Your Nonprofit Has a Mission. Public Policy Should Be Part of It.

Every nonprofit begins with a mission. Some provide food and shelter, others support veterans, protect natural resources, expand educational opportunities, or improve healthcare. Regardless of the cause, nonprofit leaders share a common objective: creating meaningful, lasting change.

Achieving that change requires resources, committed staff, engaged volunteers, and community support. It also requires an understanding of public policy, because the laws, regulations, and budgets established by state governments directly influence nearly every nonprofit mission in America.

In fact, Independent Sector found that approximately 70% of policy-engaged nonprofits reported that their organization's mission encouraged their participation in advocacy. However, only 31% of non-profits participated in any form of advocacy whatsoever.

Your Mission Is Already Connected to Government

Consider a nonprofit focused on improving access to mental healthcare. Its leadership may spend years building relationships with donors, recruiting qualified professionals, and expanding services to underserved communities.

Meanwhile, the state legislature may consider legislation affecting Medicaid reimbursement, professional licensing, telehealth eligibility, or behavioral health funding. Each decision could influence the organization's ability to deliver its mission.

The same applies across the nonprofit sector. An environmental nonprofit may be affected by water policy, a veterans organization may depend on state benefit programs, and an affordable housing nonprofit may face changes in zoning or construction regulations.

The Nonprofit Sector Is an Economic Powerhouse

Nonprofits are essential contributors to the American economy. Independent Sector's research describes a sector encompassing more than 1.9 million organizations and approximately 12.8 million workers.

Despite their substantial economic and social contributions, many individual nonprofits lack a consistent presence in state policy discussions. Their leaders are occupied with delivering services, raising money, and managing operations, while legislative decisions continue regardless of whether they have time to participate.

Advocacy Is a Natural Extension of Your Mission

Imagine an organization dedicated to preventing homelessness. It might operate shelters, provide rental assistance, and connect families with employment opportunities.

But what happens when state lawmakers consider legislation affecting housing development, rental assistance, or supportive services?

The organization has practical knowledge that could help policymakers understand the consequences of their decisions. A professional lobbyist can help transform that experience into actionable policy recommendations, identify relevant legislation, coordinate meetings with lawmakers, and communicate the organization's priorities.

For nonprofits, this creates a way to pursue their missions through direct services and systemic improvements.

You Can Advocate Without Becoming Political

Some nonprofit boards hesitate to engage in lobbying because they associate advocacy with partisan politics. However, lobbying for legislation and supporting political candidates are legally distinct activities.

The National Council of Nonprofits explains that charitable nonprofits may engage in permissible lobbying while remaining nonpartisan. Organizations classified as 501(c)(3) are prohibited from intervening in political campaigns for or against candidates.

A nonprofit can advocate for better healthcare funding, stronger environmental protections, or improved educational opportunities while working with policymakers across the political spectrum.

Build Advocacy Into Your Strategic Plan

Nonprofit boards regularly establish goals for fundraising, program expansion, and community engagement. Public policy should receive similar consideration.

An organization might establish three policy priorities each year, identify the legislative committees overseeing those issues, and develop a plan for communicating with decision-makers.

For smaller organizations, the engagement might focus on a single legislative issue or may benefit simply from ongoing monitoring and representation. Either approach can help align public policy activity with the organization's mission.

Civalta makes finding representation easier by allowing nonprofits to post their advocacy needs at no cost, describe the issues that matter most, and explore proposals from professional lobbyists.

Your nonprofit already knows the change it wants to create. Visit Civalta to find a lobbyist who can help advance that mission through public policy.

Your Opponents Have a Seat at the Table. You Need to Be in the Room.

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.