[NPFX Ep. 68] Advocacy Matters: Defending Federal Funding for Nonprofits (with Pat Libby, Kendra Davenport, and Shannon McCracken)

When federal funding is at risk, diversification is a smart long-term strategy. But there's a more immediate response nonprofits can’t afford to ignore — advocacy. In this episode, we break down what advocacy really means, how it works, and why it’s essential for every nonprofit to get involved right now. Join us as we explore how to make your voice heard and protect the funding that fuels your mission. Listen here:

Episode highlights include:

• Is advocacy and lobbying legal for nonprofits to do?
• Why only 2.5% of nonprofits are currently engaged in lobbying efforts
• How nonprofits serve as an extension of government services
• The importance of meeting with legislators and telling the stories of the people you serve
• Strategies for building effective advocacy coalitions
• How to start advocacy efforts when you have limited resources
• The power of bringing program participants to legislative meetings
• Why collaboration between nonprofits is challenging but necessary
• How to build an internal culture of advocacy within an organization
• Ways to educate the public about the critical role of nonprofits in communities
• Techniques for approaching legislators respectfully and effectively 

Special Offer: Free 30-minute consultation for NPFX listeners

Additional Resources

• IPM's free Nonprofit Resource Library
• Advocacy & Lobbying Resources for Nonprofits
• The Nonprofit Alliance's Action Alerts about Federal Funding
• Alliance for Justice Resource Library
• [NPFX] Can Nonprofits Lobby? How LGBTQ and Other Organizations Can Influence Lawmakers
• The Secret to Nonprofit Advocacy Success: Keeping Grassroots Supporters Engaged

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Guests

Pat Libby is one of the nation’s leading experts on citizen lobbying campaigns. A long-time nonprofit leader, consultant, and recovering academic, Pat has made it her mission to teach nonprofit leaders and everyday people how to create change through the legislative process. She is the author of The Empowered Citizens Guide and The Lobbying Strategy Handbook — funny, relatable books written for anyone who sees a glaring injustice or community-wide problem and wants to scream, “There ought to be law!” but doesn’t know how to make it happen. Pat makes conducting a successful grassroots lobbying campaign seem relatively painless by sharing her easy-to-follow formula and pulling the curtain back on things we think we should know but don’t. The books are illustrated by real-life examples of people who used her 10-step strategy to pass laws, and contain detailed information on the rules governing nonprofit lobbying. Pat created her strategy while leading a nonprofit organization; since then, it has been used by novice citizen activists throughout the country to pass new laws, including many in California where she resides. You can find many free resources on her website.

Kendra E. Davenport, MPL, CFRE, is President and CEO of Easterseals, a leading organization that makes a lasting difference in the lives of 1.5 million people each year by providing essential services to children and adults with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and their families. Kendra oversees the National Office and a federated network of 70 Affiliates whose markets cover 48 states and Washington, D.C. For more than three decades, Kendra has been a leader and innovator in the nonprofit sector, with a consistent focus to facilitating critical services and interventions with organizations specializing in health and human services and disability rights, ensuring everyone can lead full lives. Kendra has extensive management experience, having managed over 1,000 international staff across eighteen sub-Saharan countries while working for one of the largest African American-founded and led nonprofits at the time. She is highly regarded not only for her extensive work in the nonprofit sector and for her leadership amid change, but for her commitment to transparency, accountability, and strong focus on collaboration. Kendra is a graduate of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and serves on boards for organizations that span health, education, civil rights and social action, and economic empowerment.

Shannon McCracken is the founding CEO of The Nonprofit Alliance and has been named to The NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50 for the last three years. She spent two years as Charity Navigator’s Chief Development Officer, facilitating communication with nonprofit organizations and increasing resources to ensure the successful implementation of a new strategic plan, and subsequently served on Charity Navigator’s board of directors. Shannon spent 17 years with Special Olympics International, most recently as Vice President of Donor Development. While at Special Olympics, she served as the DMA Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Chair and Chair of the Ethics Committee. Shannon is a Certified Association Executive with a master’s in Nonprofit and Association Management. She serves on the Fundraising.AI Advisory Council and the Fundraising Effectiveness Project Steering Committee as Government Relations Chair.

Hosts

Russ Phaneuf, a co-founder of IPM Advancement, has a background in higher education development, with positions at the University of Hartford, Northern Arizona University, and Thunderbird School of Global Management. As IPM's managing director & chief strategist, Russ serves as lead fundraising strategist, award-winning content creator, and program analyst specializing in applied system dynamics.

Rich Frazier has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. In his role as senior consultant with IPM Advancement, Rich offers extensive understanding and knowledge in major gifts program management, fund development, strategic planning, and board of directors development.