how to make your voice heard: a post-election playbook for...
TRANSCRIPT
Marcia Avner Avner Consulting Services
Robert Egger CForward
Suzanne Perry The Chronicle of Philanthropy
featuring
How to Make Your Voice Heard: A Post-Election Playbook for Nonprofit Advocacy
November 15, 2012
Sponsored by
Nonprofit Advocacy 2
Webinar Host:
Suzanne Perry Senior Editor The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Nonprofit Advocacy
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Today’s Webinar will be available to view on demand early
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Look for an e-mail from The Chronicle in three or four
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You can watch as often as you like for
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Let’s Continue the Conversation on LinkedIn
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1 - Look for our e-mail invitation to join. 2 - Follow the link and make a request to join.
Questions?
Contact Margie Fleming Glennon Editor, Online Programs
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Panelist:
Marcia Avner President Avner Consulting Services
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Panelist: Robert Egger Founder and President CForward
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The Political Landscape
Where Do We Stand?
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2013 United States Senate
Democrats
Republicans
Independents
Net Change Political Party
+ 2
- 2 53 Seats
45 Seats
2 Seats
60 Seats Needed to Overcome Filibuster
Source: Politico
Nonprofit Advocacy
Republicans
Democrats
Unavailable 195
Seats
233 Seats
Net Change Political Party
- 3 + 9
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7 Seats
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U.S. House of Representatives
218 Seats Needed for Majority
Source: Politico
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2013 U.S. Governors
Republican
Democrat
Independent
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Net Change Political Party
+ 1
- 1
1
Source: Politico
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The ‘Fiscal Cliff’: What Happens If Congress Doesn’t Act?
Impending Cuts in 2013
Nearly $55-billion in non-defense spending cuts,
including 8.2-percent in across-the-board cuts to many
social programs. Some safety-net programs exempted:
Medicaid, food stamps, Children’s Health Insurance
Program. House Republicans have voted to replace some
defense cuts with cuts from other programs.
Sequestration About $109-billion in annual spending cuts over nine years, divided evenly between defense and other spending.
Fiscal Cliff A package of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts that begin in January 2013 unless Congress acts.
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• Cap charitable deduction for individuals earning more than $200,000 ($250,000 for couples). Maximum 28% of value of gifts off their taxes, down from current 35%. • Buffett Rule: Require people earning more than $1-million to pay 30% in taxes. They could continue deducting charitable contributions.
• Lower tax rates; possibly pay for it by cutting tax loopholes and deductions (so far unspecified). • Romney: give taxpayers a specified dollar amount to cover all their deductions. They could use the charitable incentive or other tax breaks to “fill that bucket.” • Eliminate estate tax.
President Republicans Simpson-Bowles Deficit Commission
• Create three new tax brackets and end itemized deductions. • Replace charitable deduction with a 12% tax credit. Available only for amounts spent beyond 2% of adjusted gross income.
Potential Changes to Charitable Incentives
Nonprofit Advocacy
Recession’s Impact on State Budgets
States had to close budget gaps of $55 billion this fiscal year,
following several years of deep spending cuts.
At least 46 states have cut services for
vulnerable people since the recession started.
1/3 of federal non-defense discretionary spending flows
through state and local governments (education, health care, human services, etc.). The federal government has cut such spending by 9 percent since 2010. In the first quarter of 2012, state revenues were
5.5 percent below pre-recession levels.
Sources: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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Why Advocacy? Why Now?
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Panelist: Robert Egger Founder and President CForward
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Robert Egger (@robertegger)
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Why Now?
Sequestration / The “Fiscal Cliff” Compromise Might Be Coming … But Who Is at the Table? Who Isn’t?
Who Is in the Room? Defense, Big Business, Banks/Finance, Agriculture, etc.
Who isn’t? NONPROFITS
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Nonprofit-Sector Development Right on Schedule
SHOW PLACE WIN
2012 2014 2016
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Courtesy of Nonprofit Vote. Note: The National Exit Poll is conducted by Edison Research on behalf of ABC News, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and NBC News.
The Proof … Is in the DEMO(graphics)
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2012 CForward Candidate Results
8 Endorsed
5 WINS • Sam Singh (MI)
• Andy Dinniman (PA)
• Becky Massey (TN)
• Kate Boltz (NE)
• Ellie Hill (MT)
62.5% Success Rate
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Panelist:
Marcia Avner President Avner Consulting Services
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If you are not at the table …
You will be ON the table …
or on the menu!
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Why Advocate, Organize, Lobby?
• Increasingly, nonprofits recognize that
SERVICE to meet their mission is not
enough.
• Policies need to be in place that support
their work.
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Nonprofit Advocacy
To truly meet mission …
• Seize the opportunity and the responsibility to be a voice on the issues in which you have experience and expertise.
• You are the leaders who can be a resource to decision makers who have an impact on funding, service (re)design, eligibility thresholds, and so much more.
• Advocacy supports mission!
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What Can Nonprofits Do?
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Be a Voice
• So, choose to make a difference. Use
your power as a citizen, as a member of
an organization, as a nonprofit leader to
advocate for issues that matter to your
community.
• You have experience and expertise that are
needed to inform the public-policy dialogue.
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Key Questions for Advocacy Campaigns
1. What is the problem or opportunity?
2. What do you want to happen?
3. Who decides?
4. How do you influence decision makers? How do you win their hearts, minds, and votes?
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Advocacy Outreach
Advocacy Goals and
Key Messages
Lobbying
Media Grassroots 29
Lobbying
Advocacy is the general promotion of an idea.
Lobbying is one specific type of advocacy.
It is preparing and asking an elected or appointed official to take a particular position (vote in a particular way) on a specific bill.
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Advocacy Goals
• Policy Goals: policy changes in laws or rules
• Grassroots Goals: efforts to build, increase, and mobilize active grassroots support and advocacy for the cause
• Media Goals: earned and paid media that advance your position
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Plan
Set policy goals
Research issues and
develop messages
Organize, build
support, engage
partners
Advocate and lobby
Evaluate, celebrate, and begin next steps
Plan
Ongoing
Advocacy
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Build Strategic Relationships
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with partners, elected officials, and the media.
• Become a trusted resource, a “go to” source for information, stories, and critical issue analysis.
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• Long-term work: foundation for sustained influence and impact.
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Use the Power of Constituency
• Your nonprofit and your board, staff, donors, partners, and participants are constituents.
• Constituents have the best chance of capturing attention and sustaining communication.
• Target decision makers who represent the issue-areas and districts in which you work, and make them your champions.
Support Your Champions
• Nonprofits can play an important role in finding and supporting champions for the organization’s issues.
• Support them with information: data, stories, spokespeople.
• Build leaders. Elevate your champions.
• Stay connected.
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Steps to Take Now
• Introduce your organization to elected officials.
• Invite them to your site. Do “kitchen table” meetings that establish who you are, what you do, and how you might work with them.
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• LISTEN. Learn what drives the individual, which priorities matter, and his/her goals for 2013 and beyond.
Nonprofit Advocacy
Panelist: Robert Egger Founder and President CForward
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Count Your:
• Jobs
• Taxes
• Income
…then COMBINE with others.
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Tactics
Nonprofit Advocacy
Nonprofit:
+ Jobs
+ Taxes
+ Income
= New Civic Political Math
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The News Conference That Never Ends
Social Media
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Nonprofits Don’t Need a Group …
Nonprofits Have an Idea.
More Than Rise Up or Be Heard …
It Is to Ask and Inspire Action.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
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It’s a STATEMENT…
No Profits
Without Nonprofits
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It’s a QUESTION…
“What’s Your Plan, Candidate?”
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It’s an ASK…
Would You Appoint a Nonprofit Liaison?
1. Maintain up-to-date data and develop in-depth analysis
2. Expedite contract negotiations and reimbursements
3. Promote partnerships and support grant/contracting applications
4. Develop partnerships and policies that would spur the growth of social-enterprise organizations and micro-credit funds
5. Promote volunteerism and service-learning opportunities 44
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Voices
Values
Votes
NONPROFITS
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Coalition-Building
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Nonprofit Advocacy
Panelist:
Marcia Avner President Avner Consulting Services
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Recruit
Engage and
inform
Train and prepare
Mobilize for action
Evaluate, re-engage,
plan
Ongoing
Organizing
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• Identify partners. Nonprofits do well when they muster collective power for action. Convene allies.
• Engage organizations and individuals to build power and effective advocacy.
Partner With Others
• Reach beyond your usual base.
• Build your base for the long term. Sustain engagement and outreach.
Low-Cost/No-Cost Advocacy
• Organizational commitment
• Roles and responsibilities
• Clear decision making
• Use of policy committees and rapid-
response teams
• Commitment of adequate resources
• Integration of public-policy work into the
ongoing strategic plans of the organization
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Panelist: Robert Egger Founder and President CForward
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What Does This Look Like?
NPOs Politicians
?
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It Looks Like This
Nonprofit Liaison to the Governor of Connecticut Terry Edelstein
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“New York has one of the largest and most sophisticated nonprofit sectors in the country, and as we recover from Hurricane Sandy, this sector will be a critical partner.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (N.Y.)
November 1, 2012
And It Looks Like This
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Overcoming Resistance
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Boards Should Embrace and Support Advocacy
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Thank You!
www.cforward.org
Twitter: @CForwardUS • Facebook: /CForwardUS
Participate. Nominate. Donate.
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Panelist:
Marcia Avner President Avner Consulting Services
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Lobbying Is Legal
• Insubstantial test
• 1996 Lobby Law
• 1990 Bright Line expenditure test
• Filing IRS Form 5768, the “H” election
• 990 Reporting
See “Worry Free Lobbying” at the Alliance for Justice, afj.org. Get free copies!
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Let’s Do This!
Marcia Avner Avner Consulting marciaavner.com [email protected] 651-210-2618
Nonprofit Advocacy 2
Questions?
Send us your questions, using the box in the
lower left-hand corner of your screen. We will
answer as many as time permits.
Nonprofit Advocacy
• Bolder Advocacy/Alliance for Justice: bolderadvocacy.org
• National Council of Nonprofits: councilofnonprofits.org
• Your state association of nonprofits.
• Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest: www.clpi.org
• Independent Sector, Beyond the Cause: the Art and Science
of Advocacy: independentsector.org/beyond_the_cause
Additional Resources
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• Nonprofits Organize New Efforts to Sway Lawmakers Nonprofits-Race-to-Learn-Rules/133035/
• Advocacy Tips: Four Nonprofit Lobbying Campaigns That Worked Four-Nonprofit-Lobbying/131002/
• Nonprofit Leaders Question Presidential Contenders Nonprofit Primary Project questioned presidential candidates in New Hampshire Nonprofit-Leaders-Question/62757/
• Testing the Limits Minnesota Council of Nonprofits led charitable property-tax exemptions campaign Testing-the-Limits/57279/
Advocacy Coverage in The Chronicle philanthropy.com/article/…
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How to Make the Case Against Potential Budget Cuts philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-Must-Put-a-Face-on/135004/
Impact of Charitable Deductions on Giving philanthropy.com/section/ The-Charitable-Deduction/573/
Additional Chronicle Resources
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Nonprofit Advocacy 2
Archive of Today’s Webinar
Today’s Webinar will be available to view on demand early
next week.
Look for an e-mail from The Chronicle in three or four
business days notifying you that it is ready.
You can watch as often as you like for
six months and permanently
download the slides.
Nonprofit Advocacy
Let’s Continue the Conversation on LinkedIn
Our speakers will be available, and joining is easy
1 - Look for our e-mail invitation to join. 2 - Follow the link and make a request to join.
Questions?
Contact Margie Fleming Glennon Editor, Online Programs
66
Nonprofit Advocacy
Please Join Our Next Webinar
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