LIFT YOUR VOICE: GETTING STARTED WITH ADVOCACY, LOBBYING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

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1 LIFT YOUR VOICE: GETTING STARTED WITH ADVOCACY, LOBBYING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Presented by Washington Nonprofits In Partnership with Sherwood Trust

2 ABOUT US W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Visit us at to learn more and become a member.

3 PRESENTERS Laura Pierce Executive Director Washington Nonprofits David Streeter Director of Public Policy Washington Nonprofits

4 LEARNING GOALS By the end of today, you will: Be able to distinguish between advocacy and lobbying. Understand the rules for nonprofit lobbying. Know more about how public policy is crafted, and how you can have an influence. Have new tools to advocate for your cause.

5 WHY ADVOCATE? W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S To shift public opinion To change or add a law To change a governmental regulation or rule

6 ADVOCACY VS. LOBBYING Advocacy is any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others. Advocacy includes educating officials and the public about issues and your organization. Lobbying is activity that attempts to influence specific legislation.

7 TWO TYPES OF LOBBYING Direct lobbying refers to a communication with a legislator or staff member that refers to specific legislation and expresses a view on that legislation. Grassroots lobbying refers to a communication with the general public that refers to specific legislation, expresses a view on that legislation, and urges the public to contact their legislator(s).

8 IRS RULES W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Limits on lobbying by 501(c)(3) organizations are determined through either the Insubstantial Part Test or the 501(h) Election. The IRS requires nonprofits to track their time and resources dedicated to lobbying. All advocacy and lobbying must be nonpartisan.

9 501(H) LIMITS Annual Expenditures W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S $500,000 or Less 20% Overall Lobbying Limit $500,000 to $1 Million $100, % of Expenditures over $500,000 $1 Million to $1.5 Million $175, % of Expenditures over $1 Million $1.5 Million to $17 Million $225, % of Expenditures over $1.5 Million Over $17 Million $1 Million For all expenditure levels, the grassroots lobbying limit is 25% of the overall lobbying limit

10 WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION If your organization lobbies at the state level, then it likely must register with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Review registration information at

11 ASK THE AUDIENCE What advocacy and lobbying activities can nonprofit organizations do?

12 UNLIMITED NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES Unlimited Non-Lobbying Activities Educating officials and the public about your organization and issues, without discussing policies. Nonpartisan research and analysis. Responses to written committee requests. Defending your organization. Hosting a site visit for an official. Nonpartisan voter engagement.

13 LOBBYING ACTIVITIES Limited and Tracked Lobbying Activities Communicating with a public official about a specific or desired piece of legislation. Issuing a call to action. Gathering signatures for a ballot initiative. Working for or against a ballot initiative.

14 BOLDER ADVOCACY If you ever have a question about lobbying rules, please contact Bolder Advocacy. Phone: NP-LOBBY ( ) Website:

15 IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND POLICY GOALS What are the desired policy changes that you want? Why? How do the desired changes fit with your mission?

16 WHOSE ISSUE IS IT? Federal State Local Federal spending and programs Federal laws and regulations State spending and programs State laws and regulations Local spending and programs Local laws and regulations Not sure? Start local.

17 ARENAS FOR INFLUENCE Level of Government Federal State Local (City/County) Executive Branch President & Cabinet Governor & Cabinet Mayor/Executive & Cabinet Legislative Branch Congress: House & Senate Legislature: House & Senate Local Council Legislative Issue? Budget Issue? Regulatory Issue?

18 FEDERAL OFFICIALS President Vice President Donald Trump (R) U.S. House CD 5 Mike Pence (R) U.S. Senate Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) Patty Murray (D) Maria Cantwell (D)

19 STATE OFFICIALS Governor Lieutenant Governor Jay Inslee (D) Cyrus Habib (D) Washington Senate LD 16 Washington House LD 16 Maureen Walsh (R) Terry Nealey (R) Bill Jenkin (R)

20 LOCAL OFFICIALS W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Walla Walla County Council Walla Walla City Council Chair Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Jim Johnso n Barbara Clark Tom Scribner Yazmin Bahena Todd Kimball Jim Duncan Riley Clubb Jerry Cummins Myron Huie Steve Moss

21 ROLE PLAY: ELEVATOR PITCH You see a legislator at a community picnic. You have about three minutes to speak to him or her and make an impression. Use the following outline: Introduce yourself and your organization (one sentence) Share one policy change you are seeking Ask for his/her support Thank and offer follow up if indicated

22 ASK THE AUDIENCE W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S How does a bill become a law? Image Credit: ABC. S1 E24 I m Just a Bill

23 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS 1. Introduction 2. Committee 3. Full Debate 4. Full Consideration 5. Repeat 6. Reconcile 7. Final Passage 8. Enactment Image Credit: Washington State Legislature. How a Bill Becomes a Law

24 COMMITTEE HEARINGS Individuals may testify for 2 minutes and submit written testimony. Stream hearings at and conduct rapid response.

25 SESSION CALENDAR W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Washington s legislature uses a strict calendar to manage the flow of bills. Key dates in the 2018 session were (2019 TBA): January 8 Legislature Convenes February 2 Last day for bills to pass original policy committees February 6 Last day for bills to pass original fiscal committees February 14 Last day to pass bills in chamber of origin February 23 Last day for bills to pass opposite policy committees February 26 Last day for bills to pass opposite fiscal committees March 2 Last day to pass bills in opposite chamber March 8 Legislature Adjourns

26 WA BUDGET PROCESS FOR FY Ongoing June 2018 September 2018 Fall 2018 December 2018 OFM OFM Agencies Governor Agency Review and Issues Submit Proposes Strategic Governor s Budget Budget Budget to Planning Decisions Instructions Requests Legislature January 2019 April/May 2019 May/June 2019 July 1, 2019 Ongoing Legislature Convenes 2 nd Monday of January Legislature Passes Budget Governor Signs Budget Biennial Budget Takes Effect Tracking and Evaluation by State Adapted From: Office of Financial Management. A Guide to the Washington State Budget Process. May

27 THREE TYPES OF RESEARCH 1. About the issue. 1. About the current and previous bills. 2. About the legislators.

28 CONGRESS.GOV W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S

29 LEG.WA.GOV Scroll Down to Search by Topic

30 READING BILL PAGES Bill Number and Description Bill Sponsors (Lead Sponsors are Listed First) Comment and Sign Up for Notifications Bill Progress Table (Scroll Down for Details) View Documents and Hearing Videos (Scroll Down for Details)

31 LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE If you have a question on state legislation, contact the Legislative Information Center. Website: Hotline:

32 WALLA WALLA CITY RESEARCH

33 WALLA WALLA CITY BUDGET Walla Walla has a two year budget cycle. This process takes place in even years, and is currently underway. January-March June-July August-September Budget Prep Budget guidelines issued based on strategic plan Budget Requests Departments develop their requests Proposed Budget City Manager and departments submit requests to Finance Committee October-November December January Onward Approved Budget City Manager presents budget; public hearings held; Council debates Adopted Budget More public hearings; Council adopts budget effective January 1 Post Adoption Monitoring and evaluation; City gathers citizen input for next budget Adapted From: City of Walla Walla. Budget.

34 WALLA WALLA COUNTY RESEARCH 1. Click Commissioners Tab 2. Click Agendas 3. Scroll Down for Current and Past Agendas

35 WALLA WALLA COUNTY BUDGET Walla Walla County has an annual budget process. 2 nd Monday in July (7/9/18) Budget Prep County Auditor notifies departments to prepare requests 2 nd Monday in August (8/13/18) Deadline for Budget Requests Requests submitted to County Auditor 1 st Tuesday In September (9/4/18) Proposed Budget Preliminary budget presented to County Council 1 st Monday in October (10/1/18) Budget Public Hearings Public hearing on the budget lasts up to five days 1 st Monday in December (12/3/18) Budget Debate County Council debates the final budget Before December 31 Final Budget Passage Final budget passed effective January 1 Information provided by Walla Walla County Auditor

36 GOVTRACK.US

37 LEG.WA.GOV Click Details to See Key Information

38 WASHINGTONVOTES.ORG

39 CAMPAIGN SUPPORT

40 WAYS TO SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY Direct Lobbying In-Person Meetings Phone Calls Social Media Testimony Comment on Bills and Regulations Grassroots Lobbying Phone Calls Letter Writing Social Media Petitions Media Outreach Submitting Op- Eds and Letters Issuing Press Releases Pitching to Reporters Hosting Media Events

41 GETTING READY TO LOBBY Identify the Issue Research the Issue Develop Your Ask Decide Who to Meet Request the Meeting Assemble the Delegation Prepare for the Meeting

42 DURING YOUR LOBBYING MEETING Respectfully Make Your Case Present You Data Make Your Ask! Exchange Cards Take a Picture Say Thank You Washington Nonprofits Meeting With U.S. Rep Dave Reichert (R-WA)

43 AFTER LOBBYING Say Thank You Deliver Follow Up Items Stay Connected

44 GRASSROOTS LOBBYING Identify and Research the Issue Develop Your Ask Decide Who to Contact Determine Your Activists Determine Actions Develop a Tool Kit Send an Action Alert Track Performance Follow Up

45 MEDIA OUTREACH W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Advocate through the media: Press Releases Op-Eds and Letters Pitch Reporters and Editors Host Press Events

46 REFLECTION AND NEXT STEPS What are your key takeaways from today? What one thing will you do differently? What do you need more information about?

47 THANK YOU W A S H I N G T O N N O N P R O F I T S Please us with your questions: Laura Pierce Executive Director Washington Nonprofits Laura@washingtonnonprofits.org David Streeter Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Washington Nonprofits David@washingtonnonprofits.org