Historical figures like Ida B Wells-Barnett, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi have lasting legacies because of the changes they continually inspire. These individuals epitomize advocacy and the best it can bring. Any individual can engage in advocacy. The main criterion is to care enough about an issue to seek a solution.
What Is Advocacy?
Advocacy involves arguing for a belief or principle, recommending an action, supporting or defending a cause, or representing another party’s best interest. Advocacy can help philanthropic and nonprofit organizations shape public debate or discourse about a societal topic or amplify the voices of marginalized communities. The primary goal is to make a long-term change for the better.
Types of Advocacy Work
Advocacy includes various activities, such as increasing awareness of a problem. Some advocacy groups educate communities through actionable tips, literature distribution, and mass media to inform target audiences about a cause. Other educational efforts include nonpartisan voter education or training to teach actionable skills.
Another type of advocacy is mobilization, which urges others to organize around an activity or cause. For example, some groups engage in nonpartisan voter mobilization, encouraging citizens to register to vote and cast their ballot in upcoming elections. Other groups mobilize to help less powerful groups build their power to have more of a say on relevant issues.
Some advocacy organizations use litigation to advance others’ rights or seek justice for those who have suffered bias, discrimination, and mistreatment. Other entities focus on research to reveal the true nature of a societal problem. They can use their research findings to communicate the impacts of a problem to legislators, policymakers, and others who have the power to make a change.
How to Increase Involvement in Advocacy
Advocacy can help charities and other groups move beyond meeting basic needs to addressing more significant issues that affect target communities. One crucial step is for groups to inform themselves about the current problems that impact their communities.
With additional insight, organizations can examine their mission, resources, and personnel to thoroughly understand how they can help. They can find other entities who share their vision to collaborate with them, pool resources, and build strong connections to reach wider audiences and make a greater impact.