Advocacy 101

Advocacy for nonprofits can be intimidating. In this session, we plan to address the do's and don'ts of nonprofit advocacy. We'll explore what organizations can and cannot do within the advocacy and public policy space. We will dive into why advocacy is not separate from your mission, but the fulfillment of it.  

By advocating for policies, rule changes and legislation, nonprofits can directly impact their clients' lives, whether it's prompting government responsiveness to urgent needs or opening up new funding avenues. This session will allow you to gain a baseline understanding of your organization's options. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Explore the legalities of what you can and can't do as a nonprofit.
2. Understand the role and importance of advocacy in the nonprofit sector.
3. Learn about specific relevant examples of policy wins at the State and Local level. 

About the Trainer: 
CJ Butcher is the Advocacy and Grants Manager at United Way of Greater Knoxville. His main duties include government relations, public policy, advocacy, grant research and writing. CJ has a bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy from the University of Kentucky and has spent most of his professional career working in the policy research space with advocacy organizations.