Experts tell us about nonprofit board advocacy

No matter their background, every nonprofit board member serves as an advocate for their organization. This advocacy takes many forms, from attracting members, volunteers and donors; to educating the public; to building support in the community and sometimes government.

We asked experts to share their opinions and tips on advocacy for mission-driven boards. Here’s what they told us.

5 tips for volunteer board members on advocacy

1. Understand advocacy versus lobbying

Froswa’ Booker-Drew, President, Soulstice Consultancy: “Boards must understand the difference between lobbying and advocacy. Too often, boards confuse this and do not recognize that they can advocate for causes that are important to the communities that they serve. It’s also important to understand what a 501(c)(3) can do in this space and the difference between them and 501(c)(4)s. 501(c)(4)s can engage in an unlimited amount of lobbying — unlike a 501(c)(3). Boards can educate the community on issues and even suggest stakeholders contact elected officials on issues.

“Yet, it’s important to know that nonprofits cannot endorse political candidates. I recommend organizations who want to delve into advocacy reach out to organizations such as Bolder Advocacy which provides education and training on this topic. They are an excellent resource!”

In the U.S., education about the nuances of what a nonprofit can and can’t do, based on its tax status, should be a top priority for new board member development. It’s also an important topic for ongoing development. (The IRS has a brief writeup about the distinction.) Other countries have different requirements, such as rules about political activity and campaigning by charities in the UK.

Tip: Store key information about these requirements in your board management software, ensure that it’s covered during onboarding and schedule regular refreshers on the topic during board meetings.

2. Be prepared and informed

Gwen Dombroski, Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk, County of Renfrew: “Have your homework done on the topic. Be well informed on what you are advocating for and speak to people from diverse backgrounds that may have varying opinions so that you have all the facts and can weigh the outcomes. Ensure that you are doing what is best for the community. Ensure fairness and equality in your advocacy. Keep doors and dialogue open. Utilize the resources that you have, whether it is staff, board members or public members. Listen and communicate.”

While Dombroski is talking about elected boards, the idea applies to mission-driven boards as well. Fully understanding the communities affected by your nonprofit’s work as well as the big issues at play is important, and is an effort the board can work on together.

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3. Your voice matters: Use it

Elizabeth Thompson, Executive Assistant to the President & Corporate Secretary and Corporate Compliance Officer, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network: “Sometimes when there are volumes of responses in support or in opposition, the legislators will listen because it catches their attention. It’s as easy as sending an email or picking up the phone to call. You don’t have to be an expert on the topic; just let your voice be heard for what you believe in.”

Belinda Loke, Board Director of QEC and Kids Hope Australia and Founder and Principal Lawyer of Legalexa: “Advocacy serves as a link between a nonprofit’s mission and its broader community. It ensures the organization’s voice is heard, builds trust with stakeholders and secures essential support from donors, policymakers and the public. Effective advocacy also strengthens the organization’s reputation, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships and funding opportunities.”

Board engagement is crucial for advocacy efforts. Boards should ensure members are on the same page about a topic, and, once that consensus is achieved, members should set goals to make small, regular efforts to advocate. No matter what, board members should ensure that all advocacy work is held to the highest ethical standards, as the increased visibility brings increased scrutiny.

Tip: Store talking points and other supporting documents in an easy-to-access common library, and ensure timely topics are covered swiftly in upcoming board agendas.

4. Your higher-level organization can amplify your advocacy work

Elizabeth Thompson, Executive Assistant to the President & Corporate Secretary and Corporate Compliance Officer, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network: “If you belong to an association in your field, they may have a public-policy committee or advocacy professionals on staff who have relationships at the state and federal level. They are always very helpful in organizing advocacy campaigns and making it simple to speak out. They may have scripts for what to say or write on the topics. They will rally their memberships in support or opposition. We have found our association is very helpful in advocacy efforts and always supportive of its members to take action.”

Advocacy work rarely needs to start from scratch; finding more direct pathways through parent organizations or board member networking organizations saves time and lets you focus on where your work can make the most impact.

5. Understand the power of digital platforms

Belinda Loke, Board Director of QEC and Kids Hope Australia, and Founder and Principal Lawyer of Legalexa: “For modern boards, digital advocacy has become an essential element of social media strategy, brand awareness and reputation management. Digital platforms have transformed this process by enabling boards to:

• Extend reach: Amplify messages to diverse audiences across geographies
• Engage in real time: Build meaningful connections and maintain a consistent online presence
• Showcase transparency: Share impactful stories directly with stakeholders

“At Kids Hope Australia, active LinkedIn advocacy led to a partnership with a pro-bono chief information security officer who strengthened our cybersecurity — a critical contribution to our organization.”

All board members should be comfortable with today’s tools for collecting, using and disseminating information. Onboarding should consist of training on these tools, and the board should remain ready to explore new solutions as they become available and gain traction.

Read our other expert-led articles: 

• Experts share thoughts on ethics in the nonprofit boardroom
• Experts share tips for mission-driven organizations on DE&I
• Experts share tips on AI and governance
• Experts share insights on board engagement

How board management software helps your advocacy efforts

Board management software can make advocacy work more efficient and powerful by offering a single tool for board members to read key information, learn and collaborate. BoardEffect has several features tailored for advocacy work, including:

• A searchable document library for collecting and accessing resources necessary for the board’s advocacy work
• Workflow tracking to keep every contributor on the same page about advocacy efforts
• Secure workrooms for collaboration and project discussions

Advocacy is a key part of the role that every nonprofit board member has. With BoardEffect, your board can organize and amplify its advocacy efforts to expand the reach of your work, raise your visibility to key stakeholders and better fulfill your mission.