As a nonprofit advocacy expert, I empower organizations to leverage their voices, mobilize their communities, and win on the policies that shape their mission.
Lobbyists Are Loose in the Capitol: Your Survival Guide
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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 do this in real life? That’s why I created a new workshop. I don’t typically do free trainings, but this one felt worth it. We’ll talk through the practical skills that help nonprofits move from one-off outreach to real relationships with lawmakers and staff. This is a behind-the-curtain look at how legislative offices really works, with practical advice drawn from my years as a Senate staffer and as someone who works daily with lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists. From Contact to Connection: How Nonprofits Build Power and Move Policy Because surviving session is one thing -- building power that lasts is another. Bethany Snyder P.S. I go deeper into all of this, and spill more tea, in my latest Substack, The Big Lobbyist Illusion, about the myths nonprofits (and well, most people) believe about lobbyists and what they can and can't do. |
Snyder Strategies, LLC
As a nonprofit advocacy expert, I empower organizations to leverage their voices, mobilize their communities, and win on the policies that shape their mission.
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...
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...
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...