A description of the Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project. In May 1999, the Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Tufts University and OMB Watch in Washington, DC launched a project to identify and better understand the factors that affect nonprofits' participation in the public policy process. The intended goals of the project are to

• Generate new knowledge of how existing barriers to participation may be addressed
• Increase understanding of the decision-making processes employed by nonprofit staff and boards of directors when considering public policy-related actions
• Produce new tools for teaching and learning that help nonprofit leaders overcome identified barriers to participation
• Inform organizations including foundations, nonprofit sector infrastructure groups and national umbrella organizations that are working to strengthen the public policy abilities of various nonprofit communities
• Build a true connection between scholarship and practice that leverages the knowledge and energy of both areas for a common purpose
• Spark new ideas and energy for strengthening the civic health of America's nonprofit sector.

Background Despite significant resources - money, time and energy - being devoted to finding ways of encouraging nonprofits to get more involved in public policy matters, there is little research on factors that contribute to or inhibit such participation. Are the tax laws and IRS regulations too complex? What impact do decision-making structures within the organization have on participation? If there were more emphasis on skills training, would participation increase? Or does participation have more to do with the attitude of Board members? While some nonprofits are highly effective at educating government and developing relationships that can result in improved public policy, many others remain on the sidelines. They are either unaware that their participation is important, uninformed as to how to engage, or, perhaps, fearful that they may lose their tax-exemption if the attempt to influence policy-makers. According to recent data from the Internal Revenue Service, less than 2 percent of all the charitable nonprofits that file annual tax form 990, report any lobbying expenses. Recognizing that lobbying is only one form of government education, it is, nonetheless, an indicator that many nonprofits are not at the decision-making table when laws are written and passed. The Supporting a Public Voice: Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project aims to identify ways to alleviate these possible perceptions about participation and to catalyze stronger nonprofit involvement in the public policy process. Project Description Phase 1: National Survey and Interviews The target population for the survey research is 501(c)(3) public charities, that submit annual tax return, Form 990, excluding private foundations, large hospitals and university systems, and religious organizations that do not file a tax return. More specifically, the sample of organizations will be stratified into four categories: 1) 501(c)(3) organizations that have taken the 501(h) election, meaning that they have chosen to fall under the expenditure test for lobbying purposes, and are reporting lobbying expenditures; 2) 501(c)(3) organizations that have taken the 501(h) election, but are not reporting lobbying expenditures 3) 501(c)(3) organization that have not taken the 501(h) election but are reporting lobbying expenses; and 4) 501(c)(3) organizations that have neither taken the 501(h) election nor are reporting any lobbying expenses. This grouping provides baseline information about which organizations are participating through lobbying or have at least formally acknowledged a level of public policy related activity. We will also conduct 30-50 interviews with selected respondents to the survey to gather detailed information about the responses to the survey. The interviews will enhance the quantitative findings with qualitative information including specific examples that will fuel future focus group discussion topics. The interviews will focus on: the role of governance structures, definitions of public policy involvement, perceived barriers to involvement (including the role of foundations), perceived effectiveness in influencing policymaking matters, and other findings from the survey data. To prepare for the interviews we will convene a panel of experts that are engaged in public policy as well as those who train nonprofits to become involved in policy issues. This convening will provide important practitioner input as we begin to shift into the focus group phase. Phase 2: Focus Groups (Review and Testing) During the spring and summer of 2000, we will conduct in several states focus groups involving senior staff and board members of nonprofits. Depending on funding, we will organize at least three focus groups in each of 10 states. The purpose of the focus groups will be to:

• Share findings from the research and obtain reactions to it.
• Discuss in greater detail the types of barriers and hurdles that nonprofits face in getting more involved in the policymaking process. The role of foundations will be included.
• Discuss organizational decision-making processes for involvement in participation. We will use this information to provide examples of how internal decision-making varies in different types of organizations (e.g., large and small) that are engaged in public policy.
• Identify the types of tools and resources that are needed to help nonprofits further engage in public policy matters.

Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI), an Independent Sector project, will partner with us in conducting the focus groups. We will work with state associations of nonprofits, including those groups who are part of CLPI's Trainer/Resource Network, and other key state nonprofits to organize these discussions. In the fall of 2000, OMB Watch and CLPI will convene a meeting of key national and state organizations, including foundations, that provide services designed to further engage nonprofits in public policy matters. The purpose of the meeting will be two-fold. First, we will share findings from the research and, in particular, the focus groups. Second, we will discuss implications of the findings for the services we provide and toward the goal of better allocation of resources to address the specific needs identified by nonprofits. As a result of this meeting, OMB Watch, the Lincoln Filene Center and Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest will prepare a report making recommendations on action steps that may be needed to strengthen nonprofit policy participation. Phase 3: Dissemination and Implementation Research results and action recommendations resulting from the focus groups will be widely shared throughout the nonprofit sector. The research results will be summarized in a final report, a series of journal articles, and more digestible print and electronic formats. The Lincoln Filene Center, Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest and OMB Watch will convene key national and state groups to discuss the results and opportunities for implementing the recommendations. This summit meeting will involve key nonprofit sector organizations working to encourage greater participation and effectiveness in the public policy arena. Organizations such as the Advocacy Institute, Alliance for Justice, the Alliance of Nonprofit Management, the Aspen Institute, the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, Families USA, the National Conference for Community and Justice, the National Council of La Raza, The Urban Institute and other groups will be invited. The meeting will act as a catalyst for re-assessing current strategies to motivate and empower local nonprofits' public policy role. A final paper will be circulated that discusses findings, identifies lessons learned, and includes final recommended strategies for strengthening nonprofits' advocacy role. Tools for Practitioners and Scholars - The Internet Resource Center for Nonprofit Advocacy: Because of the paucity of solid research on nonprofit policy participation, there are few tools to help nonprofits better engage in public policy matters. What exists is limited to trainings about federal laws and regulations on lobbying or about how to advocate. While these may be important undertakings, it is unclear whether that is what charities most need in order to become more engaged. The research conducted under this project should help inform the sector on best practices for encouraging policy participation (e.g., are there certain organizational or management structures that foster policy participation?; is board education a priority?). Armed with this information, we will develop tools to assist nonprofits to get more involved, primarily through an online resource center. The resource center will provide an online one-stop shop for any nonprofit that wants to strengthen its capacity to participate in the public policy process. It will offer free and accessible information about board development for public policy, legal education about lobbying and voter education, stories about why advocacy can be an important function of all types of nonprofits and links to related information available on the internet. In addition, the resource center will provide linkages and information about existing academic and practitioner research that focuses on nonprofit advocacy-related subjects and strategies for advancing nonprofit causes. The design, content and various functions of the on-line resource center will depend on the input of the hundred of nonprofit leaders that participate in the research phases of the project. Expected Outcomes The Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project will have at least 3 outcomes that will be realized during the length of the grant and beyond the life of the project. First, the findings of the research will provide new information to nonprofit sector leadership organizations including the Advocacy Institute, Alliance for Justice, Independent Sector and the National Center for Nonprofit Boards that will help them better allocate resources for educating nonprofits about the importance of their participation in public policymaking. For example, the findings will help these organizations and foundations understand whether legal complexity, lack of staff knowledge or some other combination of factors are the real barriers to public policy engagement. Second, the focus group and convening phases of the project will provide an opportunity for state associations of nonprofits and other key regional groups to examine possible hurdles to participation (in their respective areas) and test possible strategies for overcoming them with local nonprofits who may currently be on the sidelines of the policy process. Third, the project will make a substantial contribution to the academic literature on the subject of nonprofit advocacy, and its findings will also be useful toward developing articles for use by scholars and practitioners. Results from the survey and interviews will be provided in several publications, some targeted to academic audiences and others to nonprofits. The Lincoln Filene Center will take the lead in writing for academic publications; OMB Watch will lead in writing shorter reports for practitioners. The Lincoln Filene Center at Tufts University - OMB Watch Partnership The project leverages a partnership between two national leaders in their respective fields. The Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs provides nonprofit management education and is staffed for purposes of the project by David F. Arons, Project Director, formerly of Independent Sector's Government Relations Department, and Professor Jeffrey M. Berry of Tufts' Department of Political Science. Dr. Berry brings over twenty years of experience researching lobbying by citizen's groups and has authored numerous books and articles including the Rebirth of Urban Democracy, Brookings Institute Press, 1993. OMB Watch is a nonprofit research, educational and advocacy organization that focuses on government accountability and citizen participation issues. Since its founding in 1983, it has served as a key organization in defending the advocacy rights of nonprofits and now co-chairs, with Independent Sector and the Alliance for Justice, the Let America Speak coalition. The principal investigator from OMB Watch is Dr. Gary D. Bass, founder and executive director. Dr. Bass has been organizing and working to strengthen the advocacy voice of nonprofit sector for over fifteen years. He chairs several coalitions of nonprofits. Contact information: David F. Arons, Senior Fellow and Project Director, Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs, Tufts University. (617) 627-2138 or (202) 387-5072, darons@emerald.tufts.edu Jeffrey M. Berry, Professor, Tufts University. (617) 627-3465 or (617) 627-3660 (fax), jberry@infonet.tufts.edu Gary D. Bass, Executive Director, OMB Watch. (202) 234-8494 or (202) 234-8494 (fax)