Steps to developing an advocacy plan

STEPS TO DEVELOPING AN ADVOCACY PLAN

Why develop an advocacy plan?

• Planning will help you find out ahead of time where the major difficulties may lie, and to avoid surprises (including those surprises that might make you look ineffective or unaware).

• In addition, as with any project, planning will help you to:• Clarify your goals• Clarify the steps that will take you to your goals• Increase your chances of success

Adapted from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/advocacy-principles/advocacy-plan/main

http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/advocacy-principles/advocacy-plan/main



Step 1: Know the Facts

•Research your issue so that you know it inside and out!

Step 2: Set Your Goals

• Remember that it's better to keep your focus on a relatively narrow, manageable issue, rather than letting yourself try to cover too much ground.

• Each goal should be SMART: SpecificMeasurableAchievableRelevantTimed




Step 3: Determine your supporters & audience.•What groups or individuals are currently most supportive of your goals?

•What key decision-makers would you like to have on your side?

•What other groups would you like to reach with your message?

From http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/advleg/advocacyinstitute/Advocacy%20Action%20Plan%20-%20revised%2001-09.pdf

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/advleg/advocacyinstitute/Advocacy%20Action%20Plan%20-%20revised%2001-09.pdf



Step 4: Create a coordinating committee.

• The purpose of the Coordinating Committee is to ensure that your advocacy efforts become a reality.

• The Coordinating Committee can keep track of the many facets of your project, assign deadlines to specific tasks, or delegate specific tasks to others.





Step 5: Determine your key message.

• What is the most important thing you want others to know?

• Think first about your audience. What do you want them to think? Feel? Do? Feelings are what motivate people to act. That feeling may be compassion, concern, anger or joy. One of your goals in delivering your message should be to spark a feeling, whether it’s pride, frustration or outrage.





Step 6: Determine How to Get the Message Out

•How will you spread the message?• Through print materials?• Through digital materials?• Through face-to-face presentations?





Step 7: Create a Timeline

• List the activities, the volunteers involved, the start dates, and the end dates.





Step 8: Follow through

•Time to implement your plan!

Steps to developing an advocacy plan

Education

Transcript of Steps to developing an advocacy plan