When Good Intentions Make Bad Advocacy

A Cautionary Tale from the Inbox

Every so often (ok, more often than I'd like to admit), an email lands in my inbox that makes me stop, sigh deeply, and consider whether I need to start offering “Advocacy 101: Please Don’t Do This” office hours.

Recently, a national nonprofit working to end homelessness sent out a mass-action alert urging supporters to contact a list of US Senators. On its face, that sounds great - more organizations leaning into advocacy is something I yearn for.

But here’s the problem: the alert asked everyone, everywhere, to call every senator on their list.

Like me. And no Iowan Senators are listed. 

No targeting. No context. No instructions about being a constituent. No explanation of why these specific lawmakers matter. 

And the talking points? Not a single mention of constituent power – the #1 thing that actually gets a lawmakers’ attention.

Let me be clear: heartfelt urgency does not equal effective strategy.

And this email is a perfect example of how good intentions, misdirected, can actually undermine the cause.

The Problem With Random Acts of Advocacy

Advocacy isn’t about shouting into the void. It’s about influence - and influence relies on precision and thought. When organizations send their supporters to contact lawmakers who don’t represent them, three things happen:

1. Lawmakers ignore the message.

If you’re not their constituent, you’re not their problem. Congressional offices routinely discard or deprioritize non-constituent messages. It’s not personal; it’s reality.

And honestly? When offices get flooded with calls from people who can’t even vote for their boss, it doesn’t just fall flat—it actively irritates staffers. Nobody likes spending their day explaining, “I’m sorry, but you don’t live in our state.” 

I know this first-hand. Believe me. I've been an irritated staffer.

2. The organization looks unsophisticated.

When you ask people to take steps that any seasoned advocate knows are ineffective, it signals to lawmakers - and to professionals in the field - that you don’t understand how Congress works. That damages your credibility long-term.

3. It wastes supporter energy.

People want to help. If they spend that energy on something that has almost zero strategic value, you’re training them that advocacy is performative rather than powerful.

And I know this particular organization has spent six years trying to figure out how to “get into advocacy.” My message with love: this isn’t the way.

Why Targeting Matters

Here’s one thing all advocacy experts know: The most powerful words in any email, call script, or meeting are “I’m your constituent.”

Those 4 words move votes, shape negotiations, get briefings scheduled, and fundamentally shift how congressional offices prioritize issues.

If you don’t train your supporters to use them, you’re missing the entire backbone of effective advocacy.

It’s like teaching people to drive but skipping the part where you tell them to look through the windshield.

How This Undercuts the Mission

This is where I’m going to give a little tough-love.

Homelessness policy is high-stakes. HUD rules, funding decisions, and CoC renewals affect people’s lives. So when a national organization sends out an action alert that ignores the basics of advocacy strategy, it doesn’t just miss the mark - it contributes to a narrative that advocacy is chaotic, unserious, and unstrategic.

And lawmakers notice. Their staff notice. Other leaders notice. Hell, I notice.

If you want to be taken seriously by people with power, you need to demonstrate that you understand how power works.

So, What Should Organizations Do Instead?

1. Target your alerts. Only constituents should contact their own lawmakers. Full stop.
   

2. Explain why those lawmakers matter. Committee leadership? Swing votes? Champions you need to hold firm? Tell people.
   

3. Provide talking points grounded in local relevance. Not just “here’s the issue,” but “why your voice matters.”
   

4. Phone-a-friend. If your team doesn’t have advocacy expertise, that’s OK! Most nonprofits don’t. 

   But don’t fake it. Ask coalition partners. Ask an advocacy strategist (hello?!?). Ask someone who can help you avoid rookie mistakes that weaken your influence.
   

5. Build internal muscle before going public. Do the behind-the-scenes work - relationships, targeting, strategy - before firing off national calls to action. Short cuts won’t help you in the long run. 

   We want you to build power, not distractions. 

The Bigger Lesson for the Sector

I say this because I want nonprofits to succeed. I want more organizations involved in public policy. I want people in Congress hearing from you consistently. Even better, I want staffers calling you!

But advocacy isn’t magic. It’s a craft.

And when we do it sloppily, we risk burning trust, confusing supporters, and reinforcing the very power imbalances we are trying to disrupt.

The good news? This is all fixable. And there is help for you!

If You Want to Advocate Effectively, Start Here

Learn the fundamentals. Understand how influence actually works.

And please - for the love of your mission - don’t send your supporters into Congress without a map, a compass, or even the right building.

Because your mission deserves better. Your community deserves better.

And honestly? Hill staffers already spend half their week managing chaos, they don’t need an extra shift explaining basic civics to well-meaning strangers. You should do that.

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How Snyder Strategies Can Help

If your organization wants to step into advocacy without misfires or messy action alerts, I can help you do it strategically and confidently.

What I bring to the table:

• Clear, targeted advocacy strategy that actually move lawmakers.

• Action alerts that reach the right offices with the right messages.

• Staff, board, and supporter training so your whole team understands how advocacy works.

• Messaging and talking points that make supporters effective - and make staffers grateful.

• Coalition alignment so you’re rowing in the same direction as your partners.

Advocacy works best when it’s thoughtful, targeted, and grounded in real strategy. If you’re ready to level up, I’m here.

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