Lobby Day Toolkit

Click on the links below for details about everything you need to do before, during, and after Lobby Day.

NOW: Making appointments
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Preparing for Lobby Day
DURING the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting
FOLLOWING your meetings

Nonprofits Advocate!

What you need to do NOW: Making appointments

Suggested Timeline	Resources
By April 20: Begin research to determine the contact information for your Senators and those Representatives you want to visit	Use a Congressional directory. Note the scheduler’s name and the DC office contact information.
By April 30: Send a letter to each Senator or Representative with whom you want to meet, requesting an appointment for Wednesday, June 4. Send both by regular mail and fax. FAXING is critical due to substantial delays in the delivery of regular mail.	Here’s a sample letter . Visit the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest for additional letter-writing tips .
One week after faxing your letter: Follow up with the scheduler by phone.	Here’s some guidance on phone call follow-up steps .
By May 15: Request Nonprofit Congress “Nonprofits Advocate!” packets for each appointment. (We will provide these packets of key information for you to leave behind for your representative, but you should feel free to add additional nonprofit materials from your state. )	To request packets, send an email to Ann Beltran (abeltran@ncna.org) with the following information: Your name, organization, email and cell phone number The names of each Member of Congress with whom you have an appointment The date, time and location of each appointment
Also By May 15: Make lobby day lunch buffet reservations.	Once you know your appointments schedule, email Ann (abeltran@ncna.org) to RSVP for the lunch buffet, which will be available on lobby day in the after visit reception room.

Tips for scheduling:

If scheduling multiple appointments, be sure to allow travel time between congressional office buildings. Consider if possible, e.g., Senate meetings in the morning and House meetings in the afternoon. Here are some maps to help you gauge distances:
- Capitol Hill buildings - VisitingDC.com
- Capitol Hill in relation to Nonprofit Congress Hotel - Hyatt Website or Mapquest
Remember that your luggage will be checked during Lobby Day at your hotel, so allow sufficient time after your last appointment to return to the hotel.
Recognize that a meeting may change during the last few days leading up to the appointment time.
Be aware that your meeting may be with a staff person for your Member of Congress. This is common and we will talk about this at the Lobby Day launch session on June 4 at 4 pm.

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What you need to do BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Preparing for Lobby Day

Learn more in preparation for Lobby Day:

Read about the Members of Congress with whom you will be visiting. Visit their websites and learn more about the issues they champion and on which committees they serve.
Brief yourself on the key content:
- Building and enhancing awareness of the Nonprofit Sector as “one voice”
  Fast facts about the Nonprofit Sector
  Nonprofit Sector Priorities
- Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative (NCBI)
  Overview of NCBI
  OpEd piece about NCBI
  State Association Endorsements
Read Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying Basics from the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (CLPI)
Read NPAction's Guide to Lobbying
Learn what nonprofits are doing to engage voters by visiting the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network

What to bring for your day on Capitol Hill:

Business cards and your organization's brochures.
Notecards, if you are anxious about remembering key points.
Your cell phone. (Be sure it will work in DC. If there are changes in the visits during the last few days, the scheduler or State Association may need to contact you.)
Business attire for your meetings with Senators and Representatives.
A camera, if you would like a photo with your Congress person.
MOST Importantly, bring a compelling story of how nonprofit work in your community is benefiting the public!

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What you need to do DURING the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting

Monday, June 2:
Choose your breakout sessions on to prepare yourself for being on the Hill. Here are some sessions you should consider:

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Capacity Building for Nonprofits: How do we fund it?
The Primary Project: Lessons from New Hampshire for you to use now
Nonprofits VOTE!

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Advocacy: A Gateway to Organizational Effectiveness
Advocacy 101: Your Template for Results
Top Ten Policy Innovations for the Nonprofit Sector

4:30 – 6:00 pm

Tracking Influence of State Political Contributions on Public Policy
The Role of Art in Social Change: Advancing Advocacy

Tuesday, June 3:

4:00 - 5:30 pm

Attend the Lobby Day Launch Session for final tips.

This is when you will receive your final packet of information for Lobby Day and also the packets you have requested for your visits.

6:00 pm

Attend the celebration at the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest

Wednesday, June 4: LOBBY DAY! (Agenda)

7:30 am

Breakfast Buffet at the Dirksen Senate Office Building with a panel discussing Perspectives on Nonprofits from the Senate Finance Committee, including speakers:

Russ Sullivan, Chief of Staff, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Theresa Pattara, Tax Counsel, Senator Charles Grassley (R–IA)

Brian Magee, Chair, NCNA Public Policy Committee and Executive Director, Montana Nonprofit Association

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Meeting Debrief room open at Hyatt Regency

Debrief your visit and celebrate!

Identify Follow Up Steps

Self-organize shared rides to airports and collect luggage

11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Lunch buffet available in the meeting debrief room. Please RSVP to Ann Beltran.

Maps

Capitol Hill buildings - VisitingDC.com
Capitol Hill in relation to Nonprofit Congress Hotel - Hyatt Website or Mapquest

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What you need to do FOLLOWING your meetings

Send thank-yous to those you visited. (sample)

Complete a follow-up sheet if you coordinated an Individual or Non-SA Group or if you are a State Association.

Follow-up sheet for Individual or Non-SA Groups

Follow-up sheet for State Association Delegations

Tell us what you thought. (evaluation form)

Keep following up with your representatives while they're back in their district offices. Below are two background materials you can use when talking about the nonprofit sector and NCBI.

Partnering With America's Nonprofits

NCBI Briefing

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