Engaging elected officials to meet your campaign goals through such things as meetings, briefings and testimony.

Here are some key questions to consider when deciding whether or not to use government relations:

• Do you need policy change or the government's bully pulpit?
• What levels of government do you need to engage?
• Do you need to change a law, or can you accomplish your policy goals under current law?
• How much do policymakers already know about your issue, and why should they care?
• What do you specifically want the policymakers to do (for example, change the definition of "wetland" in a regulation, change the law setting income limits for children's health coverage or increase dropout prevention funding)?
• Will you conduct policymaker education, or will you lobby for specific legislation?
• What relationships do you have with targeted policymakers?
• Is there opposition making the case for the other side?
• What other stakeholders (such as advocates, watchdog groups, service providers and constituency groups) have relationships with your targeted policymakers? Must you plan for their involvement as possible distractions or potential allies?
• What timing considerations (such as legislative calendars, budget timelines and elections) must you take into account when planning to engage policymakers?

Best Practices

• Policy change can take time. Plan for incremental gains, and celebrate every win as an opportunity to recruit and retain policymaker champions. Also, don't wait until the end to reward policymakers. Publicly acknowledge their support with each gain, big or small. That way they will continue to be motivated to devote time and staff to your campaign goals.
• Consider how your interests converge with the targeted policymakers' basic political interests. For example, elected officials want to get re-elected, and agency officials want to get the mayor, governor, president or other chief official re-elected.
• Voters are the primary audience of elected officials. Make sure your outreach connects the issue with their district.
• Build and value your relationships with staff. They serve as counselors to and gatekeepers for your targeted policymakers.

Pitfalls

• The enemy of your friend may become your enemy. When choosing a policymaker champion, review his or her political opponents, and carefully think through the consequences of making them your opponents as well.
• Beware the other branch. Legislatures generally consult agency officials before changing the laws those agencies administer, and agencies always consider how legislative overseers will react to regulatory changes.
• Know your limitations. Are there legal restrictions on lobbying that could limit your government relations efforts?
• There's no such thing as a free lunch; every policy change will cost somebody something. Policymakers know this well. Anticipate their questions about fiscal impact and costs to businesses, families or other key stakeholders.

More Resources

Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
www.clpi.org
The CLPI online Training Resource Center offers a wide range of information on nonprofit advocacy and lobbying, particularly legislative advocacy.

Congressional Research Service
http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/crs_reports.htm
CRS provides a large number of reports and guides to help you navigate Congress.

State and Local Government
A wealth of information about state and local governments can be found through the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislators, the U.S. Council of Mayors, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties.