Advocacy

We've included many resources here to help nonprofits strengthen their advocacy efforts.  

Advocacy Tools

• Nonprofits Integrating Community Engagement Guide (N.I.C.E.) - guide by Alliance for Nonprofit Management and Building Movement Project
• Advocacy Capacity Tool - step-by-step tools to assess, build capacity and evaluate advocacy by Bolder Advocacy
• Advocating for Change - toolkit and examples by Community Tool Box
• Everyday Advocacy - tools and resources by the National Council of Nonprofits
• The Power of Board Advocacy: A Discussion Guide for Boards - information and step-by-step guide by Stand for Your Mission

Organizing for Change 

• Tech and Innovation to Re-engage Civic Life - article by Hollie Russon Gilmon in Stanford Social Innovation Review, November 24, 2015
• The New Now: Working Together for Social Change - two case studies by Bulding Movement Project
• 6 Guiding Principles for Advocacy Campaign Coalitions - article by Tom Novick, Michael O'Loughlin and Jonathan Benton in NTEN Change journal, December 2012
• Alliances for Change: Organizing for the 21st Century - report by Marnie Brady, Building Movement Project
• Learning Circles: A Tool for Understanding Root Cause - discussion guide by Building Movement Project
• Voter Engagement Toolkit: A Nonpartisan Guide for 501(c)(3) Organizations -  toolkit by United Way Worldwide in partnership with Nonprofit VOTE
• Networked Change: How Progressive Campaigns are Won in the 21st Century - A NetChange Consulting Report (2016)

IRS Regulations

• Common Tax Law Restrictions on Activities of Exempt Organizations - table by IRS outlining what organizations can engage in legislative advocacy; candidate election advocacy; and public advocacy
• Lobbying - IRS information on nonprofits and lobbying
• Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Public Charities - guide created by IRS
• Nonprofit Advocacy Rules and Regulations - information and examples by the National Council on Aging
• Being a Player: A Guide to the IRS Lobbying Regulations for Advocacy Charities - resource guide by Alliance for Justice
• Lobbying Under the Insubstantial Part Test - guidelines by Bolder Advocacy, Alliance for Justice
• Public Charities Can Lobby - guidelines by Bolder Advocacy, Alliance for Justice
• What is Lobbying Under the 501(h) Election? - guidelines by Bolder Advocacy, Alliance for Justice

Websites

• Tamarack - An Institute for Community Engagement - research, articles and tools for community engagement
• Building a Successful Advocacy Effort - webinar series by Independent Sector
• Nonprofit VOTE - nonpartisan fact sheets, webinars, research, and toolkits to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their work 
• Building Movement Project - articles, tools, and examples for nonprofits to create social change and advocate for clients