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Advocacy Blog
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
"Advocacy Is Not A Dirty Word"
Author of Seen but not Heard: Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy, and Executive Director of OMB Watch, Gary Bass has written an op-ed appearing in the Chronicle of Philanthropy addressing the importance of advocacy in the nonprofit sector. Research detailed in the book presents important findings, for example, while more than eight out of 10 charities surveyed say they have either lobbied or testified before a governmental body, most of them do so infrequently.
Lobbying has increasingly become a dirty word. It is associated with backroom deals negotiated by those with lots of money. It is unseemly, made all the more ugly by the likes of the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Yet Americans have fought wars to defend our constitutional right to lobby. The First Amendment says it is "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." It is among the most cherished of democratic principles: the right to organize and advocate for policy changes.
Read the op-ed for some vital cause as to why nonprofits should engage in advocacy, "and how it should become the ordinary instead of the extraordinary.
On Nov. 8 in Washington, DC, the Aspen Institute will host a panel discussion on the book, its implications, and its recommendations. The panel will include authors Gary D. Bass and Kay Guinane of OMB Watch and will feature responses from leaders in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. RSVP to aspenevents@aspeninstitute.org by Friday, Nov. 2. For more information, contact Erin Taber at (202) 736-5855.
Posted by Amanda Adams
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