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Building From Within
This document provides guidance on arts advocacy and building advocacy structures within an organization. It discusses setting advocacy goals and priorities, including identifying key audiences and determining how to influence them. It also discusses building internal advocacy structures, such as designating advocacy staff or integrating responsibilities into existing roles. The document outlines potential advocacy strategies like creating policy briefs or identifying champions. It provides tips on evaluating advocacy progress and overviews rules for 501(c)(3) organizations' lobbying within specified limits. The overall aim is to help organizations achieve lasting policy changes through public funding and directives.
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Building From Within
- 1. ARTS ADVOCACY TRAINING: BUILDING FROMWITHIN John R. Corlett, Vice President, Government Relations and Community Affairs The MetroHealth System
- 2. ARTS ADVOCACY: BUILDING FROMWITHIN 1. Setting Advocacy Goals and Priorities 2. Building Internal Advocacy Structures 3. Developing Strategies/Tactics 4. Evaluating Progress 5. Rules for 501(c)(3) Organizations
- 3. WHY BE INVOLVEDIN ADVOCACY Achieving large-scale and lasting results for individuals or communities – typically cannot be accomplished with private resources alone. Often, it requires public investments and government directives. While an organization might identify and implement effective interventions, larger and more sustainable funding sources are needed to scale up those interventions and broaden their impacts. Securing such commitments requires
- 4. SETTING ADVOCACY GOALS ANDPRIORITIES Five essential steps for developing public policy Choosing the public policy goal Understanding the challenges Identifying influential audiences Determining how far those audiences must move Deciding how to move them
- 5. SETTING ADVOCACY GOALS ANDPRIORITES Some Questions to Ask At what level of government does the policy goal need to change How long a time commitment is required What is the likelihood of success What are the opposing forces or potential threats Who is the primary audience and what will it take to move them
- 6. BUILDING INTERNAL ADVOCACY STRUCTURES StaffingModels Designated GR Staff GR Responsibilities Integrated Into Existing Staff Executive Director Volunteer Board Roles GR Committee Incorporate into Agendas
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- 8. POSSIBLE STRATEGIES Conduct boardmember “who do you know” exercise Create a board government relations committee or incorporate into another committee Create a policy one pager Conduct special outreach to freshmen legislators Create a legislative arts caucus Host a briefing for legislative staff Identify champions Identify, educate, and involve key influencers
- 9. EVALUATING PROGRESS Process Evaluation Numberof letters/emails generated Number of legislative meetings held Outcome Evaluation Funding protected or increased Legislation passed
- 10. RULES FOR 501(C)(3) LOBBYING Federallaws actually exist to encourage charities to lobby within certain specified limits. Knowing what constitutes lobbying under the law, and what the limits are, is the key to being able to lobby legally and safely. The laws have some detail, so consult your attorney or accountant for professional advice.
- 11. RULES FOR 501(C)(3) LOBBYING “Lobbying”does not include the following activities: providing technical assistance or advice to legislative body or committee in response to a written request; making available nonpartisan analysis, study or research; providing examinations and discussions of broad, social, economic and similar problems; communicating with a legislative body regarding matters which might affect the existence of the organization, its powers and duties, its tax-exempt status, or the deduction of contributions to the organization (the "self-defense" exception); and, updating the members of your own organization on the status of legislation, without a call to action.
- 12. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES Charities areexpressly prohibited from intervening in a political campaign of any candidate for public office, and from engaging in partisan activity of any kind. Charities may not use government funds, such as government grants or contracts, to lobby, including the use of federal funds to lobby for federal grants or contracts.
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