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August 22, 2008, 11:35 AM ET
How Charities Can Win Government Support
How can charities win government support for their group or cause?
Courtney Powers, a former Capitol Hill aide who now works for the consulting group Changing Our World, offers some advice on the Future Leaders in Philanthropy blog.
She says that charity leaders should first appeal to the House or Senate member who represents their district. Contact the “scheduler,” whose job it is to coordinate meetings. Be patient, she says, because it can take some time to hear back. Ms. Powers advises charities to follow up only if more than two business weeks have passed without a response.
When you do get a meeting, “keep it brief,” she says. Most meetings take half an hour or less. Whether you’re asking for money, support for a piece of legislation, or a public endorsement of your group, be concise. Ms. Powers recommends following up with a thank-you note.
If you’re seeking a government grant, approach the agency that handles the causes on which your group works. Most grant opportunities are listed at http://www.grants.gov. If you run into problems, says Ms. Powers, contact your Senator or Representative’s office.
What do you think? Do you have other advice?
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