From Policy Staff to People Power: Overcoming the Engagement Gap

Not long ago, I wrote about how too many organizations stop at policy and never move into advocacy (From White Papers to People Power). It’s an incredibly common challenge, and one I see all the time when I’m helping groups build an advocacy roadmap.

Here’s the heart of the issue: many organizations assume that if they have policy staff, they’ve got advocacy covered. But the truth?

Policy expertise and advocacy expertise are not the same thing. Every once in a while, you meet a unicorn who can do both seamlessly—but most of the time, policy staff excel at policy and need partners to carry advocacy and engagement strategies forward.

So how do you bridge the gap? Here are a few of the most common challenges I see—and ways to overcome them.

1. Getting Stuck in the Policy Weeds

Policy staff are trained to focus on details, nuances, and technicalities. That’s critical when talking with lawmakers and legislative staff. But it can be a huge barrier when trying to engage everyday advocates.

The solution? Translate policy into plain language. If your grandma can’t read your action alert and understand what you’re asking, you’ve got work to do. Your advocates don’t need every subsection of a bill—they need a clear, compelling reason to act.

2. Jargon Is Not Inspiration

Policy experts love their acronyms and insider shorthand. But acronyms don’t mobilize people—stories and values do. When communications are written like legal memos, they fall flat.

Instead, frame policies in human terms. What problem does this solve? Who benefits? What’s at stake for real people? That’s what motivates advocates to pick up the phone or show up at a rally.

A good test? If your grandma can read your advocacy communications and know exactly what you’re asking her to do, you’re on the right track.

3. Advocacy in a Silo

I’ve seen too many organizations treat advocacy like it belongs in its own box—separate from programs, finance, fundraising, or communications.

But if your CFO or program director can’t describe your legislative priorities, why would you expect your members or supporters to?

Start by cleaning your own house. In my work, I talk about circles of engagement—the first circle is always your staff and board. If your internal team isn’t aligned and excited about your policy priorities, you’re not ready to engage the outside world.

4. One Audience ≠ All Audiences

Policy staff are laser-focused on lawmakers. That’s their job. But the way you communicate with policymakers should be totally different from how you communicate with your advocates.

Your supporters need motivation, relevance, and clarity—they need to understand why they matter in moving an issue forward. Lawmakers, on the other hand, want evidence, data, and concrete asks. Same campaign, different languages.

5. Framing for Action

How you frame your message matters.

For lawmakers, frame it in terms of policy impact, feasibility, data, and political will- paired with a great story and real-world impact.

For advocates, frame it in terms of urgency, values, and community impact. Donors and volunteers want to know how they’re making a difference, not how a statute is worded.

Bridging the Gap

Ultimately, bridging the gap between policy and advocacy means building the right systems, messages, and structures. It often requires someone with advocacy expertise to partner with policy staff—to translate, mobilize, and make sure the organization’s voice resonates both inside the Capitol and in the community.

That’s exactly what I do at Snyder Strategies. I help organizations turn their policy expertise into people power—so they’re not just drafting white papers, but building real influence and impact.

If your organization has strong policy staff but struggles to connect the dots to advocacy, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck. Let’s talk about how to bridge that gap.

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