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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 organizations to co-create an advocacy plan that helps them step back and get clear on what they’re actually trying to change, how advocacy fits into their work, and how to engage their people in ways that feel clear and doable instead of vague or overwhelming. We build it together, drawing on your subject matter expertise, lived experience, and relationships, and intentionally move away from random acts of advocacy toward a shared, people-centered strategy. When organizations have clarity, something shifts. Board members understand their role. Supporters know when they’re needed and why it matters. Advocacy stops feeling reactive and starts building real people power. If you’re curious to learn more about what an Advocacy Roadmap looks like in practice, you can read more here or reach out to me directly. I’m always happy to talk through whether this work is the right fit for your next step. Clear direction is often the difference between people who care and people who act. Let't talk, |
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...