Downloads | Advocacy: Strategies for Change The best policy is made when the most voices are heard - stories from the field, from divergent experience and from experts on the ground serving the people of Kansas. That's why the Sunflower Foundation is developing new programs that help nonprofit leaders and their organizations become stronger and more effective in advocacy and public policy processes. ACTIVITIES Advocacy Fellowship Project – To encourage our state’s nonprofit health leaders to become effective advocates, the Sunflower Foundation has created a unique training program unlike any other in the nation: The Sunflower Foundation Advocacy Fellowship. The Fellowship helps leaders in health-related nonprofit organization develop the understanding, experience and expertise they need to become powerful voices for the Kansans they serve. read more >
| Calendar October 28, 2010 Final application deadline for the foundation's three current Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Plan to participate in TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL BRIEFINGS to discuss the RFPs and the new Online Application process. Watch this website for the briefing schedules as they are announced. |
We are proud that the Sunflower Foundation shares the name of the Kansas state flower. The sunflower’s seeds provide nourishment for many, spreading beauty and sustenance wherever they take root.
Likewise, the Sunflower Foundation is trying to spread the message throughout Kansas that advocacy contributes to the mission of nonprofits – nourishing, if you will, the fruits of their labor. In 2007, the Sunflower Foundation board adopted advocacy as an official focus area. “We believe the outcome of public policy decisions are enriched when nonprofits are at the table. But we know this doesn’t always happen,” says Billie Hall, President and CEO of the Sunflower Foundation. “That’s why we began looking at ways to help nonprofits get more involved in advocacy and, ultimately, strengthen their voices in policy discussions.”
To help guide the development of Sunflower’s work in advocacy, the foundation partnered with David Arons, a national expert in nonprofit advocacy. David led the foundation’s 2007 Grantee Workshop, Finding Your Voice: Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy, which sparked great interest among participants. On behalf of the Sunflower Foundation, David surveyed a cross-section of Kansas health related nonprofits about the extent and nature of their public policy participation. The survey provided a better understanding of how nonprofits across the state perceive advocacy, their motivations for being involved, and the various levels of engagement. Results of the survey showed that only 40 percent of Kansas health nonprofits believe their mission calls for participation in public policy. And, of these, only one-third spend more than a few hours a week as advocates to the state legislature during its session. The survey also revealed that the greatest challenges to participation are time and resources. And, while many nonprofits engage in some form of limited advocacy during the legislative session, most do not see public policy work as necessary throughout the year.
“There are positive results from the survey, as well,” says David. “We learned that Kansas nonprofits want to be involved in public policy – they understand that they have an important voice, they want to be heard and they welcome opportunities to build capacity and strengthen their effectiveness.”
“The survey results are informing our planning and work around advocacy,” says Billie. “It is our intent to respond by developing programs that strengthen nonprofit organizations and leaders. The Sunflower Foundation believes that nonprofits need to be involved because their perspective is important to finding solutions to today’s complex health problems.
