A letter from the National Council:
Reach out to officials in August to make a difference
Pundits typically point to Labor Day as the official beginning of the political season, but in reality the election season actually begins after the Independence Day recess. … This means that virtually everything Congress does from now until Election Day, Nov. 2, will be viewed through the lens of scoring points with voters. This also means that direct contact with voters is at its highest premium for the next several months.
Representatives and Senators WANT to meet with you, so Congressional leaders have made it especially easy this year for incumbents to connect with constituents by scheduling unusually long August breaks - five weeks for the Senate and six weeks for the House.
The August break is the ideal time to introduce your nonprofit organization to your federal officials, impress them with the impact of your work, and influence their thinking. Don't be shy! Congressional staffs in the District and State offices already are scrambling to find meetings, events, and media opportunities for their bosses. Make democracy work by keeping your federal officials informed by reaching out NOW to schedule those all-important meetings for educating them about the significant community challenges your nonprofit is tackling.
The choice is yours: Will you speak up for your community's needs, or sit silently on the sidelines?
Together, we can!
Tim Delaney
President & CEO
National Council of Nonprofits
