Volunteer Center Advocacy

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is an umbrella term, and involves identifying, embracing and promoting a cause. Only some methods of advocacy are considered lobbying.

What is Lobbying?

Lobbying is a specific form of advocacy, intended to influence specific legislation or legislative proposals.

Volunteer Centers have the ability to create social change through lobbying and advocacy. However, there is often confusion about the rules and regulations regarding lobbying that prompt people to shy away from public policy activities. The following resources provide information regarding the rules, regulations, as well as how and why your group should advocate for volunteerism, volunteer centers and the Volunteer Investment Grant.

• Nonprofit Advocacy - A Michigan Primer
• Frequently Asked Questions About Nonprofit Lobbying

Legislative Meeting Toolkit

By following the action steps below, set up meetings with the Representative(s) and Senator(s) from your area.

• Action Step #1- Locate your Representative(s) and Senator(s) and their contact information. Use the following links to locate your legislators:
  • Michigan House of Representatives
  • Michigan Senate (click on "Find Your Senator" on the left-hand side).
• Action Step #2- Personalize the Legislative Meeting Request letter.
• Action Step #3- One month prior to the date you'll be in Lansing, fax the personalized letter to the appropriate offices.
• Action Step #4- The following week, call the offices (talking points available here) and request a meeting for the date you'll be in Lansing.

Questions? Contact Tiffany Aurora at taurora@mnaonline.org or 517-492-2400.

Budget Updates

June 14- Your Urgent Action Is Needed to Support Full Funding of National Service! Contact Your U.S. Senators Today!

June 7- House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Approves National Service Funding

10 Facts Volunteer Centers Need to Know About Michigan's Fiscal Crisis

Conferences/ Trainings:

• Following the Dollars: A Guided Tour through the State's Budget Process (June 26)
• Organizing: Building and Sustaining Stakeholder Engagement (July 24)
• Nonprofit Day (Sept 26)

Sign Up Here - and receive updates as they develop on activities at the local, state and national levels that can impact volunteers and the communities they serve.