Public Policy Checklist for Coalition Directors
by Gail Burns Smith
Gail was the former Executive Director of the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services Inc. and the co-founder of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
This checklist was written by the author for the RSP Executive Director Manual
1. I understand our state’s definition of lobbying/ public policy advocacy both for administrative and legislative policy work.
2. I know the statutory, regulatory or state grant requirements regarding lobbying in my state.
- registration requirements
- reporting requirements
- limitations for gift giving
- other activities
3. I understand the restrictions on utilizing state funds for lobbying/ public policy advocacy.
4. I understand the federal definition of lobbying/public policy advocacy for administrative and legislative policy work.
5. I know the statutory, regulatory and or federal grant requirements regarding lobbying on the federal level.
- registration requirements
- reporting requirements
- limitations for gift giving
- other activities/restrictions
6. I understand the restrictions on utilizing federal funds for lobbying/public policy advocacy.
7. I understand the IRS restrictions for 501(c) 3 organizations.
8. I understand the reporting requirements specific to 501(c) 3 organizations regarding lobbying activities including election of 501(h).
9. Our coalition board of directors understands the issues outlined in #1-8 and have received training on their responsibilities in this area.
10. Our coalition has established a Public Policy Committee to guide our work in this arena.
11. Our Public Policy Committee has been trained on the issues outlined in #1-8 above.
12. Our coalition has made a decision regarding
- how the coalition will identify public policy issues
- how we will prioritize those issues
- how we will decide which of those issues will be on our legislative agenda
- how we will ensure that our agenda is victim-centered and philosophically matched with our mission and core values
- how we will communicate our legislative agenda to board members, member agencies, other constituents
- how we will fund these activities
- who will have the responsibility to carry out that agenda
- who will have decision making power to respond to changes or amendments to that agenda
13. Our coalition has put together a grassroots group who are ready and able to respond to alerts.
14. Our coalition has worked to ensure that the grassroots group
- understands the legislative agenda
- has the tools ( fact sheets etc.) to utilize with the agenda
- has the information regarding:
- who their senators and representatives are at the state level
- who their senators and representatives are at the federal level
- know how to reach their senators and representatives
- have role played presenting an issue and making a call or visit
- have a phone tree in place to expand the number of grassroots callers
- understand that they can refer questions back to the coalition office
- have tools for easy reporting back to the public policy committee
15. Our coalition has developed a media plan to use in conjunction with our public policy agenda.
16. Our coalition has made a decision about the use of an outside public policy specialist and has determined when and how such an expert will be used.
17. Public policy advocacy is a part of our coalition’s strategic plan.
18. I have the resources available to better understand public policy advocacy.