patrick_brennans_polling_research_presentation

Advocacy Initiative polling research

Patrick Brennan, Research Director

[email protected] 0044 7941 055376 0044 20 7426 8871

Agenda

• Background & objectives

• What the public understand about Advocacy work

• Current levels of support and involvement

• Lessons from Westminster

• What’s next

• Questions & discussion

Objectives

• The objective of the Initiative is to better understand public attitudes (negative and positive) towards NGOs engaging in advocacy and policy development. This data will inform future activities of the Initiative and may be used in engaging with a range of stakeholders.

• The ambition is to provide information that will interrogate a number of assumptions that social justice advocates make regarding the understanding and attitudes of the general population. The key objectives for the Initiative are to:

o Gauge the level of understanding of social justice advocacy (the term ‘campaign’ and/or ‘lobbying’ will be used as it is likely to have greater resonance with a general audience).

o Identify the level of support for this activity, including the link between fundraising and advocacy.

o Level of potential for developing mobilization of general public and engaging in advocacy.

o Understanding of advocacy in broader political context.

Agenda





• What’s next


What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Lobbying

Associations with the word Lobbying

Base: All respondents (1,436), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Nov 2012, nfpSynergy

5

What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Lobbying


6

Associations with the word Lobbying Excluding “Politics” “Politicians” and “Government”

What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Campaigning

Associations with the word Campaigning


7

What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Campaigning


8

Associations with the word Campaigning Excluding “Politics” “Politicians” and “Advertising”

What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Advocacy

Associations with the word Advocacy


9

What do you think of when you hear the following terms? Charity and non-profit groups

Associations with the words Charity and non-profit groups


10

Understanding of charities and politics

Which of the following are true or false?

-12%

-19%

-35%

-14%

56%

36%

47%

37%

20%

57%

-19%

-16%

Charities or nonprofit groups can organise protests and

demonstrations

Charities or nonprofit groups regularly meet with government

ministers

Businesses can regularly meet with Government ministers

Charities or nonprofit groups are allowed to engage in political

lobbying

Charities or nonprofit groups can support a political party

Businesses can support a political party

False Don't know True


11

Agenda





• What’s next


The public think it is important for charities to lobby government

“How important is it to you that the charity you support campaigns publicly and lobbies government for better social outcomes?”

-7% 43% 29%-3%

Not at all important Not very important Not Sure Somewhat important Very important

Base: All respondents (1,000), 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: ICEM Nov-10 , nfpSynergy

13

“Please indicate which of the following charity activities and staff members you would think of as counting as part of "administration" costs, which as fundraising costs, and which as money spend on the "cause”.

Base: 1,212 adults 16+, Republic of Ireland Source: Irish Charity Engagement Monitor, Apr/May 2011, nfpSynergy

5%

6%

7%

13%

14%

24%

48%

64%

29%

49%

37%

53%

13%

13%

8%

31%

13%

49%

49%

27%

34%

8%

23%

11%

16%

13%

10%

14%

11%

10%

15%

15%

15%

20%

11%

51%

11%

9%

21%

71%

51%

69%

29%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

A charity's Chief Executive

A Charity's Head of Fundraising

A staff member who opens, processes and issues thank you letters for

donations received

A direct mail campaign

An advertising campaign

Producting and distributing information materials

A magazine giving members information about the charity

A director managing several medical research projects

A campaign to improve children's understanding of international

development

A person campaigning to change the law

Delivering child care services

Cause Administration Fundraising Not sure

14 14

Many recognize it as part of your “cause”

Bust must be balanced

Which of the following are true or false?

-29% 29%

Charities or nonprofit groups

spend too much time lobbying

and not enough directly helping

people

False Don't know True


15

People are positive about the potential role of charities

“To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the role of the government and the role of charities in the recent economic crisis?”

9%

11%

12%

15%

37%

42%

39%

27%

I would be interested in getting involved

in a national movement of charity and

civil society groups if a credible one

presented itself

I think charities and civil society groups

should become more involved in policy

making at a national level

I think charities have provided more

leadership than politicians during the

recent crisis

I believe that greater involvement of

charities and community groups in

national policy making would ensure

that vulnerable people are better

provided for in the current crisis

Strongly Agree Agree


16

7%5%

12%10%

31%

37%

3%

6%7%

13%

5%

27%

Taken part in a

public

demonstration

Taken part in a

public meeting

Text/SMS message

campaign

Signed a

campaigning

postcard

Joined a group on a

social networking

site

Added your name to

a petition

16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+


Involvement in campaigning activities, by age Activities relating to new technologies show the expected effects of age, but otherwise there are campaigners in every age group

“Which of the following activities have you done in the past 3 months in support of a charity?”; “Which of the following activities would you consider doing, if you were asked by a charity you support?”

17

How influential do you think the following groups are/should be in persuading Irish Government to change the law or policy? Somewhat influential + Very influential

Farmers

Trade Unions

Religious bodies/ Churches

Charities and non-profit groups

Businesses

Perceived influence on government policy


18


15%

41%

53%

55%

59%



Farmers

Businesses

Trade Unions

Perceived Influence

Perceived influence on government policy


19


46%

17%

40%

36%

53%

15%

41%

53%

55%

59%



Farmers

Businesses

Trade Unions

Perceived Influence

Ideal Influence

Perceived versus ideal influence on government policy


20

Does advocacy have an image problem?

• Are you using the right language to address it?

o Lobbying is potentially annoying

o Advocacy is potentially ambiguous

o Campaigning is potentially both

o How do you talk about this area of work, simply and without putting people off?

o And ensure advocacy is perceived as part of your cause, not a distraction from it?

• How do you convince the public you can live up to their expectations?

o The public thinks highly of charities and want you to lobby

o But is thinking that you have no clout putting them off from joining you?

o Is there a “£5 buys 20 mosquito nets” equivalent in campaigning?

• Can you start picking any ‘low hanging fruit’?

o There is scope for charities to ask the public to campaign more, given their support for charities playing a campaigning role.

o Can make use of donor databases to find campaigners, as existing donors are more likely to be interested in taking campaigning action?

o It will be important to target types of campaigning at certain groups: older groups are more willing to participate in writing and emailing campaigns.

Agenda





• What’s next


33%

29%

5%4%

4%

13%

3%

14%

31%

9%

5%

11%

5%

9% 9%

18%

9%8%

11%8%

8%8%

14%14%

31%

18%

22%

37%

12%

6%

27%

22%

8%

16%

5%5% 4%

16%

6%

Jun-0

2

Jan-0

3

Jun-0

3

Jan-0

4

Jun-0

4

Jan-0

5

Jun-0

5

Jan-0

6

Jun-0

6

Jan-0

7

Jun-0

7

Jan-0

8

Jun-0

8

Jan-0

9

Jun-0

9

Jan-1

0

May-1

0

Jan-1

1

Jun-1

1

Jan/F

eb-1

2

Sep-1

2

Con MPs recall of most recalled campaign

Lab MPs recall of most recalled campaign

“Do you recall any specific campaigns, media coverage, or advertising carried out by charities, voluntary organisations or pressure groups, over the last 6 months? “

23 Base: c. 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, Jun 12, nfpSynergy

Trade J

ust

ice

movem

ent

Barn

ard

o’s

Tsu

nam

i appeal

Make

povert

y

his

tory

RSPCA

Alz

heim

er’s

IFAW

Clim

ate

ch

ange

BH

F

Competition between charities makes standing out difficult

NSPCC’ Full Stop

Macmillan’s campaigns

Royal British Legion ‘s campaign

24

Impressions can change by party Top nine charities which have impressed MPs - by party

1%

1%

3%

4%

4%

7%

7%

9%

14%

0%

1%

1%

2%

5%

7%

8%

10%

16%

Help For Heroes

NSPCC

Royal British Legion

Local Hospice

Age UK

Citizens Advice

Cancer Research UK

Macmillan Cancer Support

Save the Children

Age UK

Cancer Research UK

NSPCC

Help For Heroes

Citizens Advice

Save the Children

Macmillan Cancer Support

Royal British Legion

Local Hospice

“Which charities have directly impressed you in the last 6 months?”

Base: 153 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, Sep12, nfpSynergy

25

“Best to stick to practical action not political campaigning” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“Cut out the party politics” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“Do a wonderful job in operational terms, however they can be a very partisan organisation” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“Good care, bad policy” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“Too melodramatic a campaign” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“The government will respond in due course, so they are jumping the gun” Conservative MP, Feb 12

“Too much unfocused scare mongering” Lib Dem MP, Jan 12

Charities with established reputations are likely to be critiqued for more political campaigns

26

Charity are being overshadowed by economics

“Which issues do you think will be at the top of your agenda over the next 12 months?” Please write in the space provided.

Base: 150 MPs Source: Charity Parliamentary Monitor, May 12, nfpSynergy

8%

11%

12%

12%

54%

EDUCATION

CHARITIES/CHARITABLE

GIVING

HEALTH/NHS

POLITICAL

ECONOMIC CLIMATE/COST

OF LIVING

6%

23%

27%

23%

15%

70%

46%

30%

32%

16%At party conferences

House business

Media coverage

Reports and publications

Correspondence in my constituency

Constituency business

Event in my constituency

Correspondence at Westminster

Event at Westminster

Face-to-face meetings at Westminster

Most frequent (May-Jun 12)

“How do you come into contact with charities, public bodies or government agencies? Please tick the three most frequent ways and the three most influential ways (in helping you form an opinion of them) in which you come into contact with these”

Contacting politicians


27

6%

23%

27%

23%

15%

70%

46%

30%

8%

11%

16%

17%

25%

43%

45%

17%

30%

49%

32%

16%At party conferences

House business

Media coverage

Reports and publications

Correspondence in my constituency

Constituency business

Event in my constituency

Correspondence at Westminster

Event at Westminster

Face-to-face meetings at Westminster

Most influential (May-Jun 12)

Most frequent (May-Jun 12)

“How do you come into contact with charities, public bodies or government agencies? Please tick the three most frequent ways and the three most influential ways (in helping you form an opinion of them) in which you come into contact with these”

Contacting politicians


28

Conclusions: Some basic lessons

• It is difficult to compete – both with other charities and other business. Effective collaboration may be key.

• It is easy to be partisan, but probably not as effective. Develop strong relationships with all sides of the house.

• Remember the basics:

o Be focussed, concise and informative

o Have a specific objective and communicate it well

o Think local

o Encourage supporters to write to their TD

o Provide media opportunities

Agenda





• What’s next


Plans for Spring 2013

Q. If charity or non-profit group that you give money to asks you to participate in a campaigning? activity such as signing a petition, which of the following statements do you think would match you the most closely:

I would probably give them more money in future I probably won’t affect how much money I gave

them in future I would probably give them less money in future I don’t know Q. If you gave €100 to your favourite charity or

nonprofit group how would like them to divide the money on the following activities...

Help those in need of their services Try to change the law to benefit those they help Run the charity, training staff and such like Raise more money in future Educate the public about the importance of the

work they do

Q. Please indicate whether you think Ireland does too much, too little, or just enough to protect the rights of the following groups:

Migrants and asylum seekers Travellers Unemployed people Lone parents Gay and Lesbian Women Older people Children & young people People with a disability People from an ethnic minority group Prisoners Religious groups Animals

Agenda





• What’s next


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