Board and Staff Relations

Sample Public Policy Guidelines

Sample Policy: Committee Guidelines on Public Policy for a Nonprofit Organization

Each year [selected time frame such as every two years, every five years], the Name of Nonprofit Organization Public Policy Committee will survey the membership of the organization to develop a list of suggested public policy priorities for the upcoming year. Based on this input and input from the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s Board of Directors, the Public Policy Committee decides priority issues and ranks such issues in order of importance. The priority issues serve to establish the public policy framework. The public policy framework must be approved by the board of directors.

All advocacy activities for [the selected time frame] should fall under the current priority issues.

In circumstances where immediate public policy attention is required, the chair of the Public Policy Committee and the Executive Committee may make decisions on behalf of the entire Public Policy Committee for the Name of Nonprofit Organization on specific bills and issues.

Only the board president, the executive director, and the chair of the Public Policy or Government Relations Committee may speak on behalf of the Name of Nonprofit Organization or take action on local, state, or federal public policy issues.

The Name of Nonprofit Organization is a nonprofit organization. As such, the Name of Nonprofit Organization does not support or oppose candidates for public office or political parties and only acts on issues related to the organization’s mission and its current public policy framework.

Sample Policy on Advocacy: General Statement

In order to work toward making systematic change necessary to achieve our mission, the Name of Nonprofit Organization engages in advocacy activity or active support for a cause, idea or policy. It is the policy of the Name of Nonprofit Organization to advocate on public policy issues that support the mission of the organization, such as the specific policy issues appropriate to the mission.

Criteria for Public Policy Positions

The Name of Nonprofit Organization may take positions on public policy issues that fulfill three basic criteria:

1. The issues affect the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s ability to work toward its mission

The issues affect the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s clients or program participants
The issues affect the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s status or its operations

Process for Determining Positions

Advocacy positions on specific issues will be determined on a case-by-case basis by consensus of the (Executive Committee of the) board.

Advocacy positions on specific issues related to the mission of the Name of Nonprofit Organization will be determined by the executive director, and in his/her absence, may be determined by the deputy director.

As delegated by the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s Board of Directors, the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s Public Policy Committee assesses issues of potential interest and concern to determine if such issues should become subjects for advocacy for the organization.

The Public Policy Committee may delegate its decision-making authority to a designated staff person.

Each year, the Name of Nonprofit Organization surveys its members and clients on a series of potential public policy issues in which it may become involved. Based on results of surveys, related research, and comments from members, clients, and staff, the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s board/staff/Public Policy Committee determines advocacy positions for the year.

Concerning Participation On Coalitions

In the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s work with coalitions and associations, the Name of Nonprofit Organization may take part in the advocacy work of a group provided the work is not in conflict with the Name of Nonprofit Organization’s mission.

The Name of Nonprofit Organization conducts its advocacy work through coalitions and networks such as: list organizations, coalitions, or networks.

Nonprofit Organization is Nonpartisan in its Activities

Clients of the Name of Nonprofit Organization represent a broad cross-section of the political spectrum. The Name of Nonprofit Organization does not support one candidate over another candidate and does not support any political parties. The Name of Nonprofit Organization works with all political parties in legislative efforts. If it asks any candidate for office to speak at events or conferences, an invitation is extended to all viable candidates as well.

Sample Policy On Limited Advocacy

Some organizations are involved in a very limited amount of advocacy activity. A sample policy for such groups follows.

A Limited Advocacy Policy

The Name of Nonprofit Organization does not pursue public policy advocacy as part of its regular program activities. It recognizes, however, that as a leader in its field, it is occasionally (regularly) called upon by government officials, members of the media and others to offer positions on policy issues affecting the recipients of its services or to share knowledge and expertise relevant to ongoing policy deliberations.

The Name of Nonprofit Organization is also called upon to sign on to formal and informal coalitions that advocate for the interests of its clients.

The executive director may authorize participation in such activities when he or she determines such participation is consistent with the mission of the Name of Nonprofit Organization and that the interests of the clients are sufficiently clear. Where participation is warranted, the executive director shall be responsible for determining the nature and extent of participation, including the positions to be stated or information to be shared.