The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations, Second Edition, is your complete road map to shaping public policy at the state and local level. It gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for developing an effective plan and putting it into action. With this handbook, you will discover how lobbying can help fulfill your mission; learn how to initiate, support, or defeat bills; develop effective lobbying skills; gather and mobilize support for your positions; learn how to use the media effectively; influence gov't administrators to back your policy positions; comply with state and federal regulations; and set up systems in your nonprofit to support lobbying. In addition to updated worksheets, case studies, and resources, new material in the second edition includes nonprofit civic engagement and voter mobilization; designing the Policy Committee that works for your nonprofit; utilizing social media in your communications strategies; administrative advocacy: working with governmental agencies; and understanding the why, what and how of collaboration. "A must read for every nonprofit board and executive team seeking effective, practical and legal advice on how to achieve their organization's mission by engaging with elected officials and policymakers at every level of government." -Emmett Carson, Ph.D. CEO and President, Silicon Valley Community Foundation "The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook is essential reading for every non-profit Executive Director and staff member. It explains the imperative and mechanics of advocacy and will be an invaluable tool for everyone who wants to ensure that all voices get heard in our democracy." -Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change "In this revised edition Marcia Avner . . . reveals in practical terms how safe and easy advocacy is and how advocacy can strengthen the nonprofit in other important ways." -Tim Delaney, President and CEO, National Council of Nonprofits "A must-have for any nonprofit professional who values the importance of advocacy efforts." -Lindsey Hodel, Director, Colorado Participation Project "An essential resource that should be on the desk of every nonprofit leader." -Gary Bass, Executive Director, Bauman Foundation and former Executive Director of OMBWatch "This handbook is an important part of the work that we do: teaching current and future nonprofit leaders the value and practice of nonprofit advocacy. It's been used successfully here at Georgetown . . .