty of effective lobbying based on her more than 30 years of experience. You'll find concrete information on building relationships with public officials; what you need to know to make your case; how to testify at a committee hearing; how to find out how it works in your area; mistakes to avoid; and much more!

About this title

From the Publisher

This guide is your complete road map to shaping public policy at the state and local level. It gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for developing an effective plan and putting it into action. With this handbook, you will

* Discover how lobbying can help fulfill your mission

* Learn how to initiate, support, or defeat bills

* Develop effective lobbying skills

* Gather and mobilize support for your positions

* Learn how to use the media effectively

* Influence gov’t administrators to back your policy positions

* Comply with state and federal regulations * Set up systems in your nonprofit to support lobbying Adaptable to Your Unique Needs: This flexible book can be tailored to fit your situation. You have four different planning strategies to choose from—short-term, long-term, proactive, or reactive. Want to move quickly? Use the "planning shortcuts." Plus, a special "rapid response guide" helps you with emergencies. Straightforward and Action Oriented: In addition to a clear framework for planning your policy work, author Marcia Avner shares with you the nitty gritty of effective lobbying based on her more than 30 years of experience. You'll find concrete information on

* Building relationships with public officials

* What you need to know to make your case

* How to testify at a committee hearing

* How to find out how it works in your area * Mistakes to avoid, and much more! Worksheets and Examples Guide You: Worksheets, sample agendas, and checklists break the process into doable steps. They're also helpful for evaluating and improving programs already in place. A complete case study, numerous examples, and sidebars bring the process to life. You'll see how an actual campaign was put together—including samples of all of their materials—from concept presentation through final passage. Lobbying is exciting and rewarding work! Get The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook and build your case with the right people, at the right time, for the greatest impact.

About the Author

MARCIA AVNER has more than 30 years influencing public policy. She is public policy director for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and assistant professor in nonprofit management at Hamline University. She has served on more than 20 nonprofit boards and advisory committees. Marcia holds a B.A. in English from Carnegie-Mellon University and an M.A. in English from the University of Arkansas.

Edition details

• Publisher: Amherst H Wilder Foundation
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0940069261
• ISBN 13: 9780940069268
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 230