Advocacy Field Guide
for Lean Funders

Some of the most effective foundations engaged in policy and advocacy in the United States are small, place-based foundations. By focusing deeply, developing insight into their issue, leveraging reputation and relationships, and working with persistence, these funders are achieving extraordinary impact and a high return on their investment.

Why We Designed This Guide

We designed this field guide specifically to help small-staffed foundations and donors fund and engage in policy directly. At its core is a set of seven practical, field-tested steps for funding and engaging in advocacy. We offer a brief primer on the fundamentals, the diverse ways you can fund and engage in this work, and guidance in making a case to your board for getting more involved. At every step, we describe strategies and practices in a way that opens doors to opportunity, builds consensus and inspires with stories from small funders.

Small-staffed foundations and donors who use this field guide can ultimately have a greater impact on issues dear to them through real and substantive policy change and reform.

We authored this field guide in partnership with Frontera Strategy.