As a nonprofit advocacy expert, I empower organizations to leverage their voices, mobilize their communities, and win on the policies that shape their mission.
Open Mics, Election Season, and Advocacy
Offstage, I’m Still Talking About AdvocacyIt has been a while since I sent one of these. In my defense, I recently started doing stand-up again, and apparently open mics happen at 8 p.m. on weeknights. I am quickly learning that I may not be cut out for this rock-and-roll lifestyle, especially when it interferes with my marketing schedule and preferred bedtime. While I’ve been neglecting your inbox, I haven’t stopped writing and sharing my expertise offstage. Advocacy opportunities will come quickly this fall, especially as election season ramps up, so here are two recent pieces to help your organization prepare and make the most of this Fall. Being Nonpartisan Is Required. Being Powerless Is a Choice.Nonprofits cannot support or oppose candidates, but they can educate voters, engage candidates, and make sure the issues affecting their communities are part of the election-season conversation. Learn how nonprofits can participate confidently and effectively while remaining nonpartisan. Read More → Your Advocacy Committee Is Your Advocacy EngineA strong advocacy program should not live with one staff person. An advocacy committee creates shared ownership, strengthens decision-making, builds internal support, and gives your organization a structure for turning its priorities into action. Read More → Now go make some good trouble, P.S. If you’re curious about my comedy material, here’s a little taste. It turns out queer motherhood, raising a teenager, suburban life, and approaching 50 provide plenty of material. |
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.
Free Webinar - Advocacy in the Wild: How to Talk to Lawmakers Outside the Capitol Picture this: You're picking out tomatoes at the grocery store when you look up...and your state senator is standing right next to you. Now what? If your first instinct is to panic, you're in good company. This is one of the most common questions I hear from advocates, which is why I'm hosting a free webinar all about navigating those unexpected moments with confidence. Most advocacy trainings teach you how to...
It's not too late to make August count. If you're just now thinking about scheduling an August recess meeting with your Senators or member of Congress, you've probably missed the window. District and state staff have been building August schedules for months, and by the time July rolls around, many lawmakers already have packed calendars filled with meetings, tours, town halls, and community events. Read this week's featured blog to learn how August recess actually works, why planning starts...
Busy or Focused? Many organizations are busy doing advocacy activities. They're sending action alerts, meeting with lawmakers, tracking bills, and showing up when something important happens. But activity and strategy are not the same thing. And that's where organizations often get stuck. And that means that they work incredibly hard but still struggle to build the kind of long-term influence they want. Here’s the deeper issue. When organizations don't have a clear advocacy strategy, every...