Ten good reasons for nonprofits to lobby for a cause
The Independent Sector, a Washington-based association of nonprofit groups, has put together a top-ten list of reasons nonprofits should lobby local and national governments to advance their causes.
"For many of us, lobbying is something other people do," IS maintains. "[They are] people who wear fancy clothes and buy politicians lunch at expensive restaurants. But lobbying, or more simply, trying to influence those who make policies that affect our lives, is something anyone can do. And it is something all of us should do if we believe in a good cause and in a democratic form of government." Here's the list:
- You can make a difference.
- People working together can make a difference.
- People can change laws.
- Lobbying is a democratic tradition.
- Lobbying helps find real solutions.
- Lobbying is easy.
- Policymakers need your expertise.
- Lobbying helps people.
- The views of local nonprofits are important.
- Lobbying advances your cause and builds public trust.
Click here to see this list expanded with examples and explanations. Additional lobbying resources are available to nonprofits online including:
- The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide, Second Edition—the definitive guide to advocacy for nonprofits, is available on the IS website at: http://www.independentsector.org/programs/gr/lobbyguide.html.
- Playing by the Rules: Handbook on Voter Participation and Education Work for 501(c)(3) Organizations, by Caplin & Drysdale, is also on the IS website: http://www.independentsector.org/programs/gr/Playing_by_the_Rules.pdf.
- The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) offers additional resources on their website at: http://www.clpi.org/.
