You’ve got the data. Your research is solid. You can explain the issue clearly. And yet... it’s still not landing. If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting with a lawmaker thinking, “They just didn’t get it,” this training is for you. I’m hosting a FREE session on how to use stories in advocacy that actually connect with decision-makers and help your message stick. Not to replace your data, but to use alongside it, so it’s something people can hear, remember, and act on. If Data Won, We’d Be...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Pride Month is coming, which means we’re about to see the same cycle play out again. Rainbow logos. Big statements. Corporate posts about inclusion. And then July 1 hits, and it all goes quiet. So I’m bringing back my annual Pride advice post with updated thoughts and practical tips for businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who actually want to show up in a meaningful way. Pride Is Not a Moment Here in Iowa, we’ve felt this in a very real way. The state removed gender identity from the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I have a bit of a confession. When I can’t sleep, my brain does not wander to relaxing places. It goes straight to strategic plans. Specifically, the ones that say they prioritize advocacy…but actually don't. Because here’s the thing. Many organizations say advocacy is a priority. It shows up in a sentence or two. Maybe it's even in a whole section or pillar of your strategic plan. But when you look closer, it is not operationalized. There is no clear ownership, no defined goals, and no real...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
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...
about 2 months 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...
2 months 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...
3 months 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...
4 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...
4 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...
5 months ago • 1 min read