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If you’re looking for guidance to create your own advocacy material, this is the place to be. In each of the following subsections, you will find templates and scripts that you can personalize to fit your campaign.

(Relatively) Fast Ways to Take Action

Calling a legislator’s office is an effective way to let them know where you, and those in your community, stand on important issues.  In order to be sure you and your partners convey a strong, consistent message, you need a call script.

This is a short statement that details who you are; why you are calling; which way they should vote; how you are impacted by the issue at hand; and any other relevant facts or details. You can see the components of a basic call script up close here.

Writing a letter to lawmakers is one way to influence policy and educate decision-makers that leaves a paper trail.

Effective letters will include:
    • who you are and why you are qualified (being a constituent) to write them;
    • a statement of your issue or concern;
  • talking points, research, data, or personal experiences that illustrate why this issue or concern is important;
  • and a request for action (e.g. oppose the bill).

You can see the components of a letter to legislators up close here.

To make your own, use the template here. (The template is view-only–to use it, go to File–> Make a copy.)

An action alert calls for an immediate response to an urgent policy development, often contacting legislators to ask them to vote a certain way on a bill.

The alert should state your “ask,” or what you want the reader to do, upfront, in clear, attention-grabbing terms. You can then go into a little detail, including background on the development, concrete steps for readers to take, why it is important to respond quickly and decisively, and links to additional information. You can see the components of an action alert up close here.

A sign-on statement or letter is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a statement or letter written about something to which other organizations or individuals sign on to show agreement and solidarity.

The letter could be in support or opposition to proposed legislation, a regulatory decision,  funding changes for a program, a judicial nominee; to express an opinion on some recent event; to express a particular vision, like ending violence against women living with HIV; and more.

Generally, the letter is written by sponsors, who then circulate it to allied individuals and organizations who can add their name in support. They are a great way to build new relationships and solidify existing ones.

A sign-on letter usually includes a summary of the issue, relevant background information, necessary data or research, and a request for action.

You can look at the components of a sign-on letter up close here and useful tips on creating one here.

Longer-Term Policy Projects

Below you have five ways to convey your message, research, and policy recommendations to other people. The best project to meet your needs could differ depending on your issue, who you’re trying to reach, or who you need to convince, so take a moment to look through them all. Be aware that every, single one must be well researched and properly cited. (Scroll down for more on citation.)

A fact sheet is a simple primer that advocates can use to educate the general public, other advocates, opposition and legislators on your issue.

Generally, fact sheets should provide background, the current facts, and relevant statistics. They should be short — no more than two pages — which can be a challenge for complex topics. If you need to include more information, add a resources section so people can learn more on their own.

Find more information on creating a fact sheet here.

A policy brief is a summary of available and pertinent information about your issue. The ultimate goal of a policy brief is to educate other advocates and decision makers in order to influence policy change. It should be concise but more comprehensive than a fact sheet.

Generally, policy briefs
1) present objective and relevant research on a topic,
2) suggest possible policy solutions or options, and
3) suggest courses of actions on how to achieve those solutions.  

Find more information on how to plan, write and communicate a policy brief here, here, and here.

You can also look through sample policy briefs on insurance coverage for infertility treatment and the impact of rising food prices in low-income countries.

These projects can be challenging and labor-intensive, but ultimately they are a terrific way to capture and lift up the needs of your community that might otherwise not have been documented.

Data can tell a story and a needs assessment can evaluate access to care or services in your area and help inform policy decisions that impact those services.  

They’re often conducted as a survey of people who need or want to access care or services.

After the survey has been conducted, you’ll need to analyze the results, summarize the key findings, and create policy recommendations based on those findings. The recommendations will be your guidepost to future action.

Check out the Community Toolbox for a more comprehensive understanding of the needs assessment process.

These guides are based on past policy advocacy or organizing experience. They help create a warehouse of more or less successful campaign tactics so that advocates don’t have to reinvent the wheel with each new project.  

Using the campaign as a case study, you should include examples of steps taken at each stage to advance the campaign, what resources were needed to make the campaign a success, and the lessons learned. Guides should be organized in a way that makes sense and makes the process accessible to advocates.

You can look through case studies from AIDS United Southern REACH program here.

Resource banks and toolkits provide advocates with a compilation of links to the resources and tools that they will need to be well-informed and mobilize around about your issue.

Resource banks/toolkits should be well organized, including summaries, tabs, and headings that make it easy for advocates to find their way around. It’s often helpful to follow-up by creating a virtual or in-person training to walk advocates through what is covered.

You can find an example of a resource bank here and of a toolkit here. No, that’s not a missing link. You’re in a toolkit right now. To look through other toolkits, check here and here.

Important! Cite your sources properly.

Proper citations from an authoritative source is a signal to readers that you are an expert on your issue. It is also important to give credit for intellectual property that you are using.

Here are two commonly-used citation styles: Modern Language Association (MLA format) and American Psychological Association (APA format).

As a rule of thumb: APA is used in psychology, education and other social sciences; MLA is used in literature, arts, and the humanities. Ultimately though, if no one has expressed a preference for one or the other, choose the one that feels right.

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