Many nonprofits know advocacy is important, but misconceptions about what's allowed, what works, and what "counts" can hold campaigns back. From confusion about regulations to uncertainty around messaging and strategy, these misunderstandings can cause even the most influential organizations to shy away from meaningful actions like phone banking.
To determine whether advocacy is right for your nonprofit, we’ll explore widespread myths that might be deterring you from advocacy or hindering your efforts. With a better understanding, your team can confidently and effectively build stronger, better communities.
1. Nonprofits Can’t Participate in Advocacy or Lobbying.
Many nonprofit professionals believe they aren’t legally allowed to engage in advocacy. This misunderstanding stems from a fear of violating IRS rules and losing tax-exempt status, and it keeps many nonprofits on the sidelines. Avoiding advocacy altogether out of fear of legal repercussions can result in missed opportunities to fulfill your organization’s mission.
In reality, both advocacy and lobbying are permitted for 501(c)(3) organizations. While advocacy is allowed, lobbying is subject to more limitations by the IRS.
Here’s the distinction between the two:
- Advocacy refers to any action your organization takes to raise awareness on behalf of those you serve, aiming to influence systematic changes.
- Lobbying falls under the broader umbrella of advocacy, referring specifically to influencing government entities to make certain legislative decisions. Within this category are direct lobbying (i.e., contacting legislators directly) and grassroots lobbying (i.e., indirectly encouraging people to reach out to legislators).
Here are a few examples of advocacy-related activities your nonprofit can and can’t do without jeopardizing its charity status:
What your nonprofit can do:
- Educate the public about issues related to your mission.
- Contact legislators to influence mission-related policy decisions.
- Encourage supporters to sign petitions, contact representatives, attend rallies, and participate in similar grassroots activities.
- Host candidate forums or debates where all candidates are treated equally.
- Conduct research to inform conversations about policies relevant to your mission.
- Encourage voting through get-out-the-vote campaigns and voter registration drives.
What your nonprofit can’t do:
- Intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to a specific candidate.
- Contribute or solicit campaign funds for or against a specific candidate.
- Endorse a political candidate.
- Spend too much time or too many resources lobbying.
In summary, your nonprofit can participate in advocacy and lobbying efforts if done in nonpartisan, educational ways.
If your nonprofit has major advocacy-related goals, consider forming an affiliate 501(c)(4) organization. Unlike 501(c)(3)s, these organizations can participate in unlimited lobbying and even engage in some political campaign activities aligned with their missions.
2. Success Is Measured Only by Policy Change.
Legislative wins are powerful, but they’re not the only measure of progress. While influencing policy is a key goal, advocacy can also be successful through increased public awareness, expanded coalitions, or shifts in media narratives.
Take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, for example. In 2014, this viral campaign inspired 17 million people worldwide to dump buckets of ice water on their heads, post videos online, and challenge others to do the same—all to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The campaign generated $115 million for The ALS Association and dramatically boosted public understanding of the disease. It also funded critical research breakthroughs and expanded access to care. This campaign shows that cultural visibility and grassroots action can be just as influential as traditional lobbying.
You don’t need a monumental campaign to be successful, either. Incremental changes—like getting a new ally to support your cause or hosting a successful event—contribute to long-term outcomes. These wins build momentum and lay the groundwork for bigger changes.
Developing a system to measure advocacy progress helps clarify what works. When creating your performance evaluation strategy, consider analytics such as the following:
- Number of actions taken, like petition signatures, calls to legislators, or donations to your organization’s cause
- Supporter engagement rates, like email opens, traffic to your advocacy website, or click-throughs on action alerts
- Volunteer participation rates, like turnout for canvassing or training session attendance
- Growth in advocacy network, like the number of new volunteers, email list signups, or social media followers
- Media impact, like mentions in the press, op-eds published, or social shares
- Public awareness shifts, like survey data on public opinion before and after campaigns
- Coalition growth, like the number of new partner organizations
- Legislative progress, like bill sponsorships gained or hearings held
You can split your nonprofit’s data into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. While quantitative data can be assigned a numerical value (e.g., number of petition signatures), qualitative data is more descriptive (e.g., anecdotal feedback from canvassers about recurring concerns raised during conversations). You’ll want to include both types in your advocacy evaluation plan.
Clear metrics also offer tangible proof when reporting back to stakeholders, volunteers, your staff, and the general public. More importantly, they keep your organization focused on building lasting impact through public awareness and community empowerment, especially when legislative wins are still in progress or slower to materialize.
3. Technology Is Optional for Advocacy Campaigns.
Some nonprofits believe they can run impactful advocacy campaigns with minimal technology. This misconception often stems from budget concerns or a belief that passionate supporters and staff alone can drive outcomes. However, without the right tools, even the most energized teams struggle to sustain momentum and measure their progress.
Advocacy needs more than passion—it needs coordination, tracking, and smart outreach tools. Today’s advocacy landscape demands speed, responsiveness, and data-driven decision-making. With the right tools at your side, you can coordinate advocates, market your nonprofit’s campaigns, and scale your impact more effectively. Plus, you won’t waste valuable time completing everything manually.
For example, you can use a supporter activation platform to plan and execute in-person outreach efforts, like door-to-door and on-the-ground volunteer campaigns. These apps allow staff and volunteers to track conversations and update supporter data while in the field. Helpful canvassing app features include:
- Integrated scripts and talking points for message consistency
- Geo-mapping and route planning that shows volunteers exactly where to go
- Volunteer coordination to help manage schedules, assign canvassing locations, and stay in contact to avoid duplicated efforts
- Real-time data sync that allows volunteers to log conversations, so organizers can spot trends and tweak campaign messaging
- Integration with your CRM to get a holistic view of each individual’s support history and trigger actions automatically (e.g., let your team know to send a postcard if someone’s marked as not home on the app)
The right technology is foundational for running efficient campaigns. By adopting specialized advocacy tools, even small teams can increase their capacity, stay organized, and drive more meaningful engagement.
Start Embracing Advocacy With Confidence.
Nonprofit advocacy doesn’t have to be intimidating, tech-free, or outcome-limited. By challenging these myths, your organization can confidently engage in advocacy, whether you want to rally support for legislation or shift public conversations. Start by understanding the rules, planning for the long term, and embracing tools that amplify your voice.
