Throughout the decades I’ve working with nonprofits, I’ve maintained that the most effective way to have a real impact is to advocate, that getting into the trenches and making the fights that matter leads to real, lasting, important change. While some of the nonprofits I’ve observed and worked with understand the importance of advocacy as a central strategy, most are reluctant to be aggressive and proactive.
Now, I can offer solid, hard evidence to suggest that those organizations which advocate and organize really do make an enormous difference.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has recently issued a study which tracks the benefits which flow from foundation support to nonprofit organizations which engage in advocacy, organizing and civic engagement in Los Angeles. Here some of the highlights:

Over a five year period, the 15 nonprofits which NCRP studied generated close to $7 billion (yes, that’s billion with a B!) benefits. This return came in the form of higher wages, huge health care cost savings, greater educational opportunities and a more employable work force and more.
More than 14,000 people received training – they’re all active and informed now.
Close to 40,000 individual new members became active in the 15 organizations.
55,000 active citizens participated in public actions – workshops, rallies, forums and more – on critical issues facing Los Angeles.
For every $1 foundations and others invested in advocacy and civic engagement, the nonprofits generated $91 in benefits to the community. That is a real return on investment.

The findings in this report offer two vital lessons.

First, nonprofits which do not adopt the strategies and tactics of advocacy are missing an enormous opportunity to create the change which lies at the heart of their mission.

Second, foundations which provide critical support to nonprofits engaged in advocacy – sustained general support and advocacy and engagement capacity building – have a far greater impact on the issues they seek to address. Supporting advocacy generates change which is stronger and lasts longer.

The NCRP L.A. report is one of several the organization has conducted in a variety of regions (large and small, urban and rural, wealthy and not-so-wealthy) and in every single study the results are the same.
If you’re a nonprofit leader or a foundation officer, you simply must read this report – it is a road map to success, a path to realizing real and vital goals, a blueprint for making critical, sustained change, a plan to serve your cause in the most effective way possible.

Go. Read. Now! http://www.ncrp.org/campaigns-research-policy/36-campaigns-research-a-policy/606-los-angeles-county

Full Disclosure: My firm worked with NCRP to facilitate the release of their Los Angeles report. That fact in no way changes my view of the findings and their critical importance, but you should know about it.