Building Nonprofit Capacity for Public Policy Engagement

 

The CLPI Training Approach

 

CLPI promotes, supports and protects nonprofit advocacy and lobbying in order to strengthen participation in our democratic society and advance charitable missions.  One critical way CLPI meets this mission is by providing trainings that accelerate nonprofit engagement in the public policy process, particularly nonprofit engagment in legislative advocacy. 

 

CLPI recognizes that different organizations and communities are at various levels of readiness – in knowledge, skill and confidence – and thus acquires an understanding of an audience’s current efforts and capacity prior to training.  This understanding enables us to help the organization develop a realistic plan for moving forward. 

 

In order to help 501(c)(3) nonprofits “make the extraordinary ordinary,” the CLPI training approach includes a dual focus on organizational capacity and strategy.  CLPI trainings primarily educate and engage service-oriented nonprofits in the early stages of building their advocacy capacity.  More experienced groups can continue to hone their skills through the diverse resources available from CLPI's online Training Resource Center.

 

Whatever the specific content or format, all CLPI training sessions:

 

¨       Motivate and inspire participation in legislative advocacy without ideological bias.

¨       Balance baseline legal information with effective advocacy strategies.

¨       Create an interactive, experiential learning opportunity for lasting impact.

¨       Respect and draw upon the wisdom of the audience and help advance connections within the group.

¨       Involve and strengthen connections with local resources.

¨       When possible, include public official participation to help break down barriers between advocates and decision makers.

 

The CLPI training curriculum aids organizations to develop action plans for their legislative advocacy efforts.  The curriculum can be presented in full-day sessions or in separate components during half-day sessions.  All CLPI curriculum materials, available through the Web site and our online Training Resource Center, provide basic and advanced information for nonprofit practitioners on public policy advocacy topics such as:

 

¨       What is “legislative advocacy/lobbying” – and why it is important?

¨       Building capacity for legislative advocacy,

¨       Planning and evaluating advocacy activities,

¨       Message development and information dissemination,

¨       Direct lobbying and administrative advocacy,

¨       Grassroots lobbying and organizing,

¨       Working in coalitions/alliances,

¨       Media advocacy, and

¨       Voter education.

   

CLPI delivers this training curriculum through its Training Fellows program.  CLPI Training Fellows extend the CLPI staff’s capacity to meet the growing need for lobbying and advocacy training.  Geographically dispersed, Training Fellows undergo training in CLPI’s philosophy and pedagogy and also contribute to an evolving curriculum adaptable to various training needs. 

 

Training Fellows complement CLPI’s national perspective with their “on-the-ground” experience as advocates, trainers, and nonprofit practitioners on a range of issues in communities throughout the country.  Instead of extending our resources solely from Washington DC, the Training Fellows allow CLPI to work from the ground up and meet organizations on a local level.  Currently, the class of CLPI Training Fellows consists of seven of the best advocates and trainers from around the country.