Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is committed to providing humanitarian services in a dignified manner to people of all backgrounds. The nonprofit has performed critical disaster relief both in the US and abroad and led development projects spanning healthcare, education, microfinance, and livelihood.
Beyond its efforts to create a world free of poverty, the organization advocates for positive change in gender justice and refugee support. It also works to empower people to become advocates in their own community.
To that end, IRUSA provides those interested in enacting positive change in their communities or abroad with a step-by-step guide to creating an effective advocacy campaign. Here’s a breakdown of the organization’s advocacy toolkit.
A Step-by-Step Process to Creating an Advocacy Campaign
Before launching an advocacy campaign, it’s important to first identify an issue worth supporting. While any cause that champions equality or relief is worth fighting for, prospective campaign leaders should make a point to engage with relevant stakeholders, including community leaders, to find out the most severe issues that need to be addressed. This can be done by hosting listening sessions or conducting surveys.
After choosing an area of need in the community, seek out people who are most informed on the topic, whether it’s scholars, university faculty, or community members, and ask them to speak to your advocacy group on the issue. You can also begin recruiting others to support the cause and identify which elected officials have the power to make a difference.
In building your advocacy team, try to recruit people of diverse backgrounds. Diversity is not only key in providing different perspectives on critical issues, but a diverse group can also show policymakers how wide-ranging support is for a particular issue. You should then research your target audience to ensure your message is as effective as possible and start crafting a strategy to build community support and promote change.
Important Components of an Effective Strategy
An effective strategy is paramount to attracting support for and advancing your advocacy campaign. Start by collaborating with other team members to identify a realistic and winnable long-term goal and then determine short- and medium-term goals that align with the group’s agenda. You can then make a list of relevant legislators who might be able to help the group achieve some of its campaign goals. It’s also helpful to list potential opponents and think about why they might be against the group’s shared advocacy goals.
From here, work to create an outreach plan to attract other partners, including community nonprofits and leaders, and reach out to local media to state the objective of the campaign and increase awareness. You should also create educational packages with all relevant information, including policy asks, to distribute to media members and legislators.
Group Meeting Focal Points
Campaign meetings are critical to discuss advocacy progress, ensure group members are on the same page, and attract others who might be interested in supporting the cause. When conducting meetings with prospective supporters, the campaign leader should introduce the group, giving each member a chance to introduce themselves and share why they’re passionate about the issue at hand. The campaign leader, or meeting facilitator, should field questions and take charge if the conversation goes off-track.
Personal stories can be powerful in drawing support for your campaign. In that regard, it’s important when meeting with community groups to have someone present who has been impacted by the issue. For example, if your advocacy campaign is pushing for more affordable housing solutions in your city, it will be helpful to have someone without a permanent residence speak to the issue and how their life has been impacted.
If speaking with a local or state representative, be direct in what you want them to do, whether it’s introducing legislation or voting a particular way on a policy. Make sure they completely understand the group’s concerns and take note of their policy responses. After the meeting, speak with others in the group to evaluate the efficacy of the pitch and determine if any adjustments are needed for greater success in future meetings. You should also send a follow-up email to thank the representative and maintain open lines of communication.
IRUSA’s Primary Areas of Advocacy
IRUSA’s central advocacy areas include helping refugees, alleviating hunger and poverty, and furthering gender justice by calling for the eradication of Early and Forced Marriage. It is also championing the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a pathway to permanent status and protection for Afghans who relocated to the US via humanitarian parole following the US military evacuation of Afghanistan. It is also calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, and an end to the blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
For more information on launching campaigns or IRUSA’s current advocacy priorities, visit irusa.org/advocacy or email publicaffairs@irusa.org.