Assessing Your Organization’s Capacity to Influence Policy Change

If you're a nonprofit leader, advocacy is a natural extension of the work you already do. Your daily work includes fighting for funding, pushing for policy changes, or amplifying the voices of historically excluded communities.

It's worthwhile to pause and assess your organization's readiness to influence policy change at scale because without the proper foundation, efforts can stall, resources can be stretched too thin, and key opportunities might slip by.

What Does Advocacy Readiness Mean?

Advocacy takes planning, capacity, and alignment with your organization's goals. You need the right infrastructure, resources, and stakeholder engagement to make an impact.

Advocacy readiness comes down to three key areas:

1. Internal Capacity: Do you have the staff, leadership support, and resources to sustain advocacy work?

2. External Positioning: Where does your organization fit in the broader policy ecosystem? Who are your allies?

3. Strategic Alignment: What kind of advocacy makes the most sense for your nonprofit's mission and capacity?

Focusing on clear, mission-aligned priorities ensures that advocacy efforts remain strategic and effective. Let's get into each of these areas a bit more.

Internal Capacity: Is Your Organization Equipped to Influence Policy Change?

Before diving in, ask yourself:

• Do you have leadership buy-in? Advocacy requires time, resources, and sometimes, taking a public stance. Are your board and executive team on board?

• Does your staff have the expertise and bandwidth? Advocacy involves understanding policy, mobilizing supporters, and navigating legislative processes. Do you have the right skills on your team?

• Are you aware of legal considerations? 501(c)(3) organizations have limits on lobbying and political activity. Are you clear on what's legally permissible?

• Can you allocate resources? Do you have the budget, staffing, or volunteer support to sustain advocacy efforts without compromising core services?

If you see gaps in these areas, don't worry. Many organizations partner with advocacy experts, consultants, or coalitions to build capacity over time. Consider attending advocacy training or collaborating with experienced partners working in mission-aligned areas.

External Positioning: Where Does Your Organization Fit?

Advocacy doesn't happen in a vacuum. You need to understand the ecosystem, potential allies, and even the opposition to be effective. Consider:

• Have you clearly defined the issue? Do you have data or real stories to support your stance?

• Do you have relationships with policymakers or coalitions? If not, how can you start building those connections? 

• Is your community engaged? Do you have supporters ready to take action through petitions, public comments, or direct outreach to legislators? Do you have a strategy for mobilizing supporters?

The more connected and prepared you are, the greater your chances of effectively leveraging your organization's influence.

Strategic Alignment: What Type of Advocacy Makes Sense for Your Nonprofit?

Advocacy comes in many forms, and your organization doesn't need to dive straight into lobbying to make an impact. The right approach depends on your capacity, experience, and strategic goals. Low-commitment actions like educating your staff, board, and supporters on key policy issues can help build a foundation if you're just getting started. For organizations with some advocacy experience, moderate-commitment actions like signing coalition letters or mobilizing supporters to contact legislators can deepen your engagement.

For nonprofits with strong capacity, high-commitment actions can drive significant policy change. This might include leading rallies or town halls, drafting and introducing policy recommendations, or hiring a dedicated advocacy director or policy team. No matter where your organization falls on this spectrum, aligning advocacy efforts with your mission, resources, and long-term goals is important.

Building a Sustainable Advocacy Strategy

If you're not ready for full-scale advocacy, that's okay. Advocacy is a long game, and you can build capacity over time. Here's how:

• Invest in training. Equip your staff and board with advocacy skills through workshops or partnerships with policy experts.

• Engage your community. Advocacy is strongest when it includes the voices of those directly impacted. Build relationships with community leaders and those who benefit from your work.

• Develop an advocacy plan. Set clear goals, define strategies, and identify key decision-makers to engage.

• Start small and scale up. If direct lobbying isn't feasible, begin with education and awareness efforts. Over time, expand your advocacy work as your capacity grows.

Advocacy isn't a one-time action…

It's a sustained effort. By assessing your organization's internal capacity, you can determine the best way to integrate advocacy into your work. 

Start with an honest assessment, take small but strategic steps, and build toward a future where your nonprofit is a stronger advocate for the change you want to see.