Advocacy 101 For Organizations

The CAC is a grassroots advocacy organization. We exist to advocate on behalf of all arts, culture, and heritage organizations, working to increase funding and policy on the state level that benefits organizations like yours. The most important piece in our work is your involvement. Your input is important to your legislators, whether it be letters, meetings, phone calls or even a simple email.

Your organization has the right (and the responsibility) to participate in the legislative process. Below are legal regulations for organizational advocacy and tips on how to inform and involve the staff, board, audience and volunteers of your organization.

Legal Regulations for Organizational Advocacy
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, your organization can:

• Educate elected officials on issues of concern to the arts, culture, and heritage community.
• Arrange meetings with legislators to learn their views on these issues.
• Invite them to organizational meetings and events, and send them literature on issues.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, your organization cannot:

• Endorse or oppose candidates for public office.
• Collect or distribute funds for political campaigns.
• Use your facilities for political fundraising (although you can rent out your facility to candidates at the market rate).
• Engage in legislative activities past a “certain limit” (the IRS has a lobbying limit for organizations; call the CAC for more information).

How to be an Effective Advocate:
There is always a way to advocate on behalf of arts, culture, and heritage no matter what the season. Communication with elected officials is most effective when it is ongoing, rather than simply during a crisis. Build relationships with the people who represent you, and tell them who you are and why you care about the arts, culture, and heritage. You do not need to know about specific legislation to talk about why the government should support the creative sectors. You just need to let your elected officials know that you think the government has an important role to play concerning arts, culture, and heritage funding.

Crafting the Message:
When contacting your elected officials be clear about what you are sharing with them. Start with your specific message. For example, you might be writing to thank your elected officials for a recent Oregon Cultural Trust grant. Be specific. Using the grant example, tell them how much you received and what it will allow you to do.

After that, remind your elected officials why the arts, culture, and heritage sectors matter. Here are some effective talking points:

• Economic impact of the Creative Sectors
• Local Jobs
• Local Spending
• Positive impact to education / youth
• Improvement to test scores
• The benefit of Creative Innovation
• Personal Anecdote

Year-round Advocacy Initiatives for Organizations:

• Put your legislators on your organization’s mailing list.
• When your organization receives a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission or Oregon Cultural Trust, write a thank you note to your legislators and to the governor.
• When you are turned down for a grant due to lack of funds, write to your legislators and the governor asking for increased support for the arts.
• Encourage your board members, staff, and audience members to advocate on behalf of your organization.
• Invite your legislators for a tour of your facility and educate them about what you do and how your community benefits.
• Invite your legislators to openings and community celebrations and ask them to make a short speech about the importance of the arts to your community. Take pictures of legislators at these events and send them to your local paper.
• Attend events coordinated by the CAC.
• Join the CAC or renew your organization’s membership then:
• Sign up to receive our arts alerts emails to receive up-to-the-minute news on legislation and new arts research, and forward them to your coworkers.
• Encourage your board, staff, and audience members to sign up for our emails and be active advocates.

Advocacy Resources:
Cultural Advocacy Coalition – www.oregonculture.org
Statewide Advocacy Organization

Americans For the Arts – www.americansforthearts.org
National Advocacy Organization