National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Advocacy and YOU

The Why and How of Advocacy and How to Communicate Effectively

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Understand the political environment Understand what advocacy means Understand why you are advocating Understand what tools are most effective

Keys to Communicating Effectively Through Advocacy

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Three climate drivers:

1. Partisanship & Brinkmanship

2. Budget Politics Dictating Policy

3. Focus on deficit reduction

Political Climate

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FY 2013 FY 2014

Sequestration

DeficitReduction

Budget, Budget, Budget

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What is Advocacy? Why do we Advocate? Examples of Advocacy Tips for Successful Advocacy at the

Grassroots Level

Advocacy

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1. To recommend or support publicly2. A person who upholds or defends a cause;

supporter3. A person who intercedes on behalf of

another

What is Advocacy?

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1. Lobbying v. Advocacy 2. You don’t need to be in DC to be an

effective advocate3. Advocacy is proactive AND reactive4. Effective advocacy uses data, research,

and stories

What is Advocacy?

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Our advocacy efforts center around these major policy areas:

Increasing access to higher education, including early awareness and outreach 

Simplifying student aid systems   Encouraging college persistence & completion College savings and financial education Minimizing student indebtedness and emphasizing grant

and work aid Supporting the primacy of need-based aid

Why Do We Advocate?

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Administration◦ Department of Education◦ Office of Management and Budget

Congress◦ House & Senate Education Committees◦ House & Senate Appropriations Committees◦ Super Committee

Other Higher Education Associations & Organizations

**Takeaway here: Not just Congress

NASFAA Advocacy

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Use data Tell stories Build relationships Be proactive Show appreciation Keep it local Keep it concise

Advocacy Techniques

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Letters Statements Testimony Social Media Educational Materials Coalitions & Partnerships Hill Visits

NASFAA Advocacy Tools

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Advocacy related to consumer disclosure Administrative Cost Allowance One-Pager Elimination of Crossover Regulation for Summer

2011 National Profile & Congressional Staff Orientation Recent Budget Related Hill Visits & Discussions Save Student Aid Facebook Page Budget Center Committee for Education Funding & Student Aid

Alliance Participation in Award Letter Discussions

NASFAA Advocacy Examples

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Visit our Facebook Page! Write letters to your delegation and to

Education Committee members Get students involved! Use our tools as examples

Advocacy and You

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Build relationships with your lawmakers now by delivering information sheets on how their constituents—the students and families you serve—benefit from the student aid programs.

Follow the latest legislative developments by reading Today’s News, the NASFAA Advocate, and following us on the NASFAA Facebook page and the Save Student Aid Facebook page.

Share with NASFAA all your correspondence with lawmakers so we can support you and understand how to better work with your Congressional delegates.

Visit NASFAA’s “Take Action Page” to stay up-to-date on NASFAA’s latest calls to action

Advocacy and You

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Question and Answer Segment

Questions

&

Discussion