Public Policy: Mobilizing Others to Live United

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Public Policy Mobilizing Others to Live United

• 101

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What is public policy?

• Issue identification, research and analysis
• Education of the public on critical issues
• Lobbying for or against legislation
• Voter registration and education
• Litigation
• Participation in referenda or initiative
  campaigns
• Grassroots organizing and communication with
  local leaders
• Testifying before governmental bodies
• Lobbying governmental agencies at all levels
• Media advocacy and education on an issue

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What is public policy? (continued)

• In short, it is how we create systemic change.
• It is comprised of different strategies for
  addressing the root causes of social problems and
  for improving peoples lives.
• The goal of today is to help you and your Board
  begin or increase your use of public policy
  strategies/venues on the previous slide.

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I bet youre already doing it

• Have you testified before your city council or
  county commissioners?
• Do you work on an area homelessness commission?
• Are you on your local pre-k council?
• Do you partner with your school district or local
  government on a program?
• Do area elected or appointed officials turn to
  you for information on the community?

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Why get (more) involved Public Policy?

• Community impact. Nearly every issue of interest
  to United Ways has a strong public policy
  element.
• Policymakers need our expertise. Who is closer
  to the real problems of people than
  community-based nonprofits? We know what works
  and what doesnt, and can put a human face on
  problems.
• Government funding can significantly impact
  capacity to create community-level changeif we
  arent AT the table, were ON the table.

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Why get (more) involved in public policy?

• Media attention is good. Public policy is very
  media-friendly.
• Public policy is a resource development
  strategygives investors a more robust product
  (many UWs getting funds for 2-1-1 and beyond).
• Public Policy is a UWA Standard of Excellence --
  1.4 Public Policy Engagement.

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What about losing donors over taking a stand on
the issues?

• Start with low-hanging fruitnon controversial,
  bi-partisan appeal.
• Have confidence in who you are as a UW (income,
  education and health).
• We cant agree with everyone 100 of the time.
  Being a leadership organization requires having a
  point of view and sticking to it.
• Only take a stand on issues where your research
  and outcomes are sound and also aligned with your
  mission and community impact agenda.

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Whats legal?

• Lobbying (yes it is!)
• Providing non partisan education about the
  political process
• Registering voters
• Educating candidates
• Publishing legislative scorecards
• Preparing and communicating candidate
  questionnaires
• Sponsoring candidate debates
• Working with ALL political parties to get
  positions included on that partys platform

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Whats NOT legal?

• Endorsing candidates
• Making campaign contributions
• Publishing or communicating anything that
  explicitly or implicitly favors or opposes a
  candidate
• Making expenditures on behalf of candidates

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Activities that are NOT lobbying

• Contacts with policymakers re regulations
• Lobbying by a volunteer (except reimbursed
  expenses)
• Communication to members on legislation where no
  action is encouraged
• Response to requests for information from a
  legislator or a legislative body

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But we dont have the resources

• Utilize volunteers, especially Board members
• Work with partners
• Consider applying for outside foundation
  grantsUWCA has received grants from The CA
  Endowment and The CA Wellness Foundation to
  support public policy work on childrens health

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How do we get started?

• Have this conversation with your Board
• Establish a public policy committee
• Board members
• Funded agencies
• Responsible business leaders
• Issue experts
• Political experts
• Media experts
• Worker bees

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Building an Agenda

• UW relevancycommunity needs assessment, UW
  allocated, partnerships
• Level of constituencys support (donors and
  agencies)and who is the opposition?
• Impact the issue has on your UW (, community
  building, etc.)
• Opportunities to collaborate with other
  organizations
• Opportunity to make a difference

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First steps on your agenda

• Create a simple one-pager on your issue
• Develop objective replies to opponents viewsuse
  caution in characterizing them to others
• Ensure public officials receive your annual
  report, public policy agenda and other
  communication materials
• Attend legislative hearings and other meetings to
  reaffirm your interest
• Get a seat at the tablelocal Boards, Mayors
  Task Force, Homeless Planning Commissions, Pre-K
  Councils, etc.

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Other first steps

• Treat elected and appointed officials as a
  segment of the market. Dont be intimidated! If
  you can cultivate a major gift, you can cultivate
  a vote!
• Map and utilize the connections your Board has
  with prominent members of the community.
• Build and join coalitionsdont go it alone.
• Utilize your relationships with business/labor
  leaders.
• Build relationships with policymakersRelationship
  s should precede the ask. Offer an agency tour to
  help educate policymaker (if appropriate/feasible)
  

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Increase the visibility of your issue

• Letter writing campaign
• Letters to the editor
• Feature column
• News conference radio/TV
• Testify
• Invite policymakers to events
• Recognition

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Be-friend and learn from experts

• Introducing Stewart Clifton