Pros And Cons Of Nonprofit Advocacy

Advocacy means to support an idea or an issue generally. Effective nonprofit advocacy contains activities like direct lobbying, grassroots organizing, and media advocacy (Avner). Through direct lobbying, nonprofits can ask an elected official to take a particular position on a specific legislative proposal (Avner 348). Secondly, grassroots organizing is a community-based method that involves people to plan and build shared efforts and work for the changes based on their willingness. Grassroots organizing enables people to build the power they need to advance issues, challenge failed systems, and become respected participants in decisions that affect their lives (Avner 367). Thirdly, media advocacy means that nonprofits strive to have their
On the one hand, the advantages for nonprofits’ advocacy are obvious. First, for nonprofits that could lobby, they should definitely advocate in the political arena because nonprofits have the potential power to make changes on public policy, which will have a huge influence on people’s life, such as food support. Nonprofits know what the community and the people care well than politicians do. Therefore, getting involved in lobbying, they teach politicians what the public cares most, which increase the possibility to create policy change that will benefit people. Second, nonprofits advocacy will also expand the influence and relationships, as well as building a better reputation for nonprofits. “Advocacy work can position nonprofit as the lead organization in an issue area and it can secure your organization’s place in leadership circles” (Avner 373). In addition, through nonprofits’ advocacy, more people may be persuaded, engaged and participated in political lives. To sum up, nonprofit advocacy “promote, protect, and support policies and reforms that have an impact on quality of life, community vitality, economic security, and justice” (Avner