What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is the act of gaining support for a specific cause, policy, or organization. Effective advocacy helps nonprofit organizations increase funding, future their mission, and serve more individuals and communities. Advocacy is a key responsibility of nonprofit board directors and can take many forms, including connecting the organization to the right community leaders and working with the executive team to educate policymakers on behalf of the organization. Yet, according to BoardSource’s 2021 Leading with Intent report, 71% of board chairs don’t feel they have the right people on the board for influencing leadership on decisions relevant to the organization.

Further Reading

• 5 Nonprofit Executive Director Responsibilities
• What are Nonprofit Board Responsibilities?
• How to Increase Diversity for a Nonprofit Board of Directors in 8 Steps