Advocacy Training

Tools to help you advocate

On this page:
-Training and other resources
-Information resources
-How to succeed with elected officials
-Other helpful hints

Training and other resources

Elevator speech: If you are at an event with your member of Congress, here’s what you might share to quickly make your pitch:
“I am concerned about my neighbors who are food insecure and urge Congress to pass a farm bill that bolsters the nation’s federal nutrition programs, including TEFAP and SNAP. Specifically, we are calling for doubled TEFAP funding for food purchases annually to around $950 million each year and protection of SNAP’s purchasing power by maintaining USDA’s ability to adjust SNAP benefits through the Thrifty Food Plan.”

Anti-hunger talking points

Tell Congress to pass a strong farm bill with one click (or copy & paste the letter)

Virtual meeting best practices

Site visit and in-district meeting planning checklist

How to include the people we serve in a site visit or in-district meeting

How to include agriculture and food partners in a site visit or in-district meeting

Arranging a Capitol Hill visit, and what to do before, during, and after your visit

Send a letter to your official with one click, here

Customizable graphics

Information resources

Farm bill fact sheet

Congressional calendars

According to the Joint Economic Committee Inflation Tracker, compared to January 2021, the average household in Virginia is spending $142 more on food per month. This is $18 more
each month than one year ago. Cumulatively, the average household in Virginia has spent $3,794 more on food due to inflation since January 2021. Food and Housing inflation continue to climb.

A Closer Look at Who Benefits from SNAP: State-by-State Fact Sheets (Virginia)

SNAP is the most effective anti-hunger program in the United States. In 2023, SNAP helped approximately 42 million people put food on the table during tough times.

The farm bill is the centerpiece federal legislation for food and farming. It impacts access to nutritious food for the millions of people in the United States living with hunger.

USDA Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 Report

How to succeed with elected officials

Remember that elected officials need to show success. What can you do? How can you frame the issue you’re trying to solve to help them show success? How can you frame the issue for them so they can show leadership and claim victory?

Some things that elected officials want to do (according to research):
98%    Speeches to large groups
96%    Events with media present (Yes, invite the media)
95%    Attend community events
86%    Site visits

Some events elected officials view as important:
98%    Meetings with interested group representatives
89%    Meeting with VIPS/community leaders
76%    Task force/advisory board meetings
73%    Site visits

What matters to elected officials most:
-Number of constituents attending (64%)
-Opportunity to advance THEIR strategic goals (54%)[How can you help them do this, especially if you disagree? How do you help them show leadership?]
-Their own interest in the issue (37%)

What doesn’t matter much to elected officials:
-How often they have previously interacted with the group (21%)
-Opportunity to interact informally with attendees (they are busy) (15%)
-Number of VIPs attending (4%)

Site visit tips here

Optimal length of site visit:
-30-60 minutes (53%)
-1-2 hours (42%)
-Less than 30 minutes (4%)
-More than 2 hours (0%)

Other helpful hints

Remote advocacy is easier and more effective than ever. Call the elected official’s office and ask for the aide that’s in charge of XXXX issue. Get the aide’s title, name, correct spelling, and email (correct spelling).  Then reach out to that aide to arrange a meeting.

Be prepared to put on a presentation (a show). 1 to 5 people should attend the online call. Determine a designated lead. Be organized and prepared. Prior to the actual meeting, do a mock meeting or a get together to go over the game-plan, and be prepared to pivot. Do NOT turn off the camera–every person on the call is to keep their cameras on. PREPARE.

PowerPoint is good ONLY when done well.

Use evocative stories, narratives, and information, but not hyperbole.

Provide the aide with information in advance.

Prepare a leave-behind, for the aide to share with the official.

Treat the aides respectfully, they have a lot of sway with the official they work for.

Bring constituents into the call (but still limit the size of the attendees to 5 or fewer people). “We have X number of church members (or X number of churches) supporting this cause.”

Individual emails are fairly useful.

Build relationships and minimize identical information.