CROSS-CUTTING LOBBYING EFFECTIVENESS

Constituency Involvement

The organization:

• Has a clearly-defined core constituency (i.e. a group of individuals and/or organizations that it feels accountable for actions)
• Involves its constituency in the development of its issue priorities and lobbying objectives.
• Obtain input from its constituents on its mobilization activities through strategies such as convening planning strategies, conducting surveys, and using action committees.
• Has procedures through whicvh its constituency holds it accountable.
• Increases the involvement of its core constituency, particularly those people affected by the issues, across a number of policy issue priorities.

Network Building

The organization:

• Has a network of individuals and organizations interested in and willing to take coordinated action to address issues affecting its constituents.
• Communicates regularly with its network to share information on progress and key issues.
• Periodically engage in activities to reach out to and expand its network. This builds the network to include a range of individuals and organizations with a shared commitment to its constituency or core issue.
• Conducts one or more formal activities each year to educate and engage its network about issues affecting its constituency.
• Strategically builds its network to engage those likely to have an impact on policies affecting its constituency.
• Regularly communiactes with its network through e-mail, newsletters, meetings, or other means.
• Uses mobilization activities to promote diversity, tolerance, and understanding.
• Monitors actions taken by network members in response to its request for action.
• Periodically asks its network to take specific action in support of its issue priorities and lobbying objectives.
• Regularly provides formal activities to educate and build the lobbying acpacity of its network, using approaches such as skills training and/or leadership development and provides training based on needs articulated by its networK.
• Successfully mobilizes its network and other interested individuals and organizations to take advantage of unexpected events bringing attention to its core public policy issues.

Coalition Building

The organization:

• Understands the definition of, types of, and strategies for building coalitions.
• Regularly identifies other organizations working toward the same goals and meets with them to share information and avoid duplication of effort.
• Conducts a strategic assessment of whether, when, and with whom itv should collaborate in order to advance its goals, before becoming part of a coalition or alliance.
• Participates in coalitions that can help advance its goals.
• Has a clear understanding about which coalitions and issues it will choose to lead and in which coalitions it will play a supporting role.
• Plays a lead role in starting and building coalitions that can help advance strategic objectives.
• Reaches out to a broad array of groups and sectors by building allaince and coalitions.

Mobilization

The organization:

• Has established communication procedures and infrastructure necessary to mobilize its network in a timely and startegic fashion.
• Uses multiple strategies for alerting and mobilizing its network.
• Has a mobilization plan with objectives, targeted groups, timelines, and strategies fo reaching diverse individuals and organizations.
• Uses mobilization activities to promote diversity, tolerance, and understanding.
• Provides constituents with resources and ready-made materials to take serious action on specific bills or proposals.

Media Lobbying

The organization:

• Has media spokespersons.
• Provides media training for staff and board members who are involved in its media activities.
• Has written policies and procedures that guides its media work.
• Monitors media coverage of issues affecting its major issue areas, and identifies trends in coverage.
• Identifies opportunities for placement of stories about key issues and the impact of policy decisions on those issues.
• Maintains strong relationships with key personnel in both print and broadcast media and works to become familiar with reporters, editors and producers.
• Is respected as a credible source by the media and is regularly contacted for information about its important issues.
• Disseminates news releases for major events and reports, and constantly follow-up with phone calls and e-mail messages.
• Uses a variety of methods and vehicles to attract electronic and print media coverage of its issues.
• Facilitates media use of its information and materials by adapting them for easy use and dissemination (e.g. adapting material to press agencies style guide)
• Frames its media message to take advantage of breaking news stories, supportive data, and timely information on public opinion.
• Provides a 'local angle' to data and a 'human story' enmeshed in a policy framework for the media.
• Influences regular press coverage on its key issue priorities, demonstrated through quotes and issue stances reflecting its view.