September, 2004 -by Peter C.
Brinckerhoff
This Month's topic:
Political Activities/Advocacy
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A new
resource for you!
Problem: There is
so much going on in our field that a once-a-month communication doesn't seem
adequate. Moreover, with a single monthly topic in the newsletter, what do I do
if I hear something important about, say, Political Activities (this
month's topic) in October? How do I get the information out to you
promptly?
Solution: The Mission-Based Management
Blog. I am trying to post every day with something of value to
nonprofit board, staff, volunteers, and funders.
Check it out, see if
you find things that can help you. My postings are in no particular order, just
what's on my mind, or what has crossed my desk or monitor that I think you
should be aware of.
And, like any blog, you can comment right on the blog
for others to see. If you agree, disagree, or have other resources to share,
please do! |
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| This Month's Topic: Political Activities/Advocacy |
Each month, this area provides with a
number of my favorite and most helpful sites regarding the topic of the month.
|
Management
Tip of the Month
Each issue, I start with a discussion
of my management perspective on the month's topic, and give you a few hands-on
ideas to consider. |
|
Recommended Publications
Here, I provide you with my
recommendations on the best printed materials available that can help you
become more mission-capable in the area of Political
Activity/Advocacy. |
Technology
I provide you with some good ideas for
uses of tech to better your organization in the area of political
activity/advocacy.
|
|
Marketing
Tip
So much to say, so little space to say
it.....
|
Next
Issue
In October, we'll examine some ways to recruit
and retain younger board members, volunteers and employees.
And, in October, my newest book is being
released! It's called Nonprofit Stewardship, and is being
published my the Wilder Foundation. I'm really excited about the book and look
forward to your reaction. |
Websites of the
Month
This section includes websites of interest on this
month's topic, Political Activities/Advocacy. I urge you to give each a
look, as they often cover different areas or have a different focus on the
topic area. And, pay careful attention to what you see. This issue is fraught
with law, regulation and risk. Make sure you have it right before you go out
and act.
Back to
Top
Management Tip of the Month
Political Activity and
Advocacy
Election time is coming, the conventions are over
(well, almost as this is sent out) and we will have more and more yard signs,
television and radio commercials, billboards, and bumper stickers assailing us
than ever before over the next 9 weeks leading up to November 2. Some of us
enjoy the hubbub, some don't, but what you don't want to face during or after
the election are accusations of organizational wrongdoing.
So what is your organization's role in what Jon
Stewart on The Daily Show calls "Indecision 2004"? Where is the line
between lobbying, politicking and advocacy?
It depends.
Advocacy is a totally appropriate part of
many not-for-profits' mission and activities. Association for Retarded
Citizens, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, various HIV/AIDS awareness groups are
all doing advocacy for their constituency.
Lobbying by 501(c)(3) organizations is
strictly limited. This would include urging the passage (or defeat) of a
particular bill, or its amendment. If your organization is set up to lobby,
there are set financial limits.
Political Activities, such as donating funds,
spending organizational assets (such as staff time, postage, phones, etc.) are
strictly forbidden for any 501(c) in support of any particular candidate or
party. (Don't get me started on the current mess with 527's.
I have listed a number of great links on this
subject. Read them and refer to them in the coming months. And, remember that
organizational activity restrictions do not (and should not) restrict
individual employees' freedom of speech. Thus an employee or volunteer wearing
a campaign button or having a bumper sticker on his or her car is considered
enjoying his or her right of free speech. I have seen reports of people
providing direct service being restricted while providing service. Check with
your attorney, or better yet, your trade association's attorney about that.
Oh, and remember to vote on November
2!
If you found this hint helpful, there are
lots more management, marketing, and technology ideas for you in the "Ideas"
section at www.missionbased.com.
Check them out--they're free.
And, remember to take a look at the
Mission-Based Management
Blog.
Back to
Top
Print Resources
My two recommendations in Political
Activity/Advocacy are shown below. Both are excellent tools.
If you want more information on these
recommendations, click on the cover image. You will go the page about the book
on Amazon.com. There, you can look at more info about the book, and read some
reviews before you decide whether or not to purchase or look for this book at
your local library.
Note: If you want more
recommendations on publications in a wide variety of areas, including
management and advocacy, go to the publications section of my website:
http://www.missionbased.com/publications/recommendedboards.htm
Again, If you don't find enough choices there, type
"nonprofit governance " in the Amazon.com search box on the left hand
side of the page and you'll have more choices than you probably
want!
Back to
Top
Technology Ideas .
Technology and Political Activity - or,
you can't vote if you don't register
In technology, there are many tools you can
use for your advocacy efforts. These include your website, an e-newsletter,
email, and various kinds of membership tracking software. But, since we are
coming up on an election, I want to use this space to give you three good
places to go to allow your staff, board, and other constituencies and their
families to register to vote.
Remember, even if you feel disenfranchised at the
federal level (i.e. your state is not a "battleground" state) there are still
thousands of state and local elections that may very well impact your ability
to provide excellent services. Your vote does count, but you can't vote if you
don't register. And, voter registration is completely legal for nonprofits, as
long as you are not endorsing any particular candidate.
Here are four good registration sites:
You should also consider putting some voter
registration links on your website like I do on
mine. You can also send a voter
registration reminder out by email. Check before you do to be able to include
the deadline for registration in your state, and to include information about
absentee ballots. The links above are national and you can use them, or you can
use your state Secretary of State's site.
If you found this hint helpful, there are lots more
management, marketing, and technology ideas for you in the "Ideas" section at
www.missionbased.com. Check them
out--they're free.
Back to
Top
Training
Schedule for Peter Brinckerhoff
Below you'll see the date, location, and topics
of training I'm scheduled to do in the next three months. For more information
on a particular speaking engagement, get in touch with the contact person
listed in the right hand column, or email me.
For more information on my availability throughout
the next 12-18 months, available topics, sample agendas, and fees go to
www.missionbased.com/training.htm
Marketing Tip
Marketing and Advocacy -stop telling
people what they need.....
Does marketing have an impact on this area? Of
course, but I really have nothing to add in the political activity arena here.
Read my management tip, and look at the recommended websites. And remember -
political campaigning is prohibited.
Advocacy, however is a different thing altogether,
so let's talk about it. Readers of my books, or people who have attended my
training know my mantra: "It's not about needs, it's about
wants." People have needs. People seek wants. For-profit marketers are
good at getting us to want things we don't need.
In the not-for-profit world, our job is to make
people want things they do need. And when advocating, we run the biggest
risk of not only telling people what they need, but cramming it down their
throat. Advocates are often passionate about what they are trying to convince
people of, and that passion sometimes results in an attitude of "Why can't you
see? You need (the world needs)....."
In advocacy, just like in the rest of marketing, the
trick is to give people what they need in a way that they want it. Thus, before
advocating for something, think through how the change you are advocating for
will appeal to a want of the listener. How it will solve a problem, reduce a
difficulty, make them feel better in some tangible way.
Wants rule!
If you want to see more about this in detail, take
a look at more about my book
Mission-Based Marketing; Second
Edition
If you found this hint helpful, there are lots more
management, marketing, and technology ideas for you in the "Ideas" section at
www.missionbased.com. Check them
out--they're free.
Back to
Top
Future Topics in 2004
and 2005 for the Mission-Based Management
Newsletter....
| October |
Increasing
Involvement of Younger Staff, Board, and Volunteers |
| November |
Outcome
Measurement |
| December |
Life-Long
Learning |
| January |
Strategic
Planning |
| February |
Leadership |
| March |
Core
Competencies |
| April |
Expanding to New
Markets |
| May |
Endowments |
| Send me
your topic suggestions at peter@missionbased.com |
Back to Top
You asked, so here they are:
Past Single-Topic Issues of the Mission-Based Management Newsletter...
|
