How can you show your Community Organizing Advocacy's impact to funders, policymakers, and the public?

1 Define your goals and indicators

Before you start your advocacy campaign, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your progress. You should set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) that align with your mission and values. You should also identify indicators that can show how your actions have contributed to your goals. For example, you can track the number of people you have engaged, the media coverage you have generated, the policy changes you have influenced, or the outcomes you have improved for your community.

2 Collect and analyze data

To show your impact, you need to collect and analyze data that can support your claims and stories. You can use different methods and sources to gather data, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, documents, or reports. You should choose the most appropriate and reliable data collection tools for your context and audience. You should also analyze your data in a systematic and transparent way, using qualitative and quantitative techniques. You should look for patterns, trends, gaps, and insights that can help you understand and explain your impact.

3 Tell compelling stories

Data alone is not enough to show your impact. You also need to tell compelling stories that can illustrate your achievements and challenges, and inspire your audience. You should use storytelling techniques that can capture attention, emotion, and action. You should highlight the human element of your advocacy, the problems you have solved, the solutions you have offered, and the changes you have created. You should also include testimonials, quotes, photos, videos, or other visual elements that can make your stories more engaging and credible.

4 Use appropriate formats and channels

Depending on your audience and purpose, you may need to use different formats and channels to show your impact. You should tailor your communication to suit the expectations and preferences of your funders, policymakers, or the public. You should also consider the best way to deliver your message, whether it is through a report, a presentation, a website, a newsletter, a social media post, or a press release. You should use clear, concise, and persuasive language that can convey your main points and calls to action.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

Showing your impact is not a one-time activity. You should seek feedback and improvement from your stakeholders and beneficiaries, and use it to refine your advocacy strategy and tactics. You should also monitor and evaluate your impact on an ongoing basis, and adjust your goals and indicators as needed. You should celebrate your successes, but also acknowledge your limitations and challenges, and learn from your failures. You should strive to be accountable, transparent, and ethical in your advocacy work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?