If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “Why didn’t we get time with the Senator?” this one is for you. Because I’m going to say something that not everyone loves, but everyone needs to hear: Meeting with staff is not a consolation prize. It’s often the most important meeting you’ll have. Your Reality Check This week’s post comes from a conversation I overheard in DCA airport after a day on Capitol Hill. A group was frustrated. They had traveled all the way to DC and only met with...
10 days ago • 1 min read
I recently talked with a nonprofit leader who told me something I hear all the time. “We’re doing a lot of advocacy… I just don’t know if any of it is working.” They had action alerts going out. They had a lobby day planned. Their team was posting on social about policy issues. They even had a lobbyist! On paper, it looked like an advocacy program. But when I asked a simple question, “What is the strategy tying all of this together?” she got quiet. This is the pattern I see over and over...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Last week, I had one of those exchanges that makes me want to reach through the screen and gently shake someone. A seasoned lobbyist sent an advocacy update that managed to describe a bill without ever telling advocates whether it was good, bad, or why it mattered. When I offered some unsolicited advice (which was greatly appreciated lol), the response referenced “staying nonpartisan.” Here’s the thing. Explaining impact is not partisanship. Educating your base about what legislation means...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Here's a common story: An organizational leader comes to me after they’ve done a lot of advocacy training. Their people care deeply about the mission, yet engagement still feels uneven and overly reliant on the same few folks. What’s usually missing isn’t motivation or skill, it’s direction. Training gives people tools, but without clarity about when to act, why it matters, and what success looks like, people are left to guess. That’s where an Advocacy Roadmap comes in. I work with...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
I can't believe it is January again. And it's 2026. How did that happen? Legislative sessions are starting. Bills are being drafted. Everyone’s calendars suddenly look chaotic again. And a lot of nonprofits are heading into “go mode,” pulling out the same advocacy tactics they’ve used before because there isn’t time to rethink things once the session is underway. This is exactly the moment I try to slow people down just a bit. I’ve been thinking about what effective advocacy looks like in...
3 months ago • 1 min read
With legislative sessions gearing up, I’ve been thinking a lot about how nonprofits show up once the capitol gets chaotic -- and how easy it is to fall into the “we have a lobbyist, so we’re covered” or "we don't have a lobbyist, so we are doomed" mindset. So I pulled together my most-read posts and best thinking on how nonprofits can actually work with lobbyists - without losing your soul. Lobbyists Are Loose in the Capitol: Your Survival Guide Now you might be thinking: Okay… but how do we...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Let’s be honest: it’s rough out there. Between court cases, random memos, and the nonstop scroll of bad news, it’s easy to feel like advocacy is just one more thing on a never-ending list. But you can’t pour from an empty cup—and you definitely can’t change systems if you’re too burned out to show up. So this week, I’m sharing a few posts (and a tool) to help you stay sane, focused, and effective—even when it feels like everything’s on fire. Start here: How to Pivot Quickly When the World Is...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hey there, awesome advocate — Big news: I’m rebranding my blog and email tips under a new banner — ✨Advocacy with a Side of Sass.✨ Because let’s be honest — advocacy isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes courage, creativity, and a sense of humor to keep showing up when the work gets hard. And that’s exactly what this new space is about: real talk, useful insights, and a little tough love for changemakers who actually want to get things done.I also started a Substack! My blog will stay...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Rumors of a government shutdown are swirling — and while D.C. might see it as political theater, nonprofits know the reality: delayed payments, disrupted services, higher costs, and more stress than anyone needs. I experienced the 2013 shutdown firsthand — and I’m sharing what I learned in my new blog: When D.C. Stops, You Don’t: Advocacy Prep for a Government Shutdown. Inside, you’ll find practical steps nonprofits can take now to get advocacy-ready, including: Connecting with district and...
7 months ago • 1 min read