Unleash Your Community Impact Potential

Kyle DuBuc, United Way for Southeastern MichiganJamie Helsen, United Way of the Lakeshore

Michigan Association of United Ways Annual Meeting

July 17, 2014

Overview

• Why Advocate?

• Internal roadblocks and External Rules

• What do we advocate for?

• How do we advocate?

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Small Group Discussion 1

Why Advocate?

How is United Way well suited for this work?

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Why Advocate?

Being active in the area of public policy is a key element of being a community impact leader.

Achieving United Way’s goals will not happen by fundraising or programming alone.

Funding from government can significantly impact (help or hinder) capacity to create community-level change.

Foundation funding of advocacy produces an ROI of $115 to $1 spent (Source: National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy).

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Why is United Way Well Suited for this Work?

•High Visibility

•Established Credibility

•Influential Board Members

•Unique Grass Roots to Administrative perspective

•Significant ability to communicate and raise awareness

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Value of Advocacy to UW

• Community Impact

• Organizational Exposure

• Local Engagement

• Program Opportunities and support

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Small Group Discussion 2

What are some potential roadblocks to activating your advocacy work?

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Common Challenges to United Way Advocacy

• Natural aversion to controversy

• Fear of partisan labels

• Varying board members perspectives on issues

• Lack of resources

• Inexperience

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501(c)(3)s Can Lobby! Know the terms…

• Advocacy: Raising awareness about a key issue

• Lobbying: An attempt to influence a specific piece of legislation

• Direct Lobbying: stating a position on specific legislation to legislators or other government employees

• Grassroots Lobbying: stating a position on specific legislation to the general public and asking the general public to contact legislators or other government employees about the legislation

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Nonprofits Can Lobby! Know the rules…

• Taking the (h) election makes reporting easy (Form 5786)

• May spend up to 20% of first $500,000 on lobbying

• 5% of expenditures over $1.5 million

• $1 million ceiling

• “Direct Lobbying” and “Grassroots Lobbying” are reported

Resources:

MNA: https://www.mnaonline.org/lobbying.aspx

CFNP: http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-advocacy/501h-election

IRS: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5768.pdf

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Getting Started: Best Practices in Advocacy

1. Identify Board and Staff Champions

2. Establish process for selecting issues and policy positions

3. Build relationships with decision-makers

4. Engage with policy partners and thought leaders

http://online.unitedway.org/file.cfm?fid=3114560

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Policy Metrics

I. How relevant is this policy to the mission?

II. How impactful is the policy on our community?

III. How feasible is it that this policy will move?

IV. Do we have an opportunity to impact the

outcome?

V. What are the risks of taking a position?

Issue Evaluation

Opportunity

Feasibility

Impact

Relevance

Risk

Small Group Discussion 2

Issue Evaluation

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Examples of Advocacy

• issue identification, research and analysis

• education of the public on crucial issues

• lobbying for or against legislation

• voter registration and education

• litigation

• participation in referenda or initiative campaigns

• grassroots organizing and communication with local leaders

• testifying before governmental bodies

• lobbying governmental agencies at all levels

• Newspaper• Google Ads• Billboards• Radio Spots

• Press releases

• Press calls• Press

conferences• Op-eds

• Social media• Advocacy alert

emails• Sign-on letters or

& petitions • Phone calls • Town halls

& legislative events

• Rallies • Lobby days

• Meeting legislators• Site visits• Phone calls• Letters• Emails Direct

Lobbying Grass-roots

LobbyingPaid

MediaEarned Media

Advocacy Tools

Opportunities to Advocate

High Engagement

• In-District visits

• Site visits

Medium Engagement

• Engage policymakers in local events

Low Engagement

• Social Media

• Action Alerts

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Relationship Building – the Key to Success

• Know your policy makers – and their staff

• Find ways to incorporate them into your work

• Follow up on issues of interest

• Frequent communications and knowledge sharing

• THANK YOU!

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Results from Michigan United Ways

• UWSEM – examples

• UWBCKR – NFP Funding,

• Others?

• 2-1-1 Funding

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Resources are available to help you

• MAUW

• UWW

• Each other

• Partner Organizations

• Coalitions

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Federal Advocacy Opportunities

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Charitable Deduction, Volunteerism, 2-1-1

Federal Advocacy Opportunity: Advocate Right Now!

Support Investments in Children and Families

Send a Message to Your Member of Congress:

• http://www.capwiz.com/unitedway/issues/alert/?alertid=62558236

Send a Tweet:

• Let’s send a message to Congress to #investinkids and families in the 2015 budget. Tell Congress today: http://ow.ly/u4kO5

Post a Facebook Message:

• As Congress considers federal budget proposals, they must prioritize our children and families. Join us in sending a message to congressional members that investing kids and families in need is critical to our nation’s future.

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What YOU and your United Way can do

• Sign up for the Advocacy Connection newsletter and PPN-L. Email: patty.hall@unitedway.org

• Join the MAUW Public Policy Committee

• Take action on alerts & share with your networks

• Build relationships with your elected officials

• Talk with your leadership about advocacy and expand your local efforts

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Discussion? Questions?

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