Advocacy
What you must know
Advocacy is organized action to influence decisions, policies, and systems that shape health. Know the difference between education (informing), advocacy (promoting a cause or solution), and lobbying (a specific, narrowly defined ask regarding legislation or a candidate). Understand the constraints on nonprofit organizations: 501(c)(3) entities may engage in some lobbying but not as a substantial part of activities and may never endorse or oppose candidates. Know strategies: grassroots and grasstop mobilization, media advocacy (framing an issue for public and policymaker attention), coalition building, policy analysis, testimony, power mapping, and identifying champions. Be fluent in the advocacy planning cycle - define the issue, set a measurable goal, gather data and stories, identify decision-makers and targets, build the coalition, craft the message, take action, evaluate - and in the equity lens: social determinants, health in all policies, and who bears the burden. Know the legislative process at the level relevant to the setting.
Traps questions set
- Labeling all advocacy as lobbying.
- Assuming nonprofits cannot lobby at all, or that they can endorse candidates.
- Choosing media advocacy when the target is a single decision-maker rather than public opinion.
- Skipping the identification of the actual decision-maker with authority to act.
Rule of thumb
Ask what the request is. "Understand why this matters" = education. "Support this policy" = advocacy. "Vote yes on Bill X" = lobbying.
Worked example: A coalition wants a city ordinance requiring sidewalks near schools. It maps the council committee, collects injury data, recruits a parent spokesperson, and pitches a story to local news. All lawful advocacy; only the direct ask to vote would count as lobbying.