Advocacy Tools & Resources

If there are any resources you would like us to include on this page, please send them to Liza Andrews or Melissa Harris. 

 

Better Choices for CT

The new "Better Choices for Connecticut" coalition, which was formed by nonprofit providers, public service workers, and community and advocacy organizations, released a policy paper explaining a detailed plan to balance the state's budget through increased revenues. The "Better Choices" budget plan seeks to reform the state tax system and raise the revenue to protect crucial public structures – like schools, health care programs, roads, environmental protection agencies, and public safety organizations – from severe cuts that would undermine the state's economic recovery and quality of life.
CT Nonprofits encourages all nonprofits to a look at the Better Choices for CT revenue plan and consider signing on. It is quite clear that if legislators and the Governor are not convinced to raise taxes, we will see some incredibly devastating cuts coming our way in a few months.

 

State of CT Resources

State of Connecticut Homepage The state's website where you can track specific legislation, find your representatives email address and see a calendar of what's happening at the Capitol. There is much to be found at this site, including:

Connecticut General Assembly

Tune into Connecticut Network for archived events on streaming video. (Connecticut Network is managed and operated for the Connecticut General Assembly by Connecticut Public Affairs Network, Inc., a not-for-profit company founded to educate citizens about state government.)

State of Connecticut Districts: Find Your Representative, Senator and Congressperson

CT Health Policy Project: non-profit, non-partisan research and educational organization dedicated to improving access to affordable, quality health care for all Connecticut residents.

State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Training and Education Division

How Late Payments Harm Nonprofit Providers

Recently, CT Nonprofits surveyed approximately 500 members to assess how nonprofits were faring in the midst of the financial crisis. The survey focused on government funding and timely contract payments, including how those contract payments relate to a provider’s cash flow and use of credit lines. The following data is derived from the responses of 119 nonprofit organizations. Here’s what we found:

  • 88% of respondents receive government funding
  • 42% of state-funded providers report receiving late contract payments from the state
  • 84% received payments issued by DSS at 60 days late; 70% received payments issued by DCF at least 30 days late
  • 66% of respondents have a line a credit which they access in case of emergencies, such as late payments by the state
  • 39% of respondents report a decrease in cash flow over the past year, with 43% of those respondents beginning to decrease staff size and 37% reducing employee benefits

Survey results clearly demonstrate that a problem exists for Connecticut’s nonprofit providers. Late contract payments from state agencies create cash flow problems, which in turn require providers to access funds from lines of credits and budget reserves. Both options ultimately result in increased costs to the provider. All of this compounded by inadequate funding is seriously jeopardizing the services that nonprofits provide to their local communities.

Read the full report.

 

Federal Resources

Nonprofit Congress: The Nonprofit Congress, an initiative of the National Council of Nonprofits and the state association network, empowers individuals and nonprofits to act collectively for positive change. Building on the fundamental belief that nonprofits are vital to society, the Nonprofit Congress is guided by shared values and priorities established by nonprofits in communities across the country.

Special Reports on Economic Stimulus & Recovery: The National Council of Nonprofits is proud to openly share this evolving series of Special Reports about our nation’s economic recovery, including analysis of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as the economic stimulus bill) that President Obama signed into law on February 17, 2009. The special reports includes one on Tips on Grants and Thoughts on Applying for Funds

FY 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill – Courtesy of the Independent Sector

ARC's advocacy resources.

Nonprofit Vote

Independent Sector's Public Affairs Program advocates on behalf of the nonprofit community and works with IS members to educate public leaders about nonprofits improve lives and strengthen society.

The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI) is a national, nonprofit organization that helps charitable organizations increase their effectiveness and impact through advocacy.

 

How To’s

How to Lobby: This PDF includes "how to's" on calling, visiting and writing your legislator.  It also includes some basic information about the legislature.  It comes from one of Connecticut's foremost nonprofit lobbyists- Betty Gallo.

10 Reasons to Lobby: Looking for a reason to lobby? In the unlikely event that you might be searching for a "why", we offer you this PDF from the Independent Sector.

 

CT Nonprofits’ Advocacy and Lobbying Toolkit

CT Nonprofits has worked with First Experience in The Face of Nonprofits Campaign to honor Connecticut's nonprofit community and to provide tools and resources to help nonprofits make a difference in the thousands of Connecticut residents' lives they serve every year.

The links below open documents that will assist your organization in strategic and tactical advocacy and lobbying plans, best practices, recommendations, step-by-step processes and procedures, and samples. Feel free to send us feedback to provide us with suggestions, ideas, and stories we can add to this toolkit. Contact: Ron Cretaro at 860-525-5080, or e-mail him.

Advocacy/Lobbying Tools and Resources

The Face of Nonprofits in Connecticut

 

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