75. How Nonprofit Advocacy Changes the Systems that Enable Crisis

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recent events involving police violence, riots, and COVID-19 have forced nonprofit leaders to reevaluate their mission, programs, and operational structures, so this is the perfect time to refamiliarize yourself with the concept of advocacy. “Advocacy” is one of those words which has a bunch of different meanings, especially depending on the person you ask. This week on the Nonprofit Jenni Show, Jenni invites nonprofit advocacy expert Meredith Benton from the Healing Trust to explain the legal definition of advocacy and which nonprofits should engage in advocacy efforts. We also hear from Nicole Lynch, a nonprofit professional who coordinates the advocacy efforts of the Saint Louis-based nonprofit Voyce.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As you listen to this week’s episode, you’ll hear Meredith Benton recommend several amazing advocacy resources for nonprofits. Here they are:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">--FSG webinar “Six Conditions of Systems Change”: <a href= "https://www.fsg.org/publications/water_of_systems_change">https://www.fsg.org/publications/water_of_systems_change</a><br /> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">--SSIR article “Stop Raising Awareness Already”:</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href= "https://ssir.org/articles/entry/stop_raising_awareness_already">https://ssir.org/articles/entry/stop_raising_awareness_already</a><br /> </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">--Justice Alliance’s Bolder Advocacy tools: <a href= "https://www.afj.org/our-work/bolder-advocacy/">https://www.afj.org/our-work/bolder-advocacy/</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our guests this week include:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">--Meredith Benton from the Healing Trust<br /></span><span style= "font-weight: 400;">--Nicole Lynch from Voyce (email: nlynch@voycestl.org)</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nonprofit Jenni provides consulting services and coaching calls for nonprofits and social impact organizations