Civic Engagement for Community Change · • Voter Registration • Get Out The Vote Toolbox: Civic...

Civic Engagement for Community Change

Presented by:

Emily Shamsid DeenCommunity Engagement Manager

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

• A roadmap to real change

• Demystifying Advocacy

• The Rules

• Toolbox: Lobbying & Voter Engagement

• Getting Started

• 2018….and beyond!

AgendaCommunity Resource Center

Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits

• Name & Preferred Pronouns • (she/her/hers; he/him/his; they/them/their)

• Title & Organization

• Mission

• Why are you here today?

Introductions

Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits

• Our issues are decided politically

• Advocacy helps find real solutions to help real people

• 501 (c) (3)’s are the “Sleeping Giants”

A Roadmap for Change


• NPO’s are nonpartisan, trusted messengers. Nonprofits serve and engage disenfranchised communities every day.

• Our sector is expansive. There are over one million community-based nonprofit organizations and sites working with populations that have a history of lower participation. We employ more than 14 million people (10% of the workforce), engage more than 50 million volunteers annually, and serve millions every day.

• Civically engaged people are more likely to follow issues, volunteer, and engage friends and family members. Communities with increased engagement experience lower unemployment.

• At the table, or on the menu!

Sources: Alvy, 2010. Harris polls, 2008. Philanthropy for active civic engagement, 2008. National Civic Review, 2010, Nonprofit VOTE 2014.

A Roadmap for Change


Advocacy…

• Involves identifying, embracing and promoting a cause.

• Includes a broad range of activities.

Defining Advocacy

Lobbying…

• An attempt to influence specific legislation.

• An attempt to influence a specific ballot measure.

• Has strict legal and IRS definitions for nonprofits.



Defining Advocacy

Full Cycle Advocacy


How does advocacy relate to your mission?

What could be gained?

What could be lost?

Your Turn


A 501(c)(3) organization may NOT

• Endorse or Oppose a candidate or party

• Make a contribution to a candidate or party

Cardinal Rule: Nonpartisanship


Direct Lobbying: Communication with a legislator (or staff) expressing a view about specific legislation

Grassroots lobbying: Communication with the general public expressing a view about specific legislation and including a “call to action.”

Nonprofit Toolbox: Lobbying


It’s not the activity that constitutes lobbying, it’s the content of the conversation

Lobbying includes a specific “vote yes” or “vote no” on a piece of legislation or ballot initiative

Ballot Initiatives are considered direct- why?

The “vote” language is the clear line – lobbying definitions are clear and distinct


Nonprofit Toolbox: Lobbying

The amount of lobbying a nonprofit organization can engage in depends on its tax-exempt status. 501(c)(3) public charities can engage in a limited, but generous, amount of lobbying. Federal guidelines say:

“Insubstantial Test” -No substantial part of a charity’s activities be carrying on

propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation

“H Election” - Clear definitions of various kinds of lobbying communications

– Clearly defined lobbying dollar limits and fewer items counting against those limits

– No personal penalties for charity that exceeds lobbying expenditure limits


What does the IRS Say?

Are issues that affect your mission or clients addressed at the ballot or legislature? Are there issues at the local, state or federal levels?

Where could you have capacity to inform and influence policy?


Your Turn

The purpose of the Participation Project is to guide, train, and support human service nonprofits in their nonpartisan civic engagement efforts.

Building Capacity for Civic Engagement


• Voter Education

• Candidate Education

• Voter Registration

• Get Out The Vote

Toolbox: Civic Engagement



Voter engagement promotes:•empowerment

• inclusivity •community engagement

Toolbox: Civic Engagement

For Our Clients • Invites clients to take part in a positive and important process

• A patient’s perceived sense of being able to influence his or her own life is linked to better health outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, HIV, depression and other chronic diseases. (Alvy, 2010, National Civic Review, 2010)

For Our Organizations • Increase the power of your organization

• Elected Officials respond better

For Our Communities • Community dialogue about government decisions create governmental

policies more in line with the desires of residents, including residents not active in the organization

Voting Matters


Source: Nonprofit VOTE- Track the Vote, 2012Increase political engagement among populations who have been traditionally underrepresented in the democratic process.

Source: Nonprofit VOTE- Track the Vote, 2012

Nonprofit Impact: Elections


Nonprofit Impact –

Source: Nonprofit VOTE- Track the Vote, 2012

Intervention by nonprofits had the biggest impact among low-propensity voters –those most likely to be ignored by campaigns.

Three times more likely to vote than their counterparts among all registered voters.


Nonprofit Impact: Elections

• Voter Registration & Pledges to Vote

• Voter & Candidate Education • Demystifying the process• Candidate Forums

• Get-Out-The-Vote reminders

• Election Day • Transportation, Poll Workers,

Polling Sites


Voter Engagement

Set up a table in your lobby/waiting room

At health/service fairs

At job training and other classes

Integrated with intake

In one-on-one services

At back to school events

When hiring staff


Voter Engagement Strategies

Getting Started

• Let’s get visionary• How could it enhance our ability to fulfill our mission?• Imagine what a strong and effective advocacy effort could accomplish• Think beyond our personal, political preferences

• Start Internal• It always comes back to the mission• Build buy in – board, key staff, community leaders• Understand your policy priorities and capacity• Build your team• Know the law


Next Steps

• Find Allies• Join forces with policy organizations• Talk to other c (3)’s with similar interest/service areas

• What else?• Identify Audience/Areas of influence – local decision makers,

community, state-level• Plan ahead – key dates & deadlines• Opportunities• Resources


• Colorado Center on Law and Policy

• Colorado Nonprofit Association

• Bell Policy Center

• AARP

• 9to5 Colorado

• Colorado Community Health Network

• Arts for Colorado

• Family Resource Association

• And many more!


Collaboration is the Key

2018 Mid-Term Elections U.S House Governor State Offices Local Offices Ballot Measures

2019 Legislative Session


Upcoming Opportunities


Building Power for our Sector

Community Resource Center -Participation ProjectCrcamerica.org/ParticipationProject

Nonprofit VOTENonprofitvote.org

(617) 867-VOTE

Colorado Nonprofit AssociationColoradoNonprofits.org

(303)832-5710

Alliance for JusticeAfj.org

(866) NP-LOBBY


Resources

http://www.coparticipationproject.org/

http://www.nonprofitvote.org/

http://www.afj.org/


Thank you!

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