Government Affairs and Advocacy
New Toolkit Provides Strategies to Help Nonprofits Mobilize Voters
Social CurrentVoter engagement efforts build stronger community-based organizations. When residents vote, organizations have greater access to elected officials, increased clout on issues, and are better positioned to advance their mission.
In addition, engaging communities on issues that directly impact them helps make programs and services more effective and candidates are more likely to hear and respond to concerns.
Each organization, with its own unique mission, can integrate voter engagement in similar ways. Social Current has collaborated with Nonprofit VOTE to offer a new toolkit to assist in voter engagement: Strategies for Mobilizing Voters: A Toolkit for Community-Based Organizations.
The toolkit includes:
- Information on staying nonpartisan
- Strategies for engaging staff and community members
- Voter registration and pledge card scripts
- Success stories from community-based organizations
Network Spotlight: Wellpoint Care Network
Wellpoint Care Network in Milwaukee demonstrates how voter engagement has the power to ensure the organization’s mission remains relevant during and after elections.
Starting in early in 2020, Wellpoint Care Network committed to targeted voter outreach. Staff team leads spearheaded voter registration events as well as informational tables for voter education. They also disseminated materials like toolkits with voting information.
Ann Leinfelder Grove, president and CEO of Wellpoint Care, said: “We worked to promote the understanding that in a democracy, your vote is precious.”
The organization also used these public-facing opportunities to focus on foster parent recruitment and building a network of community partner organizations to address the social determinants of health. They found unique and effective ways to integrate voter engagement efforts with their mission.
Additional Resources
Join Social Current on Dec. 4 for a free webinar, Strengthening Community Impact Through Advocacy, to gain a comprehensive understanding of building policy literacy, crafting compelling narratives, engaging in coalition building, and developing disciplined messaging strategies.
Nonprofit VOTE also offers a resource library and several on-demand webinars:
- Rally the Sector: Nonprofits and Election 2024
- Staying Nonpartisan for 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations (English Version)
- Staying Nonpartisan for 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations (Spanish Version)
- Getting a Head Start: Planning Your Voter Outreach for 2024
- Talking with Voters
Contact Abigail Levine, field mobilization and policy manager, for more information.
About Social Current
Social Current is the premier partner and solutions provider to a diverse network of more than 1,800 human and social service organizations. Together with our network, we are activating the power of the social sector to effect broader systemic change that is needed to achieve our vision of an equitable society where all people can thrive. We support, strengthen, and amplify the work of the social sector in six core integrated areas including brain science and trauma-informed approaches; COA Accreditation; child, family, and community well-being; equity, diversity, and inclusion; government affairs and advocacy; and leadership and organizational development.
