Chapter 2 - Advocate and Serve

Powerful force for social change.

To achieve large scale social change, gov't needs to be part of the solution.

Many organizations fear funders will stop
supporting them or they don't have the skills to manage lobbying.

Great nonprofits find a way to overcome
the challenges.

Balance pragmatism with
idealism by working within
political system appealing to
the broad majority

Preserve credibility and integrity-maintain their data,scientific facts, and analysis without compromise.

Hire experienced lobbyists who have access to
key decision makers on Capital Hill.

Find funding for advocacy through
flexible sources i.e. earned income or/and
donations.

Organizations gains a 1st hand view of
problems that impacts their constients
directly.

Close to their customer and can modify their
approach necessary.

Discover new solutions that can be
implemented through their program.

Couple policy reform with direct services to
create a greater impact.

Through direct services, gain a firsthand view
of problems facing their constituents.

Can test new models to inform their proposed
policy solutions.

Some organizations may start at the very
beginning or decades later.

Aggressivelyy fought predatory lending

Realized educating 1000s of borrowers
would never work, instead advocated the
stronger industry regulation.

Mobilized state coalition of 70 allies -
credit unions, churches, AARP, NAACP, etc.

The state of NC enact the landmark
NC Anti-Predatory Lending Law

Soon other groups around the country
contacted Self Help for assistance in
passing similar legislation.

2002, launched Center for Responsible Lending -
a nat'l subsidiarythat conducts research, advocates
for both state and federal policy reform and help state based groups change lending laws.

When I took this topic, I was expecting it to be more on a personal note of making a change in a person's life, but this chapter discusses more on the issue of the environment or education reform.

May involve mobilizing voters, pitching media stories,
to influencing elected officials and the political process.

Policy advocacy known as lobbying refers to specific efforts to change public policy or obtain govt funding for a social program.

Difficult to manage and require different organizational skills than those needed to provide direct patient care.

Through advocacy, may receive addition state or federal funding.