Advocacy Tips & Tricks

Being an advocate for your museum isn't rocket science, but there are some "tricks-of-the-trade" that can help ensure your efforts to Speak Up for Museums are fun and productive. AAM is here to help demystify the "dos-and-don'ts" of reaching out to your elected officials. Below are several resources to help museum professionals and supporters engage in effective advocacy. Remember, you can speak up for your museum without threatening your tax-exempt status!

• Advocacy for Museums Matters
  There is no need to wonder just how important it is to engage in advocacy for museums. This is a comprehensive primer on what advocacy entails and why it matters.
• Advocacy? Why should I care - I'm not a CEO!
  We came across this great piece about why advocacy is relevant to you, no matter what your role is at your museum. Thanks to Kate Schureman at the Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences and Brenda Raney at the Science Museum of Minnesota for developing and sharing this piece, that was also included in programming at the Association of Midwest Museums 2011 Annual Conference.
• Ten Rules for Engagement
  Our top-ten list for engaging in advocacy and reaching out to elected officials.
• Meeting With Elected Officials
  Meeting with elected officials can be intimidating but it doesn't have to be. Follow the tips gathered here to make any meeting a success.
• Getting to Know Your Legislators
  Knowledge is power. Learning about your legislators can help set you apart from the other interests competing for your legislators' time and attention. See where you can gather this critical information and what information to look for here.
  Legislator Profile Form
• Communicating with Legislators
  Legislators have incredibly hectic schedules, but being prepared to accommodate that is the best defense. Keep these rules-of-the-road in mind and your encounters with your legislators should always run smoothly.
• Glossary of Selected Legislative Terms
  Congress does seem to have its own language. Use this glossary to help decode the technical terms for the work legislators and their staff members do every day.
• Museum Advocacy in an Election Year
• Rules of Nonprofit Lobbying