LOBBY? YOU? – YES!

So, Why Lobby? Why should we get involved in the public policy process?
Why should we educate voters and candidates?

Because of what public policy can mean for communities and people:

• Insurance coverage for the mentally ill
  

• Job security during family and medical leave
  

• Public parks and open space

• Advertising to keep kids tobacco-free

• Funding for emerging artists
  

• Ramps and elevators making businesses accessible
  

• Tough penalties for domestic violence
  

• Early childhood education through Head Start
  

• Incentives for ecologically sound farming practices
  

• Fair pay for human service workers
  

• Research for cures to Alzheimer’s disease
  

• Protections for endangered species
  

• College tuition assistance programs
  

• Campaign finance reform

Lobbying by 501(c)(3) nonprofits is a powerful strategy for making people’s lives better and for building stronger communities. Sometimes when people hear the word lobbying, they say, “It’s illegal for nonprofits to do” or “Lobbying is for organizations that have lots of money” or “Lobbying is for experts who are paid to know the process and have access."  These statements are among the many myths about lobbying.

Lobbying on legislation and engaging in public policy advocacy through voter and candidate education can also be great for your organization because it can:

• Raise awareness of your mission
  

• Mobilize members, volunteers, donors and board
  

• Attract favorable media attention
  

• Establish and expand government investment in important social programs
  

• Reform laws and regulations that govern the operation and evaluation of your programs
  

• Confer benefits far beyond that of any one direct service program

The following pages share some of the powerful reasons and examples of why nonprofits can and should get involved in the legislative process. Recent research by the SNAP initiative found that nonprofits have many different words they use to describe lobbying including advocate and educate. The main message here is that the act of lobbying is about making positive change to laws that affect us and the causes we serve.