Win Some, Lose Some: Lessons from Nonprofit Policy Successes and Failures

Workshop
Policy and Advocacy

In recent years, nonprofit policy advocates have put a lot of proverbial points on the board. While incomplete, major victories at the state and federal level have advanced the work of nonprofits nationwide.   How on earth did a universal charitable deduction come into existence for the first time in decades, and why haven’t those same brilliant advocates been successful in restoring it yet? Most importantly, what steps can we take this year and in 2024 to advance policies that help all people thrive?    In addition to getting updates on the latest policy issues affecting nonprofits, we’ll explore the landscape for …

Listening Session: Emerging Strategies to Support Coalition Advocacy

Workshop
Policy and Advocacy

Coalitions can help nonprofits to work towards their missions, provide services to the communities they serve, amplify their voices, and share intelligence, resources, and workload. In fact, research commissioned by Independent Sector indicates that nonprofits belonging to collaborative working groups such as associations or coalitions advocate at higher rates than nonmembers. We Want to Hear from You. Independent Sector is convening a group of stakeholders with all levels of experience to hear their expertise and devise long-term solutions. During this listening session, participants will explore emerging strategies that nonprofits can leverage to share power within coalitions, find and join a …

Exploring the Decline of Nonprofit Advocacy and Public Engagement

Workshop
Policy and Advocacy

Nonprofits are a catalyst for democracy and systems change in the United States. Our organizations bring individuals together to educate leaders — particularly policymakers — about our missions, community challenges, and potential solutions. Unfortunately, findings from recently released research commissioned by Independent Sector determined that a significantly lower proportion of nonprofits report advocating or lobbying today compared to 20 years ago. How can we get nonprofits off the sidelines and onto the playing field? The answer is simple. There is power in numbers. Together, nonprofits can strengthen our collective influence through our collective impact. This discussion will take a deep …

Leave No Power on the Table: Connecting Civic Engagement to Mission

Workshop
Policy and Advocacy

Elections have a direct impact on fundamental issues related to quality of life and nonprofits’ ability to pursue our charitable missions. But, according to new research commissioned by Independent Sector, 56% of nonprofits report that policy engagement does not apply to their mission and only 13% engage in nonpartisan voter engagement services. The study found that mission alignment is the single most powerful indicator of whether a nonprofit will step forward and advocate. All of our findings point toward opportunities for even greater impact by nonprofits, particularly in areas such as advocacy and policy reform to address systemic issues and …