Advocacy Training

1. Advocacy Training

2. The Importance Of A Unified Voice In The Sector • We compete with other “special interests” • Strength in numbers • If you snooze you lose (paying attention is key!)

3. Who Can and Should Advocate? • We see emerging needs first • Our constituents don’t have a voice YOU!

4. Relationship Building Budget Off-Season Summer-December • Invite elected to visit a site • Invite/honor elected at your events • Send elected mailings, newsletters, reports Budget Season January-April/June • Inform legislators how proposals will affect their constituents: • Visit the elected’s office • Provide testimony at budget hearings • Phone calls/letter writing/press events

5. Solving The Budget Puzzle

6. Fiscal Years Federal: Oct 1, 2010 – Sept 30, 2011 (FY 2010-11) State: April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011 (FY 2010-11) City: July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 (FY 2010-11)

7. State Budget Players • Governor • Division of Budget • State Agencies Legislature • Assembly – 150 Members • Assembly Ways and Means Committee • Assembly Ways and Means Staff • Senate – 62 Members • Senate Finance Committee • Program & Counsel Staff • Work with the majority party! Governor Paterson

8. NYS Budget Process Agency Requests to DOB: September/October Executive Budget Release: January Legislative Hearings: February Negotiation Period: March Budget Adoption: April 1 (maybe)

9. City Budget Players Mayor • OMB • City Agencies NYC Council • Council Speaker • Finance Division • Committee Chairs • Individual Council Members • Budget Negotiating Team Borough Presidents Mayor Bloomberg and Speaker Christine Quinn

10. NYC Budget Process Council Hearings: May Negotiations: May-June Adopted Budget: By June 30th Preliminary Budget: January Council Hearings: March Executive Budget: April

11. Council Discretionary Funding Types of Funding: • Speaker Funds and Citywide Initiatives • Borough Delegations • Individual Council Members

12. Prequalification Any organization applying to the New York City Council to receive more than $10,000 must be Prequalified

13. Prequalification Process Your organization must be prequalified by the City Agency that oversees the services for which you are requesting City Council funds Can select multiple agencies – only submit documents once Forms to be aware of: New York State Charities Bureau Registration VENDEX

14. Prequalification Resources List Of Prequalified Vendors: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/downloads/pdf/ExpensePQLList_051710.pdf For Instructions And To Download Forms:http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/resources/pql_discretionary_contracts.shtml

15. Contracting Process

16. Discretionary Contract • Fiscal Year 2010 Contract • Discretionary Workscope • Board Listing • Letter of Authorization and Board Resolution • Certification of Client Abuse and Neglect   • “Doing Business” Data Form   • Certificate of Liability Insurance   • Additional documents also required based on contract amount

17. Discretionary Contract Each agency may have different requirements- make sure you give them exactly what they ask for Triple check all of your documents before you turn in the contract Make sure all your filings are up-to-date Document all communications with agency staff For 2010 contract document information for DYCD: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/resources/discretionary_contracts_fy2010.shtml

18. Telling Your Story Influencing Government Media

19. Influencing Government Provide a holistic view of your organization, the people you serve, and your impact in the community Increase the impact of your ask by using personal stories

20. Know Your Facts Organization Statistics How many people does your organization serve? What communities does your organization serve? Know your funding streams City, State, and Federal What funding streams pay what programs?

21. Make It Personal Discuss jobs Without funding, these program managers will lose their jobs You will serve fewer clients if you reduce staff • Frame issues around clients • Bring in clients who can speak to how programs have impacted their lives • Bring in program managers and other staff who can describe the success of programs

22. Connect the Facts and the Stories Explain how cuts or increases in funding will impact your organization through: Clients Need is growing everyday X amount of people will not be served if this program is cut Jobs NFP sector is an economic engine X number of staff will be cut without funding

23. Creating a Press Package Organizational statistics Story bank Find a great personal story Summary of the story Identify the program and funding stream Contact information Get consent to share story Take pictures List of press contacts

24. Contacting Press Collecting information Use your story bank + organizational statistics Show the bigger impact - add information about the borough, the City and the State Utilize social media Twitter and Facebook can help you collect stories, images, and help you connect with media Act quickly You have maybe a day - at the most, a day and a half - otherwise have to wait for next news cycle Press release Use your story bank, organizational statistics, and add quotes

25. Resources HSC Advocacy Action Response Group (AARG) Action alerts Web site Social media Trainings

26. Advocacy Action Response Group (AARG) • The goal of the AARG is to energize and mobilize the sector by giving its members tools to advocate for budget and policy priorities with a unified voice • AARG members receive policy information important to the human services sector • AARG members play an integral role in how effective HSC is in advocating for the sector

27. Strength in Numbers • With almost 200 members, we are able to advocate with a strong voice • AARG Members send in letters, make phone calls, and meet with legislators to spread the message about human services • Action alert e-mails stimulate action

28. Advocacy Opportunities Distribute State and City budget analysis Send email updates regarding policies that affect the human services sector Provide opportunities to meet with key City and State officials Provide advocacy training for members who want to advocate on their own

29. Member Resources at www.humanservicescouncil.org

30. Example Contact List: NYC Council Members

31. Get up-to-the minute updates on Twitter @HSC_NY Find us on Facebook Human Services Council of NYC

32. Lobby Laws and Regulations • 501(c)(3)’s can and should lobby • Know the federal, State, and NYC rules • Don’t let the rules deter you from advocating

33. Federal Not-For-Profit Law • 501(c)(3) is the IRS Code that gives tax exempt status to “charitable” organizations • It prohibits participation in activities related to campaigns or in favor or opposition to a candidate • Limits the amount of money that can support lobbying activities (but this amount is very high – particularly if “h” election is taken)

34. NY State & City Lobby Law • These rules are NOT specific to not-for-profits (unlike federal rules) • NY State Threshold = $5,000 • NY City Threshold = $2,000 • Neither law limits how much you can lobby

35. Do’s & Don’ts DON’T • Make campaign contributions • Endorse or show favoritism to a candidate • Buy gifts for someone working for government entities DO • Nonpartisan Voter Registration • Candidate forums and questionnaires • Meetings with electeds and appointeds • Support or oppose an issue publicly

36. For More Information • HSC Website www.humanservicescouncil.org • For log-in information, please speak with your Executive Director and email Cynthia Tao at Taoc@humanservicescouncil.org • HSC Policy Unit • Allison Sesso, Deputy Executive Director sessoa@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1127 • Chris Winward, Senior Policy Analyst winwardc@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1644 • Michelle Jackson, Policy Analyst- AARG Contact jacksonm@humanservicescouncil.org (212) 836-1588

37. Q & A