Mission-based Advocacy Toolkit from Alliance for Children & Families

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Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniques and Framework tally EVERY message, so every vote/voice counts. But when it comes to setting meetings, getting calls returned, those happen MUCH faster if the EO knows the person calling. Every time your Core group meets, try to identify at least one “Grass top” and who should try to recruit them. One time in California, the mother of two chronically ill children said she couldn’t imagine herself as a Grass Top, she was too overwhelmed looking after her children. All she could think of was Barbara Boxer, but thought that didn’t count because she only knew Senator Boxer from their days carpooling together years ago! She was DEFINITELY a “Grass Top.” Step 3. With your CORE group, identify all the groups to which you have direct ties (religious, work, sports, family...) and a way to communicate. Then - using the peer-to-peer notion - approach them about joining your Campaign. Tell them what you hope to accomplish, and ask whether their group might be interested. Try to find out just how involved they are likely to be. (You can use a simple survey with check-off boxes for activities requiring varying levels of commitment: joining a telephone tree, circulating a support letter, setting up a site visit for legislators, providing testimony.) This will be an on-going process that lasts as long as you keep adding to your network. You’ll find you have connections to more groups and people than you think. Step 4. Reach out to groups in the community you don’t already know or have ties to; see if any of them can be persuaded to join you. At first they may hold back and say they can’t agree on general terms, but they’ll be willing to consider a specific request with specific wording, plus a clear beginning and end. E.g., this might be true of a Rotary, Kiwanis, Junior League or similar group. It could include senior citizens, business groups, and other “odd couples.” Through these four steps you can gradually build an effective Grassroots campaign. Along the way you’ll also need: A GOOD MESSAGE (frequently updated), the help of COMMITTED ALLIES, and TIME TO NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS with your recruits. With a few exceptions, most of those you recruit will need 3 things from you: A. reason to know it’s worth their effort; B. confidence that THEY can do this; C. easy (and enjoyable) ways to fit it into busy lives - you’ll be constantly using your CORE group to break things down into manageable tasks and decide who will do what. 42 © January 2006 The Alliance for Children and Families
Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniques and Framework You don’t have to turn everyone into experts in the legislative process or particular laws. That’s what the lobbyists do - they have to understand the details and the process. But most of the people in your Grassroots Network just need: • a clear simple message or two; • enthusiasm/optimism/creativity to see the opportunities where others see barriers; • the training to say: “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll find out who does and get back to you.” Over the course of a Grass Roots Campaign you may find yourself using: • Telephone trees • Email alerts • Bumper sticker contests • “Take Five Tables” • Faith communities • Unions • Professional Groups • Newsletters and bulletin boards • Do You Know Who You Know • Other groups’ meetings.... So long as you can remember to: keep assignments manageable, keep focused on your goals, and have a little fun... practically anything will be possible. © January 2006 The Alliance for Children and Families 43
Page 1 and 2: Page Executive Summary v Introducti
Page 3 and 4: Where Can I Find … © January 200
Page 5 and 6: © January 2006 The Alliance for Ch
Page 7 and 8: Welcome to “mission-based advocac
Page 9 and 10: Nor will it be accomplished by redu
Page 15 and 16: How a Bill Becomes a Law © January
Page 19 and 20: Part (h) provides authority for wha
Page 31 and 32: Part III: Helpful Advocacy Techniqu
Page 41 and 42: Lobbying by Telephone Part III: Hel
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Page 75 and 76: Thinking About Media Part III: Help
Page 77 and 78: Framing a Story Part III: Helpful A
Page 85 and 86: As you embark on your advocacy effo
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Page 91 and 92: Review the Coalitions you belong to
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FSW is already meeting with editori
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have an influential voice and they
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the two groups. Hurricane Katrina v
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public policy. The agency will prom
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Expanding Health Care for Children
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• Independent Sector’s Web site
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Hill, Frances R., “Public Benefit
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© January 2006 The Alliance for Ch
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Guidance for 501 (c)(3)’s During
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Committee on Public Policy A. PURPO
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Lobbying Issues Dates Lobbying Cont
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Sample Documents Model Charter for
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The following draft Job Description
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Providing Parity for Mental Illness
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Alert on Health Savings Accounts an
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Sample Press Release Release Date:
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• Through experience, trauma rese
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The Alliance for Children and Famil
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Alliance for Children and Families,
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Legislative Reports, the internal t
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Mission-based Advocacy Toolkit from Alliance for Children & Families

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