BLOG for ADVOCATES

We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
NPAction Staff

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

• What is Voter Suppression: Many people don't know the wide variety of tactics being used to limit people's votes. This section allows people to contribute their knowledge on the issues that are impacting voters.
• Incident Tracker: Offers a standard template for each report where you can report or view reports of suppression activity.
• Action Center: You'll find groups and specific campaigns that are working to protect voters and their votes.

The Voter Suppression Wiki is not a partisan effort, nor was it established on behalf of either of the presidential candidates for office.

The Gilbert Center is offering a live online seminar on Wednesday, December 10th from 12:15pm until 1:45pm (PDT). The Seminar, A Sustainable Model for Engagement of Staff, Volunteers, and Donors is considered to be an increasingly powerful vehicle for management, training, organizing, and the relationship building with stakeholders: allies, staff, volunteers, and donors.

The seminar will help viewers understand how to...

• assess the strengths and weaknesses of online presentations for your material and needs
• avoid the common pitfalls of online presentations
• maximize the outcomes and leverage the impact of any given seminar
• decide what technical features you need for the kind of presentation you want to make
• put together an affordable, sustainable delivery platform with maximum flexibility and minimum lock-in.

Register now and receive a free copy of Communication Centered Technology Planning, 2nd Edition

Posted by Kelly Doherty



Too Young to Vote, But Electing to Care

The Washington Post featured an article yesterday entitled, "Too Young to Vote, But Electing to Care." In the article, Steve Hendrix, the author cites several examples of how students at high schools in and around the DC area are playing a part during this election season.

Even though they can't yet vote, two best friends from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda have each found their niche in the political arena. One is the president of the school's Young Conservative Club and was an attendee of the Republican National Convention, volunteering for Sen. John McCain's campaign. The other is the founder of the school's Peace and Social Action Club and has been a volunteer on Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Teachers in the area describe the current student political activity as an extraordinary level of involvement by high school students in this year's election. Hundreds of local students, although they're not old enough to vote, are making phone calls, painting rally signs, knocking on doors and raising funds as each of the presidential campaigns enters its final days.

Posted by Kelly Doherty

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The National Organizer's Alliance now has a free job referral service that has been expanded for nonprofits to list their organization and allow them to connect with the thousands of activists who have been engaged this election season.

If you're considering a career in social justice for the first time, or you're looking for new opportunities, you can post your resume and browse job listings by location, issue area or skill set at no cost. The site is designed by organizers, for organizers, and will continue to be developed.

Monday, October 27, 2008

VotersUnite.org developed an election problem log following the November 2004 election. It continues its compilation of problems reported in the media by adding news stories about subsequent elections when they arise. Search by state, vendor, or problem type to find the current election problems that are impacting various jurisdictions.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Working Across Generations: Defining the Future of Nonprofit Leadership, a new book by Frances Kunreuther, Helen Kim, and Robby Rodriguez, offers a comprehensive look at the leadership and generational shifts within the nonprofit sector. The authors give advice on how to approach generational changes in leadership so that not only are the contributions of long-time leaders are valued, but also so that new and younger leaders' talent is recognized.

The book includes: findings from the authors' and others' research; stories of people who have gone through generational changes in leadership; practical tools that can be used by readers; as well as advice for leaders on how to access warning signs of generational conflict.

Working Across Generations is available for pre-sale at:

• Barnes & Noble
• Borders
• Amazon

The Internal Revenue Service is holding a one-day workshop for small and mid-sized 501(c)(3) organizations. At each of the locations, an IRS Exempt Organizations specialists will explain what 501(c)(3) organizations must do to keep their tax-exempt status and comply with tax obligations.

Each workshop covers the following:

• Tax-Exempt Status- Benefits and responsibilities of tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3). Actions that may jeopardize tax-exempt status of an organization.
• Unrelated Business Income- The definition of unrelated business income, common examples, common exceptions and filing requirements. Includes a discussion of charitable gaming.
• Employment Issues- Classification of workers and filing requirements for employees and independent contractors.
• Form 990- An explanation of the Form 990, tips on record-keeping and completing the Form 990. Includes a discussion on the new "e-Postcard" filing requirement.
• Required Disclosures- Overview of disclosures tax-exempt organizations are required to make, including new disclosure requirements imposed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

GoVote.org is being launched to provide information to voters this election season. As millions of voters head to the polls this year, there may be several problems including new voter ID laws in some states, long lines, and voters not knowing where to go to vote. GoVote.org provides that information to voters simply when they put in their zip code.

At GoVote.org, voters are able to put in their zip code and find...

• A map showing where and when to vote early
• A polling place locator for their state or county
• A list of IDs to take to the polls
• Spanish-language translation for all key information
• Student specific information searchable by campus in key states
• An invitation to add even more information through crowd-sourcing and wiki-like approaches

GoVote.org is currently the only national site with seachable early voting information. Voting early has been identified as one way to prevent problems at the polls on Election Day in key states.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Nonprofit Congress emphasizes that a major priority of the nonprofit sector is to advocate for the sector at large and engage constituents in order to solve problems at the grassroots level. They’re launching their expanded Town Hall Toolkit to give participants skills to take back to their own organizations.

The Nonprofit Congress website offers opportunities to download:

• Introduction and Core Town Hall
• Organizational Effectiveness Priority Piece
• Advocacy Priority Piece
• Public Awareness Priority Piece
• Follow-Up and Report Back

Monday, October 20, 2008

There is an exceptional opportunity coming up for young leaders to enhance professional networks and build leadership skills.

By participating in the conference, you will:

• Work with leaders from charities and foundation to address nonprofit leadership challenges
• Gain insight into areas that affect the work of every nonprofit organization by exchanging ideas with other rising professionals
• Learn useful strategies for dealing with practical matters you face every day though interactive break-out sessions
• Add your voice to the development of solutions for key issues facing our communities

Register today!

The Stanford Social Innovation Review published "Learn to Love Lobbying" to emphasize that despite common misconception, lobbying is nothing more than educating legislators. Legislative Action is often the best way to bring about the changes that nonprofits strive for. Although several nonprofits have experimented with lobbying in the past, very few make it a regular activity. Generally, when nonprofits shy away from the world of politics, they miss out on opportunities to improve legislation, strengthen their organizations and advance their issues.

Many nonprofits stay away from lobbyists because they most commonly associate the word "lobbyist" with "sleaze." The Jack Abramoff scandal, among others, has given lobbying such a negative connotation. The bottom line, however, is that lobbying is regulated by the government. It is not part of a shady deal behind the back of the IRS. Instead, lobbying is just the gathering of committed citizens giving the right information to the right people at the right time.

Lobbying has several unsung virtues, the most obvious being that it can improve the laws that most affect nonprofits’ clients. Lobbying also strengthens organizations. When nonprofits get involved in lawmaking, they raise their profile among elected officials, the media, donors, and even potential partners within the sector. Lobbying drives nonprofit volunteers, donors, and board members in addition to being a vehicle for empowering clients.

Nonprofit lobbyists can maintain their integrity by never exaggerating or promising something they cannot deliver. A significant advantage that nonprofit lobbyists have is that they can easily frame their issues in human terms, connecting bills and appropriations to real people. Nonprofits are then able to help legislators understand their issues by arranging for them to meet with people whom their legislative affects.

A major reason that there are so many bad laws and regulations is that nonprofits are not as engaged in the political process as they should be. When nonprofits lobby, they have a good chance of securing precisely the kinds of long-term and meaningful changes that their mission statements emphasize. "Lobbying may take some getting used to, but it should be in every nonprofit’s toolbox."

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

On Friday, the Commissioner of Social Security asked six states to review voter registration verification procedures in order to ensure compliance with federal law. The six states contacted were Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio.

Michael Astrue, the Commissioner, noticed extraordinarily high levels of requests to SSA despite the fact that under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, most states are required to verify the last four digits of Social Security numbers only of those new citizens seeking to register to vote that do not have a valid state driver's license.

The reason for such increased concern is that it is essential that people entitled to register to vote are allowed to do so without obstacles.

Order your FREE Nonprofitvote Starter Kit today!

Each kit includes: "Vote November 4th" T-Shirt, buttons, stickers, and a bumper sticker.

Remember to certify that your organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Monday, October 06, 2008

As the election approaches, voters should be on the look out for a number of time-honored tricks. An article from abc news, warns that voters, especially students should be conscious of underhanded tactics that are being used to confuse voters about their registration.

The article warns to beware of:

• "Push-poll" phone calls using the guise of a survey to push negative information about a certain candidate
• Leaflets or emails that list the wrong date, or even a rain date for the election
• Automated voicemail messages that tell voters polling locations have been changed
• Repeated late night automated calls with a "message" from a candidate

Even though strict federal laws should make such schemes impossible, experts say that the Internet is bringing the extreme ability to allow pranks to be carried out easily and anonymously.

The Right Question Project is a non-profit educational organization that works to develop new methods and ideas for mobilizing the potential of tens of millions of people in low and moderate-income communities to become more self sufficient in their own lives and also to become active citizens participating in all levels of society.

RQP has developed the concept of "microdemocracy," a new starting point for democratic action that can help make democracy work better for all people, no matter their educational, income or literacy level. The Microdemocracy Strategy has three key components:

• Recognize the democratic significance and potential of the public terrain where millions of individual citizens come face to face with public agencies.
• Teach simple and powerful skills for focusing on decisions and formulating questions that can lead to more effective participation in decision-making.
• Tap into an already existing workforce of several million frontline workers who can teach the skills to the tens of millions of people with whom they work.

RQP is currently implementing The Right Question Project Voter Engagement Strategy for Election Day and Beyond in these ten states: Arizona, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Get the RQP Guide for Motivating New Voters here.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

What would you ask President McCain or President Obama to do on day one?

The Better World Campaign, an advocacy group in Washington, DC that seeks to improve U.S. relations with the United Nations and its member countries, created a website, which allows Americans to tell the next president their ideas for improving American leadership in the world. The site, On Day One, features a section, 9 for '09 which highlights what most Americans feel are the nine most pressing issues currently facing the country. 9 for '09 includes: US image in the world, Iraq, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, poverty, peacekeeping, democracy and human rights, climate and energy, as well as global women’s issues. The site also features a blog, video interviews with politicians and poll questions.

Have your say and tell the candidates your ideas for a better world!