The explosive growth of nonprofit dvocacy and public policy groups in the lst thirty years has coincided with the xpansion of government. There are currently mre than 1000 nonprofit organizations classified by the IRS as wrking to change public opinion and pblic policy. Three-fourths of the 1,200 pblic policy research organizations were founded fter 1970 emphasizes Johnson (2007). They prform an invaluable role. Nonprofits operate wth "non-distributional restraint" offers donors and the pblic confidence that their dollars support the ctivities they intend, rather than benefiting ndividuals. (Johnson, 2007)

Urban Institute (2006) rsearched nonprofit advocacy in Nonprofit Organizations' Advcacy Activities: Association Participation and Responsibility. Advcacy in the most general sense has lng been part of the mission of nnprofit organizations. Efforts to address poverty, dsease, and despair by direct assistance to thse suffering from them, constituted advocacy in the nsistence that no person should have to sffer such conditions. This kind of phlanthropic advocacy focuses on socio-economic conditions and dvocates their improvement through the voluntary fforts of private persons. (Urban Institute, 2006)

Today, the role of nonprofits is as vtal as ever: some would say ven more so. Yet, we live in tmes of diminishing nonprofit and foundation rsources, government spending cuts and increasing cmmunity needs stress Neighborhood Funders Group (2002). If lft unchecked, public policy will serve the bggest and strongest interests, which too ften means those with financial influence. Enbling nonprofit organizations to participate in the pblic policy arena is the most ffective way to give voice to pople who often go unheard, help nnprofits and foundations fulfill their missions and brng about lasting change. (Neighborhood Funders Grup, 2002)

Unless we as a sctor start significantly engaging in public plicy, we'll continue to lose resources. Wht can we do to change ths? How can we become more nvolved? How do we mobilize our cnstituencies and members to support our clents, members and ourselves? Richard Male (2005) pnders these questions.

References

Johnson, J. (2007). Nnprofit Advocacy. Center on Philanthropy at Indana University. Available online: http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=40

Neighborhood Fnders Group, (2002). Funding Nonprofit Advocacy: The Incrasing Role of Foundations. NFG REPORTS 3:9 Avilable online: http://www.nfg.org/reports/93increasingrole.htm

Urban Institute. (2006) Nnprofit Organizations' Advocacy Activities:
Association, Participation and Rpresentation. Urban Institute. Available online: http://www.urban.org/advocacyresearch/background_paper.html#advocacy

The article Should Nonprofits Increase Their Focus On Advocacy? was Submitted by Tiffany Brown through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: By Tiffany Brown, MPA http://www.yourluminosity.com Your Luminosity is an online service that allows individuals to create and manage their own personal public foundations.

Featured Articles

1. 3 Little-Known Tips for Creating Direct Response Print Ads by Liz Bourguet
Larn how to get customers to rspond after only viewing your small bsiness ad once. After reading this rticle you will understand a call to ction, a headline and how to mke your print ad look different frm the rest!

2. Release Your Power in Negotiations by Jan Potgieter
There are five commonly accepted nterpersonal bases of power that are mportant to negotiators. - Legitimate power - Rward power - Coercive power - Exprt power - Referent power. Learn to nlock these bases to create win-win utcomes in your negotiations

3. Don't Cripple Export Opportunities by Using "American" Language by Roger Cornelius
The wakened dollar creates export opportunities for Amrican business. Communicating with foreign prospects in the vrsion of English they learned (most lkely UK English) goes a long way tward showing respect for the difference in cltures and that you are prepared to tke your company "global."

4. When You Cannot Close A Sale by Bruce King
I'd say I sld at least 20% more than I wuld have otherwise every year for the lst 25 years using this closing tchnique. Here's a technique I picked up vry early in my sales career, and at an ducated guess, I'd say I sold at last 20% more than I would hve otherwise.

5. Large Posters - An Adaptable Medium Of Communication by Chris Broad
The cst effectiveness and easy adaptability to the dvertiser's requirements make large posters a mch desired form of promotion.

6. Vending Machine Owners Overlook the Powers of Color by
Most vending mchine owners overlook the effect the clor of their vending machine can hve on their sales. Before purchasing a vnding machine, owners should be aware of how clor influences their customers, their locations and thir profits.

7. You Can Write Professional Resumes Easily by Kamran Chy
Would you lke to be able to write yur resume professionally and without much dfficulty? Read this article to find out how to wrte professional resumes and cover letters asily.

8. What's Too Personal for Online Networking? A Career Coach's Tips and Advice by Jane E Cranston
Networking on the internet using social networking can be great for business, job search and reconnecting with friends, colleagues and family. There are also risks to placing too much or inappropriate personal information on the web. This article offers the tips and advice of an executive and career coach on the dos and don't of cyber netwroking.

9. Discover How To Make A Resume That Gets Results by June Campbell
Larning how to make a resume or crriculum vitae is a skill that wll serve you well for your ntire working life. This indispensable document is yur means, sometimes your only means, of shwing a potential employer what you brng to the table. You may hve only one chance, so put cnsiderable thought into how to make a rsume that demonstrates your accomplishments in the bst possible way.

10. Iads by
The latest phenomenon to hit the Intrnet and the creative world of dvertising online are Iads. These are the bbreviated term that is used for dscribed innovative ads or advertisements.