Fundraiser Companies: Fundraiser Companies Use Nonprofit Advocacy to Mobilize Constituents

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Fundraiser Companies Use Nonprofit Advocacy to
Mobilize Constituents

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Fundraiser Companies

• Fundraiser companies have long used the power of
  advocacy to help advance nonprofit causes.
• In the broadest sense, advocacy in the nonprofit
  world refers to citizens influencing public
  policy.
• Through a wide range of activities, fundraiser
  companies help nonprofits achieve universal
  social change in support of their missions.
• The root of the word advocacy means to speak
  up, plead the case of someone, fight for a cause
  or come to the aid of someone.
• Fundraiser companies want to influence outcomes
  that directly affect the people served by the
  nonprofit.
• Nonprofits advocate to different extents.
• Advocacy may be the nature of the nonprofits
  work.
• In other cases, nonprofits may advocate to
  achieve their mission.

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Fundraiser Companies

• Advocacy vs. Lobbying
•  
• Advocacy can take many forms. Often, its often
  confused with lobbying.
• Although lobbyists do advocate, nonprofit
  advocacy does not involve lobbying.
• To clarify, the Internal Revenue Service defines
  lobbying as an attempt to influence legislation
  at the local, state or federal level.
• An example of lobbying would be direct or
  grassroots communication with legislators or
  their staff about legislation.
• The purpose of the communication is to influence
  a specific outcome.
• Advocacy, on the other hand, would be conducting
  activities around a certain issue and engaging
  voters in a nonpartisan manner to support
  legislation that advances the nonprofits cause.
• Fundraiser companies can help nonprofits see the
  difference.
• A 501(c)(3) organization can advocate for public
  policies they support. However, the IRS draws
  the line at advocating for specific legislation.

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Fundraiser Companies

• Advocacy vs. Lobbying
•  
• In these situations, advocacy becomes lobbying
  and is then subject to specific rules and
  regulations.
• The tax-exempt status of a nonprofit could be
  threatened by activities deemed lobbying by the
  IRS.
• This is why many nonprofits have moved to
  incorporate both a c3 and a c4 aspect of their
  brand when they wish to be directly involved in
  lobbying efforts.

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Fundraiser Companies

• TYPES OF NONPROFIT ADVOCACY
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• Community Advocacy
• This form of advocacy focuses on changing public
  opinions and attitudes about a certain issue.
• Typically, nonprofits conduct educational
  campaigns using a variety of communication
  channels, including websites, direct mail, social
  media, broadcasting, print and more.
• Fundraiser companies are especially adept at
  using the media to help get the message out to
  the public through coverage in TV, radio,
  newspaper, magazine, press conferences and other
  editorial outlets.

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Fundraiser Companies

• TYPES OF NONPROFIT ADVOCACY
•  
• Legal Advocacy
• Some nonprofits use lawsuits to achieve necessary
  reforms.
• By using the court systems, nonprofits can
  protect rights and raise awareness of an issue.
• Legal advocacy provides an excellent venue for
  being heard.
• Fundraiser companies can help nonprofits
  publicize court proceedings through a variety of
  channels.
•  

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Fundraiser Companies

• TYPES OF NONPROFIT ADVOCACY
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• Legislative Advocacy
• When change is needed for a federal, state or
  local law, school board policy or budget
  allocation, nonprofits may use legislative
  advocacy to accomplish their goals.
• Fundraiser companies can help with activities
  including legislative monitoring, committee
  testifying, organizing coalitions, writing
  position papers and more.

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Fundraiser Companies

• Nonprofit advocacy boils down to successful
  communication and relationship building.
• Because change never happens overnight, advocacy
  is a lengthy process.
• Fundraiser companies help keep nonprofits on
  target with programs and activities that achieve
  results.
• However, success requires persuasiveness,
  perseverance and an unwavering dedication to the
  nonprofits mission.

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About the Author
Edward Phillips, MBA, is Chief Creative Officer
of IPM Advancement, a leading non profit
fundraising company. Visit us at
http//www.ipmadvancement.com or call
623-687-3908 for more information about
Fundraiser Companies.