There is an acrimonious presidential election in just a few days and the current political climate in the United States requires a measured approach to advocacy. Faced with growing political polarization, nonprofit leaders maintain a nonpartisan or bipartisan stance as a strategic necessity. They frame their advocacy within their mission and needs of their communities.

That’s is one of the determinations in a new report from Independent Sector, The Pursuit of Influence: Interviews with Nonprofit Leaders About Advocacy. The 78-page report provides insight into how nonprofit leaders view their role in public policy advocacy and engagement. Based on 40 in-depth interviews, the report explores how nonprofit leaders see advocacy — however they define it — as closely aligned with their organizations’ missions to serve communities.

The Pursuit of Influence follows Independent Sector’s 2023 report, The Retreat of Influence, which filled a 20-year gap in nationally representative data on whether and how nonprofits advocate around public policy. That report found a substantial decrease in nonprofit advocacy and lobbying in the United States since 2000.

The Pursuit of Influence sheds light on what motivates or deters organizations from taking an active role in public policy advocacy. Its key findings include:

* Nonprofits play a vital role in representing people and communities. Nonprofit leaders prioritize amplifying the voices of their constituents and clients. They emphasize the importance of ensuring their organizations reflect the diversity and lived experiences of the communities they serve.

* Advocacy efforts are mission-driven. While public policy advocacy efforts are often selective and directly relevant to their missions, nonprofit leaders may also see many aspects of their work — from funding to community outreach — as forms of advocacy.

* Strong relationships are central to successful advocacy. Connections — with other nonprofits, volunteers, board members, and policymakers — unlock access to resources, information, allies, and approaches that nonprofit leaders might not otherwise have on their own.

* Challenges in advocacy remain, but coalitions offer a way forward. Many nonprofit leaders want to engage in public policy advocacy but lack the expertise, time, and staff capacity. Engaging in coalitions is a key strategy for overcoming these barriers, offering resources, networks, and knowledge.

“This study shows that while nonprofits are mission-driven in deciding whether and how to advocate, many nonprofit leaders lack the time, resources, and clarity about what is legally permissible,” Independent Sector President and CEO Akilah Watkins, Ph.D., said via a statement. “It highlights the need for tools and support to help nonprofits make their voices heard through advocacy on behalf of the communities they serve.”

“We also know that engaging in coalitions is a key strategy for overcoming barriers to advocacy,” Watkins added. “Independent Sector will soon launch our new Nonprofit Coalition Connection to make it easier for nonprofits to connect with coalitions with similar interests, to better enable them to advance their missions, amplify their voices, and provide services to their communities.”

Data in the report showed that while today’s partisan environment deters some organizations from advocating for or against policies, it also can lead organizations that do advocate to pursue bipartisan or nonpartisan approaches to avoid the appearance of bias, and to build relationships with people who can help them achieve their goals regardless of party.

This report will help inform Independent Sector’s development of tools, trainings, and programs to maintain and expand the nonprofits’ advocacy and public engagement. IS is also working with advisory groups and hosting public conversations to gather more information about what nonprofits want and need to be active, informed advocates for themselves, for the sector, and for their communities.

These findings call for additional research to understand the dynamic relationship between nonprofit advocacy and political environments, exploring how different contexts can either facilitate or hinder advocacy efforts, according to the authors. The role of coalitions in enhancing nonprofit advocacy described in this report suggests further examination of advocacy in terms of nonprofit development and life cycles, they wrote. By continuing to investigate these areas, we can better understand and support the vital work of nonprofits in advocating for justice, equity, and positive social change, as well as the infrastructure needed to maximize nonprofit voice in policy processes.

The post NPO Leaders Walking An Advocacy Tightrope appeared first on The NonProfit Times.

Source From Non Profit Times