The Not So Scary World of Outdoor School Lobbying and Advocacy
By Kim Silva, Executive Director of Friends of Outdoor School
When people hear the words “lobbying” or “advocacy”, they tend to feel nervous. That’s ok, we feel nervous about it sometimes, too. Yet, let us assure you that the nerves really aren’t necessary. Did you know that you advocate all the time? Did you know that lobbying is usually as simple as a letter or an email?
Friends of Outdoor School is here to guide you through the advocacy process so that each story of each Oregon Outdoor School program and site is shared with policy-makers, locally and statewide. These elected officials make decisions about funding and policy that directly relates to your program, site, staff, teachers, and students, so let’s be sure they hear your perspectives, your stories, and your voices!
What is lobbying?
Lobbying is an attempt to influence legislation or other policy action either by a direct ask to a policy-maker or asking the public to make a direct ask of a policy-maker. For example, Friends of Outdoor School lobbies when we ask individual legislators to approve a bill allocating funding to Outdoor School.
Every person has the legal right to lobby as a private citizen when not working. Some private and nonprofit employers allow lobbying on work time. Government employees may not lobby on work time.
Nonprofits may lobby, but the amount of money spent on lobbying is limited by the IRS. The IRS uses a “substantial part test” to determine how much a nonprofit may lobby. Based on court cases, most nonprofits try to use no more than 16-20% of their budget on lobbying to comply with the IRS rules. If you need help calculating your lobbying allowance or developing lobbying policies, Nonprofit Association of Oregon is a wonderful resource for Oregon nonprofits.
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is even easier than lobbying. You advocate all the time during your daily work! Advocacy tells a story about a specific issue, provides education and clarification, or argues in favor of a cause or idea. Unlike lobbying, there is no limit to the amount of advocacy a person or organization can do. For example, an Outdoor School program advocates when the staff hosts an Oregon legislator on a tour of their site, shares stories of the students and staff, and explains how state funding is helping the program and the students.
How can I get involved in advocacy and lobbying for Outdoor School?
Many Oregon Outdoor School programs and sites have already hosted private tours for policy-makers during their Outdoor School sessions. I bet everyone has at least hosted a school superintendent. See? You’ve advocated! Easy!
You can advocate for Outdoor School, Oregon kids, and your program and site by letting us know that you have interest in participating. All you have to do is show off your wonderful work. Friends of Outdoor School and our government relations team will make any asks of a decision-maker, when an ask is needed. Easy ways to advocate for Outdoor School and your program or site:
Host a tour of your program or site for a decision-maker such as a superintendent, county commissioner, or legislator. Don’t worry, you don’t have to ask for anything.
Testify at a legislative hearing, attend a school board meeting, or otherwise talk about how your program is benefiting the students you host.
Call, email, or write a letter to the editor, your local legislator, or other decision-maker about the benefits of your program to students.
Share artwork or photos of students in your program with decision-makers.
Share the story of how state funding is helping the students you host.
Write a thank you letter to or create thank you art for policy-makers friendly to Outdoor School.
When you are feeling ready for the next step, you can lobby! For Outdoor School, we don’t have to lobby very often. Our lobbying is currently focused on full funding for Measure 99. Measure 99 funding is up for review every two years (odd years). If you wish to lobby, connect with us so we can point you in the right direction. We encourage Outdoor School programs and sites to help Friends of Outdoor School with lobbying by:
Calling, emailing, or writing a letter to your legislator asking them to fund Outdoor School in full. Please copy us so that we may add your communication to our lobbying package that we share with the legislature.
Attending a town hall meeting in your community or attending a legislative meeting in Salem or via Zoom asking the legislature to fund Outdoor School in full.
Ask your community of supporters to communicate with legislators about asking for full state funding for Outdoor School.
As you advocate and lobby for Outdoor School, please share that information with Friends of Outdoor School. We collect this information to create a package of Outdoor School supporter stories across the state to share with decision-makers in the legislature and in agencies. Watch for action notices for you to be included in the Oregon Outdoor School advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your voice matters!