Don’t Send Unprepared Advocates Into the Fray

Aug 13, 2025
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

I’ve never worked with a nonprofit and said, “You do enough advocacy training.” Not once.

Every time, there’s room to grow, and in today’s environment, that gap is more than a missed opportunity. It’s a risk.

With attacks on nonprofits ramping up - from funding cuts to policy rollbacks to threats against your very right to advocate - you can’t afford to sit on the sidelines.

And you definitely can’t afford to send unprepared advocates into the fray.

Why Advocacy Training Is Non-Negotiable

1. The stakes are higher than ever. Nonprofits are on the front lines of some of the most pressing issues in our communities - and those issues are under fire. Whether it’s voting rights, environmental protections, LGBTQ+ equality, or community funding, policy decisions are moving fast. You can’t wait until a bill is on the floor to mobilize.

2. Passion isn’t enough. Your donors, volunteers, and supporters may be committed — but without training, they may not know how to channel that passion into effective action. Advocacy training builds the confidence and skills to deliver the right message, to the right person, at the right time.

When I was a U.S. Senate staffer, I saw this firsthand. Every day, advocates would come in to meet with our office - many with powerful stories and important causes - but they weren’t always effective. They’d miss key talking points, focus on the wrong decision-maker, or fail to connect their issue to our priorities. With the right preparation and training, those same advocates could have walked out with a stronger commitment from us.

3. Trained advocates amplify your power. One confident advocate can spark ten more. When people know exactly how to engage, they show up more often, speak more persuasively, and become long-term partners in your mission.

The Bottom Line

If you believe your mission matters, you need people who can defend it. And that takes training. The more skilled your advocates, the harder you are to ignore - in city hall, in the statehouse, and in Congress.

Now is the time to invest in your people. To give them the tools to win. To make sure your nonprofit’s voice isn’t just heard, but heard loud and clear.

Learn more about my advocacy training options here.