Nonprofit messaging in 2025: Where do we go from here?
"'Democracy is at risk.' What does that even mean?" State Senator Anna Caballero
"Misinformation is free; digging into policy is behind a paywall." Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
"Don't obey in advance." Anand Giridharadas, journalist and author
The conference was sobering and exhilarating at the same time.
I attended in order to gather intel on how upcoming policy changes will affect my nonprofit training clients, and what support they might need in the next year to continue #SpeakingUpForChange.
How might Californians be affected by the new administration and how will the nonprofit sector adjust and take action?
I wasn't surprised to hear the following takeaways regarding both messaging of candidates and of nonprofits in helping their communities understand the election process and outcomes (from my perspective as a communication professional):
🔴We need better messaging that meets people where they are (climate change impacts everything from insurance rates to energy bills - people don't know this)
🟣We need to speak their language (not give high-level policy reports or make existential claims like "save democracy")
🟡We need to actually ask people what it means for them personally
⚫There is huge disconnect between policy and people's actual lived experience
🔵People do have an appetite to be better informed: We need to make accurate information more accessible - not hide it behind paywalls
🟠We need to teach people how elections work, to help combat apathy and overwhelm, and get voters out for midterms and off-year elections (remember Schoolhouse Rock?) Check out America the Possible, a new site that promotes civic engagement and understanding how our country works "one simple, tiny MicroByte at a time."
🟤Communities need to invest in nonprofit and local media because people don't trust national outlets
🟢Nonprofits and media need to show people doing good work in their communities to illuminate a pathway for those who don't know what to do and how to help
⚪Organizations need to improve their communications overall - talk to their communities in a way that they can hear, learn and retain
🔴Collaboration and communication are essential to fill in gaps of information and services
Where do we go from here? Now that the problems have been acknowledged, will we take action?
Several of my nonprofit clients use "ambassadors," volunteers who are the clients of the organization, for community outreach and legislative advocacy. More need to be doing this!
P.S. The quote "punk rock time" is from Henry Rollins. "This is not a time to be dismayed, this is punk rock time. This is what Joe Strummer trained you for." ~ Henry Rollins
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