Public Policy and Advocacy

Nonprofits become involved in public policy and advocacy as a means to impact legislation and generate awareness and support of their missions. Advocacy can take on many forms, including rallies, protests, lobbying with legislatures, media campaigns and more. The following resources provide information on how to effectively advocate and lobby on behalf of your mission. 

Articles & Reports on Public Policy and Advocacy

• Prevent a Census Undercount in Underserved Communities
• Promising Practices in Electronic Advocacy

Links on Public Policy and Advocacy

Web Resources

• Advocacy Center at ISC Publications
  Offers online resources, trainings, and publications for nonprofits and individuals interested in social justice advocacy
• Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
  Make a Difference for your Cause: Strategies for Nonprofit Engagement in Legislative Advocacy (2006).
  An online guide to help nonprofits who want to become involved in legislative advocacy. Provides definitions of key terms, examples of successful advocacy efforts, and discusses the legal implications for nonprofits who lobby
• Center for Nonprofit Management 
  FAQs about nonprofit advocacy and lobbying
• Fieldstone Alliance: Policy and Advocacy Resources
  Provides an annotated list of website resources for nonprofits and grantmakers interested in advocacy and policy
• Independent Sector: Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying
  Provides lobbying resources for nonprofits, including the Nonprofit Lobbying Guide by Bob Smucker
• Nonprofit Good Practice Guide: Advocacy
  Provides a glossary, links to articles, websites and other resources 
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  The Policy Toolkit offers information, publications, resources and links for nonprofits

Local Resources

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts Website
  Lists current Massachusetts legislation, fiscal year budget recommendations, committees and legislators
• Public Policy Institute 
  A Boston-based organization that provides policy related workshops, publications and web links

Publications

• Fieldstone Alliance Publications
  • Arons, David, ed. 2007. Power in Policy: A Funder’s Guide to Advocacy and Civic Participation. Saint Paul, MN: Fieldstone Alliance.
  • Avner, Marcia. 2002. Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations: Shaping Public Policy at the State and Local Level. Saint Paul, MN: Fieldstone Alliance.
  • Avner, Marcia. 2004. Nonprofit Board Member’s Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy. Saint Paul, MN: Fieldstone Alliance.
• Jansson, Bruce S. 2007. Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice 5th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing.
• The Nonprofit Quarterly. 2000. “Advocacy: Oh Yes, You Can…and Should!”.Volume 7, Issue 2.