Advocacy in Action is a practical resource to help funders understand how advocacy can advance their mission and strengthen their confidence in supporting and engaging in policy change.
Drawing on Philanthropy Northwest’s experience working alongside funders across the region, this guide demystifies advocacy and offers practical guidance for putting it into action. It explores:
- Why policy advocacy matters and how it can advance mission, equity and racial justice.
- How philanthropy can support advocacy, with examples of research, communications, convening and coalition-building as strategies.
- How to navigate the rules of advocacy with guidance on what different types of foundations can legally do.
- How to build board and trustee support for advocacy.
- How to measure progress and impact in work where change is rarely linear.
Throughout the guide, examples from funders across the Northwest show what advocacy can look like in practice, including resources and questions organizations can use to consider their own role.
Whether your organization is just beginning to explore advocacy or looking to strengthen an existing approach, the guide offers a starting point for using your resources, relationships and voice to advance lasting change.
