Institute Coming Soon!

Participants must attend one day of classroom training  and one day at the State Capitol.

The Alabama Advocacy Institute, a certificate-based program, provides Alabama’s nonprofit sector the knowledge and skill-based training needed to effectively engage in advocacy messaging and public policy development.

‘Advocacy’ is oftentimes confused with ‘lobbying’ in the nonprofit sector, terms and actions that are very different although mutually important – and allowable.

Funded in partnership with the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, the Alabama Advocacy Institute is the state’s first initiative dedicated exclusively to training nonprofit stakeholders about the importance of advocacy messaging and policy engagement, how to do it and why you could be jeopardizing your mission if you don’t.

Goals of the Institute:

• Equip nonprofit staff, board members and stakeholders to understand their roles and responsibilities in nonprofit advocacy and public policy engagement
• Prepare staff to develop effective, cost-efficient advocacy strategies within their organizations
• Educate participants about Alabama’s legislative process and state government structure
• Address the dos and don’ts’ related to lobbying, an allowable too for all nonprofits
• Address tactics related to electioneering, candidate forums and voter participation
• Address best-practice marketing and communication strategies for effective advocacy

Program Features: Overview

The Institute is a two day comprehensive program that prepares participants to be effective advocates for their mission. Participants will receive a comprehensive advocacy toolkit developed in partnership with some of the nation’s leading voices in the nonprofit advocacy movement. Each session will include classroom-style lectures, peer-to-peer group work, panel discussions and interactive exercises. Topical areas include:

• The importance of nonprofit advocacy and policy making
• The differences between nonprofit advocacy and lobbying, a case-study based discussion
• Staff and board responsibilities for advocacy and policy development and engagement
• Building advocacy partnerships with the media, stakeholders and like-minded organizations
• Capitol Insights: Understanding nonprofits’ role in Alabama state government
• The legality of nonprofit lobbying and effective tools for participation
• Developing a legislative agenda: When to draft, what to include and how to promote
• Negotiation and conflict resolution training in policy discussions and debates
• How to craft an effective policy statement or message to the press and public
• Developing grassroots-based advocacy and policy partnerships
• Evaluation and measurement of nonprofit advocacy in both funding and programming
• Sustaining an effective advocacy and policy platform for long-term success

Program Cost:  $99 per person for AAN Members / $198pp for Non-Members (includes two lunches, binder/materials and certificate)

Program Length:  16 hours (two days: one day of classroom training and one day at State Capitol) 

Training Locations:  Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery  (for year one)

 REGISTER TODAY

About the Logo:  The Alabama Advocacy Institute represents organization, energy, motion and teamwork. The variety of colors and multiple leaves represents the various nonprofit organizations working together to advocate a common message.