Lobbyists Are Loose in the Capitol: Your Survival Guide


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
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026
Noon–1:30 CT
Free but registration is required

Because surviving session is one thing -- building power that lasts is another.

Bethany Snyder
Nonprofit Advocacy Expert
Book an Advocacy Power Chat

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.

Read more from Snyder Strategies, LLC
ferris wheel at sunset

You’re waiting too long. That's it. That's the secret. Every year, I watch organizations gear up for August recess. This is the time to make your case and finally get in front of your federal lawmakers. And your advocates don't even have to travel to DC! Win-Win! You tell your advocates to secure that coveted August recess meeting. Maybe they contact the DC staff (wrong office), or they reach out in July (too late). And then August comes ... and it’s underwhelming. It feels like you missed...

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...

person with a pride flag

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...