Tim Schmaltz of the Protecting Arizona’s Families Coalition delivered a rousing round of tips, strategies and inspiration to an audience of about 80 Hawai‘i nonprofit leaders at the State Capitol Auditorium on Nov. 13 at a workshop on nonprofit coalition building sponsored by HANO, the National Association of Social Workers and a coalition of Hawai‘i nonprofits with underwriting from the Hawai‘i People’s Fund.

It isn’t about harnessing the power of nonprofit agencies, Schmaltz said. Real political power comes from uniting citizens around a common message. In Arizona at a time when some state leaders proposed cutting programs, that message was “zero budget cuts,” he said. “We said let’s have the rich balance the budget, not the poor and disabled. What kind of society takes away kids’ health care – kids who have nothing?”

PAFCO mobilized its member agencies and had between 25 and 250 people show up every Tuesday every week of the legislative session, each wearing a big yellow PAFCO button. The effort started small but soon “new groups were contacting us to say ‘we want to have a PAFCO day,’” Schmaltz said.

The coalition maintained a constant, visible presence that said “we’re here, we’re watching and watch out if you move against health and human services. We’re the yellow-button people!,” Schmaltz said. “They have to know that you’re always going to be there, like junkyard dogs.”

PAFCO avoided setting agencies against each other to compete for funding in a zero-sum budgeting process. Instead, they created a united front. By identifying real, personal impacts of proposed budget cuts, PAFCO was able to set the agenda. “We made our reputation on that. We don’t represent the industry, but the people the industry serves.”

It isn’t just the best idea or doing the right thing, Schmaltz said. “It’s not about the facts. Being right isn’t enough. It’s about power – using money and people to have influence. While other industries spend money to exercise power, nonprofits need to exercise people. You need to have your facts right, but number one you need the votes. Citizen power.”

If you aren’t registering every person your organization touches to vote, Schmaltz said, “stop whining.” Every nonprofit should have voter registration forms available and train the people who need services to advocate for them. “We need to shift from being clients to being citizens who are a source of power for their own needs.” 

Schmaltz offered these tips for creating powerful coalitions:

• Common denominator – You need an authentic common cause or common enemy. For PAFCO it was people who wanted to cut the budget. “It’s about the votes – if you aren’t going to vote for us, we have to treat you as the enemy.”
• Common goals for the session – “It’s the hardest thing we do. Unless we can articulate clearly a common goal, the coalition isn’t going to hang together.”
• Focus on action – Spend your time taking action, not on building organizations.
• Communicate – Use alternative mediums – email, web sites, etc. – and keep the communications focused on what people can do. Make them feel they are in the loop. Celebrate your accomplishments.
• Leadership – All styles of leadership are welcome – cheerleaders, planners, etc. – but leaders must be both charismatic and pragmatic. Cultivate them; introduce them; build their power.

“Legislators in general are like your newest board member,” Schmaltz said. “They don’t understand the issues.” Therefore, the focus should be on educating them between sessions and advocating during the session. “It’s about closing the deal, asking them to vote your way.

Always identify yourself to a legislator as a constituent. As such, you are the source of their power. “Don’t give away citizen power,” Schmaltz said. “Be clear about the issue and what you want them to do – whether you want them to vote for or against the bill. Tell them what you want them to do first; then, provide the backup. Don’t conclude with the outcome; start with it.”

Then, ask politely how they will vote. “This is the most powerful tool.” Schmaltz said. “Close the deal.”

Nonprofits must shift from marketing to public education, he said, from begging for scraps to speaking up for the real need for investments to address social and health needs. “Understand power. It’s not about the facts. It’s about power. Join and find your power together – you can’t do it alone. Find the unifying issues and make a real impact.”

“Apathy is the real issue," Schmaltz said. "The silence of the so-called good people is the tragedy