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 for the people you serve is not political spin. It is responsible leadership. It is your moral obligation.

Too many organizations confuse neutrality with vagueness. They send updates full of bill numbers and process details, but no clarity. And then they wonder why their advocates feel disengaged.

If your supporters finish reading your email and still do not know:

• whether this bill helps or harms your mission
• what you believe about it
• what, if anything, they should do

…that is not nonpartisan. That is unclear. Unclear advocates tune out. And unclear organizations do not build power.

I got a bit snarky:

In my latest Substack, I explore why so many nonprofits default to “neutral” language and how that instinct, while well-intentioned, can slowly (and sometimes quickly) dilute your clarity and engagement.

If advocacy is part of your mission, your communications need to make your analysis and the impact clear.

→ You can read it here​

PRO TIP: A quick clarity check for your next update

After you draft your next advocacy update, before you hit send, ask:

• Did we clearly state what this bill does in plain English?
• Did we explain the impact on the people we serve?
• Did we say where we stand and why?
• Did we make it obvious what we want our advocates to do next, if anything?

If the answer to any of those is no, go revise it before you hit send.

Advocacy is not about picking sides. It is about naming impact.

Now go make some good trouble,
Bethany

P.S. If advocacy is a core part of your mission, but it feels reactive, scattered, or overly cautious, that is usually a structure issue, not a motivation issue. If you want an advocacy program you can explain to your board and execute with confidence, let's talk about whether you are ready for an Advocacy Roadmap.​