As a nonprofit advocacy expert, I empower organizations to leverage their voices, mobilize their communities, and win on the policies that shape their mission.
Stop Confusing Activity With Strategy
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 opportunity feels urgent. They chase legislative developments, respond to requests as they come in, and focus on whatever issue is right in front of them. They are stuck in reactive, which doesn't feel very powerful. The result is often a collection of advocacy activities rather than a coordinated effort to build power and achieve specific goals. A strong advocacy strategy helps organizations decide where they are headed, what they are trying to accomplish, and how they will get there. Are Your Tactics Rooted in Strategy?A few signs your organization is more focused on tactics than building power:
Read more about the difference between advocacy strategy and advocacy tactics, and why organizations that invest in strategy are better positioned to create lasting change. Now go make some good trouble, P.S. Most organizations don't need to do more advocacy tactics. They need a clearer plan for the advocacy they're already doing. If you'd like help building an advocacy strategy that aligns with your goals and capacity, let's talk. FREE TRAINING: How to Talk to Lawmakers Outside the CapitolI'm offering another free advocacy training later this summer. Lucky you! I don't do these very often, but this is one of the topics people ask me about all the time: What do you do when you run into a lawmaker outside of a formal meeting? Those conversations happen more often than you think, and they can be some of the most important advocacy moments you'll have. We'll talk about how to start the conversation, what to say, what not to say, and how to build a relationship that lasts beyond a single interaction. Tuesday, August 18, 2:00 pm (CT) |
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.
Offstage, I’m Still Talking About Advocacy It 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...
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...