These slides give an overview of how to start your issue brief research, which begins with identifying key organizations at the national, state, and local level.

1. STARTING YOUR
ISSUE BRIEF RESEARCH
KNOW YOUR ISSUE
PolicyOptions Wiki

2. STARTING YOUR ISSUE BRIEF RESEARCH
STARTING YOUR ISSUE BRIEF RESEARCH
▸ First find the Key Organizations at the National, State,
and Local level for your topic
• Keep track of key individuals you may want to
interview to help strengthen your issue brief
▸ Tips for finding organizations of all types
• government agencies, non-profit service providers,
non-profit advocacy/membership/networks,
foundations, think tanks, etc.

3. STARTING YOUR ISSUE BRIEF RESEARCH
KEY ORGANIZATION SEARCH
▸ Google searches using key words + your topic:
• issue brief on..., program evaluation on..., policy paper
on..., funders of...., national association of...
▸ Follow links within organization websites
• Research papers, organizational partners, advocacy or
legislative efforts, board members, funders...
▸ National directories of organizations
• usa.gov, guidestar.org, national associations...

4. STARTING YOUR ISSUE BRIEF RESEARCH
TIPS FOR COLLABORATING ON YOUR ISSUE BRIEF
▸ Shared effort on:
• Compiling USA (national) information page
• Profiling Policy Option & Model Program
✓ Categorizing Policy Options & Model Programs
▸ Individual effort on compiling:
• State information page
• Local information page