advocacy research presentation at cq roll call for dc grassroots meetup

Advocacy to WinResearching the gap between how we

mobilize and what it takes to win

Shayna Englin Stefan Hankin

300 – 2,0000

82%

44%

Advocacy: What Works?

• Research:– Advocates Survey: what is the advocacy

experience like? What seems effective? How do advocates plug in?

– Senior Hill Staff Interviews: what does effective advocacy look like from the inside? Who has power? Best practices for breaking through?

• Question: How can we bridge any gaps between advocacy and influencing policy?

2011

• In-depth-interviews with senior Hill staff on a specific legislative issue: what and who is influential?

• Focus groups among active, informed suburban voters: issue-oriented, insight into advocacy was accidental

2011 - Findings

• Posted: englin.net/greatdisconnect

• [Progressive] advocacy asks not well aligned with policy process

• Advocates well-trained, and trained badly

2012 – Documenting the Gap

• Senior Hill Staff interviews: expand breadth and depth of information about what’s influential

• Advocates survey: expand breadth and depth of understanding of the advocacy experience

Who’s Involved?Research leads: Media partner:

Research Partners:

Logistics: Surveys

• All survey responses are anonymous.• No list transfers.• Only aggregate survey data will be released

publicly– No sharing across organizations– No organization-identified data released publicly

• Org-specific analysis provided to orgs only

Logistics: Hill Interviews

• No organizational or advocate survey data will be shared with Hill staff except as released publicly in aggregate.

• Hill interviews will be anonymous – no attributed commentary without express permission from Hill staff.

• Hill interviews will not be issue-specific.

So what?

• Civic duty: stop cultivating cynicism• Better advocacy when advocacy isn’t about list-

building for fundraising• Practical to-dos– Integrated campaigning that works– Polling for communication– Social media engagement

• Better decision-making around investments in tools

Information Opportunities

• Most organizations know very little about how their advocates experience advocacy.

• Invest in real information about what moves decision-makers on your issue.

Questions? Advice?

• Want to participate?

research@englin.net202-258-3375