In 2019 it seems as though there are endless ways for constituents to engage with elected officials — some representatives going as far as having live Facebook and Instagram streams where they can chat, take questions, and learn more from their constituents. For nonprofit professionals or organizations, who have to engage supporters in grassroots advocacy the de facto choice is often emailing legislators. Which makes sense, it’s an easy ask from supporters and with advocacy software you can have a form message locked and ready to go while capturing great analytics. I ask you this though, when was the last time you ran a patch-through call campaign? Find out below why using more patch-through call advocacy campaigns may improve your efforts and yield better results for your organization. 

It’s no secret how pivotal social media, especially Facebook, is to a successful grassroots advocacy campaign and more often than not it's going to be how someone who isn't a member of your organization finds your advocacy campaign. And while tracking pixels, targeted audiences, ads, and boosted content are important — there are fundamental practices that get overlooked that can up engagement rates and the efficacy of your advocacy.

Most professional trade associations are equipped with association management software (AMS) to streamline their contact management operations. From collecting dues and membership records to event management, a good AMS is a useful tool membership-based organizations. Association management software can alleviate pain points associated with organizing membership online, but an AMS doesn't provide member engagement opportunities to the same degree as an advocacy platform.

Membership engagement requires strategic planning and continuous nurturing- whether through events, email messaging, social media interaction or personal outreach. The often-overlooked area of membership engagement comes in the form of advocacy software. Implementing a strong advocacy program with a special focus on involving your membership will strengthen membership engagement by connecting members with your association. Below are 3 signs that show that your organization should invest in advocacy software: 

A successful grassroots advocacy campaign involves multiple moving parts, but advocacy software can be a valuable addition to any legislative strategy. Making it easier to get members engaged and keep them engaged allows the entire organization to have bigger voice. This bigger voice means more influence on elected officials and impacting public policy that favors your organization. Below are three reasons your organization should consider purchasing advocacy software: 

By definition, a “campaign” involves a series of initiatives aimed at producing a specific result. With that in mind, a well-designed advocacy campaign should include multiple activities that work harmoniously towards achieve an objective. When trade associations and/or nonprofit organizations seek to influence public policy through advocacy campaigns, these groups are striving for grassroots support, media exposure, and ultimately a change in policy surrounding an issue or a specific piece of legislation. In other words, an advocacy campaign is no small feat, and requires time to plan and carry out in order to reach legislative goals.

How do grassroots advocacy software and community advocacy intersect? As a leader or member of an organization you know that, more important than anything, are the community members that care about your cause. They’re the ones who help put in the footwork to make a positive change happen, especially in grassroots advocacy. It can be difficult to get your community engaged especially when you need them the most. That’s where the wonders of grassroots advocacy software come in:

The use of digital advocacy tools and grassroots advocacy software is on the rise. Increasingly, association professionals and those involved in government relations are using advocacy software to supplement their traditional public policy strategies.

Mobilizing membership and supporters on advocacy issues is becoming increasingly important to public affairs and legislative teams all over the country. Often, online advocacy supplements an organization’s government relations strategy; however, the cost of the software is often a deciding factor in which advocacy software an organization selects. The decision to purchase any advocacy software almost always involves a discussion with board members and key stakeholders within the organization because advocacy software can be an investment. 

(Blog Updated 10/28/2019 to reflect changes in grassroots advocacy software market)

Often, we’ll receive emails from staff at 501c (3) organizations stating that because of their IRS classification, they cannot and do not engage in any advocacy. This is a misperception. Be advoca-savvy (ok, so this word doesn’t quite work…but you get the idea! Be savvy about advocacy and you won’t run into IRS tax dilemmas).

We’ve worked extensively with both association and nonprofit professionals, learning how these leaders engage their members and supporters in their organization's legislative and political advocacy initiatives. 

As we continue to speak with professionals involved in government relations with nonprofit organizations, the more we understand how significant the method is that they use to execute their advocacy strategy. Here are four reasons why using an online advocacy service can improve your method to approaching advocacy and net greater legislative results:

The civic technology sector is an emerging marketplace in the United States. Technology advancements, new social media platforms, and the increased use of mobile platforms are key factors influencing how citizens and organizations communicate with their legislators and participate in politics. The government relations space has been transformed by the emergence of digital tools in recent years, both in the hands of constituents and elected officials themselves. In terms of public policy and nonprofit advocacy, online advocacy channels provide a meaningful way for associations, charitable organizations, and other advocacy groups to participate in the legislative process.