As a nonprofit advocacy expert, I empower organizations to leverage their voices, mobilize their communities, and win on the policies that shape their mission.
The Legislature Adjourned. Now What?
Sorry to break the news. Sine Die doesn’t mean your advocacy work is done.Most organizations spend all their energy on the legislative session. Then sine die hits and everyone says, "Thank goodness that's over. We can go on vacation now." The action alerts stop, the legislative updates disappear, and advocacy gets pushed aside until the next session. I get it. Legislative sessions are exhausting. But that's also where many organizations get it wrong. Here’s the deeper issue.Many organizations think advocacy happens when a bill is moving. And yes, that's when the votes happen. But that is not when influence is built. That happens months earlier. The organizations that consistently advance their priorities, stop harmful legislation, and get lawmakers to pay attention are doing a lot of work in between sessions. A few post-session advocacy tips:So now that the gavel has fallen, don't mistake a pause in legislative activity for a pause in advocacy. You could try these things:
Read more about why post-session advocacy is so important and how organizations can use this often-overlooked season to build more influence over time. Now go make some good trouble, P.S. If you're realizing your year-round advocacy plan could be improved, you're in good company. Most organizations focus heavily on session and spend far less time thinking about what happens between. If you'd like help building that strategy, let's talk. ICYMI: What Advocacy Pros Can Learn from OnlyFansLast week, I wrote about what advocacy professionals can learn from OnlyFans. Yes, really, I did. I'm not saying you're an OnlyFans subscriber. I'm just saying that article got a lot more clicks than "Building Sustainable Advocacy Infrastructure." |
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...