Going All in to Train Advocates

Alliance for Justice believes that, if foundations want their priorities to get the attention and resources they deserve, it is vital for them to support their grantees in making the case to elected officials and the public. Because advocacy shapes the public debate, it is perhaps the most impactful way nonprofits and foundations can focus their attention to bring real change.

For over two decades, our Bolder Advocacy program has created tools, trainings, and resources for foundations and their grantees with one big goal: to make advocacy easy and accessible for nonprofit and foundation leaders who want to influence substantive policy change. Employing lawyers, coaches, and nonprofit experts, Bolder Advocacy’s work has spanned multiple administrations and national shifts in governing philosophy.

Of course, things have shifted dramatically since the pandemic began.

In these six months, we shattered internal records for the number of calls we’re taking, emails we’re answering, and webinars we’re leading. Not surprisingly, nonprofit advocates and funders are asking us a lot of questions about how to get involved with economic stimulus efforts, 2021 state legislative sessions, and the upcoming election.

As you read this, Bolder Advocacy is preparing for our 300th nonprofit advocacy training of the year; we did 250 in total last year. And as our trainings and “technical assistance” communications tick up, we’re hearing more and more from foundations that want to deepen their support of advocacy, whether that’s convening stakeholders or funding their grantees to do more.

Seeing the volume of interest skyrocket is thrilling for us, and heartening for our democracy. Don’t hesitate to get in touch: Bolder Advocacy’s team of experts is ready to help you move from cautious to courageous, whether you’re lobbying, getting out the vote, supporting a ballot measure, or funding grantees’ efforts to press for positive change in our communities.