Advocacy

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In the world of philanthropy, there are few terms as broadly defined as “advocacy.” Simply put, where funding direct services aims to meet a specific need — say, for food or housing — advocacy aims to change the conditions that create the need. Advocacy can take many forms, including grassroots organizing, litigation and lobbying. 

Historically, giving for direct services has been the primary focus of most donors. Over the last several decades, however, there has been a growing awareness that philanthropy can play a particularly catalytic role in addressing root causes rather than just filling gaps and treating symptoms. A tension has developed in the wider public conversation about whether it is better to fund direct services or advocacy/organizing for transformative change. That binary has always been an artificial one, and many highly effective funders understand that direct services and advocacy are both necessary. They are often intertwined and complementary. 

For donors who are drawn to funding advocacy, it is important to know that there are some limits on what philanthropy can do in terms of giving for advocacy. This brief offers an overview of giving for advocacy and spotlights key considerations for donors. 

Why Donors Fund Advocacy 

Every donor approaches giving based on their own unique background, interests and perspectives on what works to create the world they want to live in. Philanthropists who want to address root causes of problems and support systemic change will be drawn to funding advocacy. These are some of the reasons donors fund advocacy:

  • To address big problems in ambitious ways. While all forms of charitable giving seek to solve some problem, funders with an eye on the greatest challenges facing their city, state, country or planet know that big problems need big solutions, and this often means structural, policy or culture change. A donor could, for example, give to food banks in their region. But since many people who rely on such services work full time, a donor might also choose to support efforts to raise the minimum wage or strengthen labor organizing — work that could greatly reduce the need for food banks in the future. 

  • It’s adaptive. Effective advocacy groups are capable of shifting their strategies and plans as needed. Take an organization like the ACLU, for example. In the past decade alone, the ACLU has been shifting its legal and organizational weight as the country has changed: The group has used impact litigation in pursuit of marriage equality, provided lawyers and legal observers to address police brutality and mistreatment of migrants, and is building a robust political and organizing practice as the federal courts have moved further to the right on issues like abortion and voting rights. 

  • It can be part of a multifaceted giving strategy. A donor can fund advocacy or movement-building efforts toward systemic change and give to meet needs in the meantime. In fact, direct services and advocacy giving are often complementary. For example, providing direct services can be part of grassroots movement-building. Community members might come to their local LGBTQ+ center for healthcare services, build relationships with the nonprofit and others they meet there, and then become active in community organizing. Or perhaps you fund organizations working to end homelessness, and in the meantime, you also support a nonprofit that provides shelter or services to unhoused people in your community. There are many ways to support both direct services and advocacy for systemic change. 

Key Considerations

For donors thinking about funding advocacy and how such funding fits into their larger philanthropy strategy, here are some issues to consider:

  • It’s important to understand what philanthropy can and can’t do when it comes to advocacy. There are many acceptable ways for donors to influence U.S. politics and policies by supporting advocacy with tax-deductible gifts. But there are some limits. Private foundations cannot lobby or directly fund lobbying and they are barred from supporting partisan electoral work. However, charitable gifts can fund things like nonpartisan voter education, and donors who want to engage more in this area can choose to give to 501(c)(4)s or PACs and candidates — although such donations will not be tax deductible. Keep in mind that a growing number of advocacy organizations have both 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 arms.

  • Understand that change takes time. Advocacy for systemic or transformative change almost always unfolds over a long time frame and can include many setbacks. Advocacy organizations pursue big goals over many years, chipping away at road blocks, building public support, and taking progress and wins where they come. Funders can show they understand that struggle by giving long-term, unrestricted support and being ready to give more at opportune moments.

  • Support organizations that are led by or authentically connected to the communities they are advocating for. Some advocacy groups claim to represent or speak for certain groups or communities, but then advance ideas from their funders or staff members that are not necessarily in line with those of their constituents. Donors will want to look for organizations that are led by or authentically connected to the communities they are advocating for. 

Taking Action

Below are some tips for identifying effective advocacy organizations. You can also see our guides on giving for specific causes. 

  • Give to organizations you already know and trust. Many groups have launched 501(c)(4) arms to expand their tactics and political reach, as mentioned earlier. If there is a 501(c)(3) whose work you admire, inquire about whether they have a 501(c)(4) for advocacy work.

  • Support organizations that work in coalition with others. Effective advocacy requires collaboration. Look for organizations that work well in coalitions and have good relationships with their peers and allies. Messaging, lobbying, organizing and even litigation are often much more effective when supported by multiple groups working on related causes.

  • Tap into intermediaries. If you don’t already have relationships with nonprofits whose work you trust and admire, it can be hard to figure out where to give. Luckily, there are intermediary organizations that do that job for you. Community foundations and pooled/collaborative funds exist for nearly every issue you can think of. They are staffed by experts who have built relationships with nonprofits and have created strategic giving plans to move donations where they are most needed and can be most effective. Organizations like Movement Voter Project and the Center for Popular Democracy use their experience, connections and expertise to move money from donors to vetted, impactful nonprofits. 

  • Give general operating support. When you find an organization you want to support, giving them unrestricted general operating support means they have the flexibility to use the funds where they are most needed at any given time. Plus, giving general operating support signals that you trust the nonprofit to spend the money wisely. It also saves the nonprofit time and administrative work, which means more time and effort can be devoted to the programs at the heart of their mission.

Have suggestions for improving this brief? Please email us at editor@insidephilanthropy.com.