Bird-dogging is a tactic used to directly engage policy makers when they make public appearances at campaign events, town meetings, or speeches. The aim is to put tough questions to elected officials or candidates and force them to answer when they are in front of their constituents, voters, and the media. To promote bird-dogging as a strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the 08.Stop.AIDS campaign developed a guide for its partners Birddogging 101. Although the guide centers on the issue of HIV/ AIDS policy, it is a helpful how-to manual for all issue advocates on using bird-dogging as an effective advocacy strategy. Here is a summary and some examples: Read More

Using a Day at the Capitol to Empower Citizen Advocates
The Coalition of Religious Communities (CORC) is a network of different religious communities in Utah working to improve the lives of low-income people through education and advocacy. Realizing that even their most passionate members can find their first visit to the state legislature an intimidating experience, CORC developed Faith Days on the Hill, an introduction to the legislative process at the Utah capitol for citizen advocates. Read More

Tips for Planning Briefings for Legislators
Many national organizations hold briefings for Congressional staff where experts on issues involving upcoming legislation present facts, analysis and answer questions. These briefings make it possible for the sponsoring nonprofit to reach many members of Congress at once and provide their offices with quality information. If you want to organize a briefing on Capitol Hill, there are specific procedures that you will need to follow. (These can be adapted for briefings at the state or local level.) A former Hill staffer shares her tips on what to consider as you plan a briefing: Read More

Showcase: Using Face-to-Face Meetings to Educate Legislators: N2N of Massachusetts
Sometimes the most effective tool for change is a face-to-face meeting with legislators. Such meetings provide an opportunity to educate elected officials about issues important to your organization and to ask for their support. Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts (N2N) works to build power in low-income and working class communities around economic justice issues. To promote these issues, N2N uses a grassroots community organizing model that includes delegation visits to educate legislators about the needs of their working class constituents. Read More

Tips on Writing a Letter to the Editor and Op-Eds
A letter to the editor is a briefly stated opinion generally written in response to a current issue or a previously published article. Read More

Tips on Visiting Members of Congress
Face-to-face visits with your elected officials, or their staff, is the most influential form of advocacy. This direct lobbying can be time-consuming, but it can also be fun, interesting, and highly effective. Read More

Guide to Meeting with Elected Officals
Meeting with your member of Congress is a lot easier than you think. What is a lobby visit? A lobby visit is merely a meeting for you to tell your elected representative what you think about a certain issue or bill and try to get him or her to take action on that issue. Read More

Build Public Relationships with Elected Officials
There are many tools that grassroots groups can use to get elected officials involved in making changes for the public good. Small, individual meetings with elected officials can establish credibility for your group, gauge the officials' support for or opposition to the issues the group is working on, and get a sense of other issues the officials are working on. Larger meetings, called forums and accountability sessions, focus public attention on specific issues your group is working on and put pressure on elected officials to vote in favor of your positions. Read More

Tips on Talking with Your Legislators
A few quick tips to review before meeting with a legislator or their staff. Read More

Telling Your Story to Policymakers
"Numbers numb, jargon jars and no one ever marched on Washington because of a pie chart. Tell stories." Andy Goodman (Good Ideas for a Good Cause)

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How to Contact Your Lawmaker
This guide has a slant towards legislatures in general (that it where most advocacy happens) and Congress in particular. The basic principles are the same for all branches and levels of government, but the specifics are for a national level. For more information about states see our state government links. Read More

Initial Considerations around E-Government and E-Advocacy
Some considerations for those interested in electronic advocacy. E-advocacy is more than doing what you've always done, only via email. Read More