Advocacy Workshop presented by the
Ohio Museums Association
September 2013
Ohio Museums Association 2013
ADVOCACY MADE EASY
AHHHHHHHHH! We
can’t talk to members of
CONGRESS! Don’t make
us do it!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Look! It’s
Congressman Jim
Renacci.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
He doesn’t
look that
scary…not
in person.
Dude –
you’ve got
this.
Washington, D.C., here I
come!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
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Examples include and can be as simple as:


Wearing a museum logo item proudly when out in the
community.
Inviting a neighbor or local business owner to attend a museum
event.
Ohio Museums Association 2013

Advocacy is active support of a cause.
Advocacy is the act of educating an individual or
group in a position of power about an issue or cause.
Non-profit staff, board and volunteers advocate as
part of their daily operations, appealing to individuals
or groups on behalf of an organization with which
they are associated in order to affect change or
growth.
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
Advocacy is legal.
 Advocacy is effective.
 Museum professionals are a critical voice for
articulating the role of museums in dynamic and
vibrant 21st-century communities.

Ohio Museums Association 2013
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADVOCACY AND
LOBBYING


Lobbying provides an opportunity to connect with
policymakers to help improve the laws that
affect your institution or cause.
Lobbying relates to advocating on behalf of a
specific piece of legislation.
Ohio Museums Association 2013

Lobbying is defined as advocacy that
specifically attempts to influence
legislators.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOBBYING AND
ADVOCACY

Non-profits are limited to the amount of funds
that can be spent on lobbying.

Organizations like the American Alliance of
Museums and Association for State and Local History
budget for these efforts and members of these
organizations are provided with access to the
resources they develop.
However, we can all ADVOCATE for museums
and causes important to us at will.
Ohio Museums Association 2013

1976 LAW GOVERNING NONPROFIT
LOBBYING


Generally, organizations that elect the 1976
lobby law may spend 20% of the first $500,000 of
their annual expenditures on lobbying($100,000),
(15% of the next $500,000, and so on.
Visit The Center for Lobbying in the Public
Interest (www.clpi.org) for more information.
Ohio Museums Association 2013

The federal government, including Congress and
the Internal Revenue Service, supports lobbying
by 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
NATIONAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY
Organizations like the American Alliance of
Museums (AAM) provide information and tools
you need to be an effective advocate.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Ohio Museums Association 2013
Ohio Museums Association 2013
WHY IS NATIONAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY
IMPORTANT?

The actions of Congress and the federal
government affect how you do business.

(once we look at some of the issues that the AAM has
identified as key, you will understand why)
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Members of Congress value the opinions of the
constituents in the communities they serve.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LEGISLATORS

Visit websites and Facebook pages of your
Congressional representatives


Identify issues that are important to your
Congressman/Congresswoman


Sign up for their mailing lists
Learn about their interests, committees on which
they serve, and their priorities.
Find points of connection.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Remember…their jobs are to serve US as
constituents.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LEGISLATORS

Get to know the legislative staff as well and
establish relationships with them.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Staff of Congressman Bob Gibbs pose
for a photo with Paul Brown at the
Massillon Museum (August 23, 2013)
NAVIGATING THE AAM ADVOCACY SITE

Ohio Museums Association 2013
Site lists the key pieces of legislation that impact
museums, a How-To Tool kit, sample letters, and
more!
NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING MUSEUMS

Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) Office of Museum Services
We support fully authorized funding of $38.6 million
in FY14 for the IMLS Office of Museum Services.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING MUSEUMS

National Endowment for the Humanities
We urge Congress to provide at least $154.5 million
for the NEH in FY14.
Ohio Museums Association 2013

NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING MUSEUMS

Charitable Giving
We oppose proposals which would hurt charities,
including museums, by limiting the tax deduction for
charitable donations, either through a percentage
limit or an overall cap on deductions. We support
allowing artists to deduct the fair market value of
donated works as well as a permanent extension and
expansion of the IRA Charitable Rollover. We are
also concerned by the recently reinstated Pease
Limitation, which reduces itemized deductions for
wealthy tax payers, because it could impact giving.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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NATIONAL ISSUES AFFECTING MUSEUMS

Elementary and Secondary Education
We support efforts to promote school museum
partnerships, recognize the role that holders of
advanced degrees in museum education can play in
enhancing students; learning outcomes, require
greater collaboration between the Dept. of Education
and the IMLS, allow museums and other qualified
nonprofits to directly compete for teacher
professional development funds, and retain a set of
core academic subjects that include the many subject
areas in which museums help teach the curriculum,
including English, reading or language arts,
mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and
government, economics, arts, history, and geography.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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YOUR PITCH / ELEVATOR SPEECH

What key functions of your museum will you
highlight?

What programs define your institution, are
memorable, and generate both qualitative and
quantitative data?


Massillon Museum hosts annual Island Party that
drew 2,700 people last July.
Who are the people you serve / your audiences?
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Note what might resonate with a particular
legislative official.
 Limit to a few (three)

YOUR PITCH / ELEVATOR SPEECH

Complete and reference your Educational Impact
Statement (template available on AAM website)
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Complete and reference your Economic Impact
Statement (template available on AAM website)
ELEVATOR SPEECH DO’S AND DON’TS
Thank the legislator and/or staff for the meeting.
 Speak slowly and pace yourself.
 Speak clearly.
 Address funding issues.

And perhaps mention one of the ways federal funding
has helped your museum AND how it has leveraged
additional funding at state or local levels.
Don’t use acronyms.
 Don’t criticize legislators or parties.
 Designate 1-2 people to speak on your behalf if
with a larger group.
 ALWAYS be positive, complimentary and
professional.
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Ohio Museums Association 2013
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PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Look sharp and professional.
 Arrive early (if traveling to them).
 Prepare all of your staff with information about
the legislator and visit details in advance of the
meeting at your institution, and ensure they are
also professional in appearance.
 Have plenty of business cards on hands.
 Be prepared to take notes.
 Be mindful of the time (assign a timekeeper if
necessary).

Ohio Museums Association 2013
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT

Issue press releases – legislators love this, and
your community will be aware of your efforts.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
INFORM THE MEDIA

Both in advance of and following your visit.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
STATE-LEVEL ADVOCACY

Convey the value of your institution
Highlight VIPs who have attended or support you.
 Share stories of school group visits – statistics paired
with anecdotes are very effective; your legislators will
be more receptive to stories you can share

Don’t be shy – invite legislators to your events!
State Senator Scott Oelslager at
Massillon Museum’s annual Island
Party (2012)
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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STATE-LEVEL ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Ohio Museums Association

Ohio Arts Council


Ohio Humanities


http://www.oac.state.oh.us (Under “About” click on
“Making the Case”)
www.ohiohumanities.org
Ohio Citizens for the Arts

www.ohiocitizensforthearts.org
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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www.ohiomuseums.org
OHIO MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION
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Economic Impact Statement
Ohio Museums Association 2013
OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
Ohio Museums Association 2013
OHIO HUMANITIES
Ohio Museums Association 2013
OHIO CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS
Ohio Museums Association 2013
EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT STATE ISSUES
AND STAY CONNECTED

Set up Google Alerts for your representatives.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Attend Congressional breakfasts hosted by
Chambers of Commerce.
TAKE ACTION
http://www.congressweb.com/aam
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Activity #2
LOCAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY

Cultivate relationships.


Ask the Mayor to write a letter of support for a
grant application.
Host a reception for members of City Council;
introduce them to what it is you do.
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Locally-elected officials could advance to governance
at the state or national levels one day.
LOCAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY
"Big picture" on relevance starts small
 Local government officials are great connectors
 Grassroots economic development


define your organization’s linchpin role
Leverage "Third Place" relevance to constituents
Ohio Museums Association 2013
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LOCAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry (far right) with
daughter and husband at Massillon Museum’s Annual
Island Party (July 2012)
ETIQUETTE
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Ohio Museums Association 2013
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Exchange business cards at beginning of meeting.
Be careful not to mention other legislators unless
you’re experienced with the hierarchy and
relationships.
Use this meeting as an opportunity to personally
invite the legislator to an event.
Don’t flood them with too much information.
Don’t wear clothing of all the same color – stand out
(but don’t be too loud!).
Be memorable, and build a rapport.
Engage with them in conversation – don’t talk AT
them.
Thank them.
Ask questions.
ETIQUETTE
Don’t be shy about asking a legislative staff
member to speak to the staff member who deals
with museum issues – it demonstrates your
respect for their infrastructure.
 Inquire into their preferred method of
communication (email, snail mail, etc.)
 Don’t be overly jovial.
 Don’t make assumptions (for example, don’t
assume their familiarity with your museum, or
museum issues in general).
 It’s ok to take notes.
 It’s ok to have photographs taken with them.

Ohio Museums Association 2013
Cristina Savu, Alex Coon,
Congressman Bob Gibbs, and
Christine Shearer during
Museums Advocacy Day,
February 2013
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Alex Coon, Cristina Savu and
Christine Shearer tour the
Congressional Art Exhibition
(February 2013)
ETIQUETTE
Don’t feel as though you have to address every
issue or receive answers to all your questions in a
single meeting; leaving more out there provides
another opportunity to meet in the future!
 Remember to thank them AND each individual
legislative staff member with whom you met.

Ohio Museums Association 2013
YOUR ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE
Be heard.
 Don’t assume they know about museum issues.
 Build the relationship early in their terms.
 Let them know you’re paying attention.
 Provide solid, local data.
 Follow up:

Ohio Museums Association 2013
With thank you letters.
 Invitations.
 Requests for additional meetings.

E-ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Friend your Legislators on Facebook.
 Follow them on Twitter
 Sign up for e-newsletters
 Connect on Linked-In

Ohio Museums Association 2013
MUSEUMS ADVOCACY DAY 2014
Join in the collective voice for
museums!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
Museums Advocacy Day 2014
February 24–25!
SPEAK UP FOR OHIO MUSEUMS!
Take part and ACT!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
2nd-Annual Speak Up for
Ohio Museums Day
is
Monday, October 7, 2013
THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
MAKE ADVOCACY A HABIT!
NEXT STEPS

Invite legislator to attend an event.
 Participate in Speak up For Ohio Museums Day.
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Engage your board members in advocacy efforts,
too!
Report your successes with Ohio Museums
Association, American Alliance of Museums and
others!
Ohio Museums Association 2013
What two advocacy efforts will you engage in
when you return home?