Running a Non-Profit? Your Opponents Have a Seat at the Table. You Need to Be in the Room.
Other organizations are already shaping policy discussions. Professional representation can help your nonprofit bring community expertise to lawmakers and make its priorities heard while decisions are still taking shape.
Written by
John Fletcher
Every year, thousands of decisions are made in state capitols that shape the future of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. Legislators debate funding priorities, establish regulations, modify government programs, and determine how public resources will be allocated.
Throughout that process, professional lobbyists work to ensure their clients' perspectives are understood. Businesses, industry associations, labor organizations, and advocacy groups hire lobbyists to represent their interests. Many nonprofits, however, remain absent from these conversations.
According to CalMatters' analysis of state disclosure records, organizations spent approximately $540 million lobbying California officials in 2024, an increase of 10% from the previous year. With major spenders including technology companies, oil companies, and utilities.
In contrast, Independent Sector's research found that only 31% of nonprofits reported engaging in advocacy or lobbying over the preceding five years.
Public Policy Is Shaped by Those Who Participate
Legislation rarely emerges from a single conversation. A bill may begin as an idea presented to a legislator, develop through stakeholder discussions, undergo revisions before introduction, and change substantially during committee hearings and negotiations.
Throughout that process, policymakers seek information from individuals and organizations familiar with the issue. Those who consistently participate have opportunities to explain problems, recommend solutions, and identify unintended consequences.
Organizations without representation may learn about legislation only after critical decisions have already been made, when changing the outcome can be considerably more difficult.
Other Organizations Are Already Advocating for Their Interests
Consider a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to affordable healthcare. Its mission may depend on reimbursement policies, insurance regulations, and funding for community health programs.
Meanwhile, hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and professional associations may have their own policy priorities. Those interests may align with the nonprofit's objectives in some circumstances and differ significantly in others.
Research published in Perspectives on Politics, titled Conducting the Heavenly Chorus, describes how policymakers rely on organized interest groups for information about constituent priorities. It also identifies the risk that organized interests may provide an incomplete picture of public preferences.
Although the research concerns Congress, it illustrates an important consideration for state advocacy - where legislators have substantially less staffing resources than their federal counterparts: organized representation can influence which perspectives policymakers encounter.
Your Organization Has Expertise Policymakers Need
Nonprofits possess something extraordinarily valuable in legislative discussions: firsthand knowledge of how policies affect communities.
A food bank understands barriers to food assistance. A veterans organization understands challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life. An organization supporting individuals with disabilities understands how changes in transportation, healthcare, or employment regulations affect the people it serves.
A professional lobbyist can help translate that expertise into policy recommendations, connect nonprofit leaders with lawmakers, and identify opportunities to provide testimony.
Representation Does Not Have to Be Expensive
Many nonprofits assume professional representation is available only to organizations with substantial advocacy budgets.
In reality, nonprofits can seek engagements focused on a particular bill, budget issue, or legislative session. A narrowly defined scope of work can help control costs while providing access to professional expertise.
Civalta makes exploring those options easier. Nonprofits can post their lobbying needs for free, specify their budgets, and seek proposals from interested professionals.
The people your nonprofit serves may have limited opportunities to participate directly in legislative discussions. Your organization can bring their experiences and priorities into the policymaking process.
When legislation affecting your mission is being developed, your nonprofit deserves to be represented. Post your advocacy needs on Civalta for free and find a lobbyist who can help secure your seat at the table.