The Nonprofit Sector and Advocacy: Challenges Ahead

A recent report from Independent Sector, Beyond the Cause: The Art and Science of Advocacy discussed practices that promote success in advocacy by nonprofits and their coalitions and was well received, but the second part of the report engendered controversy. It addressed 6 policy issues affecting nonprofit operations, including the charitable deduction, and recommended that significant resources be dedicated to a convening of groups to advocate in behalf of the sector on these issues.

The report drew praise from many in the nonprofit sector, and criticism from others, including the Alliance for Justice and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Required Reading

Beyond the Cause: The Art and Science of Advocacy, Independent Sector, Revised edition: November 8, 2012.

Nan Aron, AFJ Weighs In: Independent Sector's New Report, Alliance for Justice, October 26, 2012.

Aaron Dorfman, Study about Nonprofit Advocacy Spoiled by Outrageous, Self-Serving Recommendations, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, October 19, 2012.

Pablo Eisenberg, Charities Shouldn't Strive to Speak in Only One Voice, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 9, 2012.